B1 Subjunctive 9 min read Medium

Feeling Scared in French: How to use "I'm afraid that..." (avoir peur que)

Always use the subjunctive after 'avoir peur que' to express anxiety about actions involving other people or things.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When you express fear using 'avoir peur que', the following verb must be conjugated in the subjunctive mood.

  • Use 'avoir peur que' followed by the subjunctive: J'ai peur qu'il vienne.
  • If the subject of both clauses is the same, use 'de' + infinitive: J'ai peur de tomber.
  • The subjunctive triggers a change in verb endings, especially for 'ils/elles' stems.
Subject + avoir peur que + Subject(2) + Subjunctive Verb

Overview

Expressing apprehension, worry, or fear in French often necessitates a precise grammatical structure involving the subjunctive mood. The construction avoir peur que translates directly to "to be afraid that" or "to fear that," and it is fundamental for conveying concerns, from mild unease to profound anxiety, about a potential event or state. Crucially, this expression is used when the feared situation involves a different subject from the one experiencing the fear.

At its core, avoir peur que mandates the use of the subjunctive mood. Unlike the indicative, which asserts facts and certainties, the subjunctive conveys subjectivity, emotion, doubt, or non-factuality. When you employ avoir peur que, you are not stating a fact about what will occur, but rather expressing an emotional reaction to what might happen, or what you ardently wish would not happen.

This inherent emotional and uncertain nature of fear intrinsically links it to the subjunctive, making this pattern an indispensable tool for B1 CEFR level learners to articulate nuanced emotional responses. For instance, J'ai peur qu'il soit malade (I’m afraid he might be sick) conveys a distinct emotional apprehension about a possibility, rather than a certainty. Mastering avoir peur que with the subjunctive unlocks a sophisticated layer of French expression, moving beyond mere observation into the realm of subjective emotional experience.

How This Grammar Works

The construction avoir peur que operates on the principle of a main clause expressing the emotional state (fear) and a subordinate clause detailing the object of that emotion. The main clause, typically featuring a conjugated form of avoir followed by peur, sets the emotional context. The pivotal element that follows is the conjunction que (or qu' before a vowel or silent h), which serves to introduce the subordinate clause.
It is in this subordinate clause that the subjunctive mood becomes obligatory. The use of the subjunctive here is not arbitrary; it signals that the feared event is not presented as an objective fact or a certainty. Instead, it reflects the speaker's subjective perception, emotional judgment, or apprehension about a potentiality.
Were the indicative mood used, it would paradoxically suggest that the feared event is either already a fact or highly probable, thus undermining the very essence of fear as an anticipation of something uncertain or undesirable. Consider the grammatical and semantic distinctions:
  • J'ai peur qu'il vienne. (I'm afraid he might come / I'm afraid he will come. – Subjunctive implies uncertainty or a subjective emotional stance regarding a potential event.)
  • Je crois qu'il vient. (I believe he is coming. – Indicative states a belief about a factual or highly probable event.)
Crucially, avoir peur que is reserved for instances where the subject of the main clause (the individual experiencing the fear) is different from the subject of the subordinate clause (the individual or entity performing the feared action or being in the feared state). For example, in J'ai peur que tu partes, I am the one afraid, but you are the one potentially leaving. This critical distinction in subjects is paramount for the correct application of this pattern, differentiating it from constructions where the same subject performs both actions, which typically employ an infinitive.
This structural requirement ensures that the emotional reaction is directed towards an external, potentially impactful event.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of sentences using avoir peur que adheres to a predictable structure, requiring meticulous attention to both the main verb conjugation and, most importantly, the subjunctive conjugation in the subordinate clause.
2
1. The Main Clause (Expression of Fear)
3
This clause initiates the statement, conveying who is experiencing the fear. It consists of the verb avoir conjugated for the subject, followed directly by the noun peur.
4
J'ai peur (I am afraid)
5
Tu as peur (You are afraid)
6
Il/Elle/On a peur (He/She/One is afraid)
7
Nous avons peur (We are afraid)
8
Vous avez peur (You are afraid)
9
Ils/Elles ont peur (They are afraid)
10
Example: Nous avons peur (We are afraid) sets the initial emotional context.
11
2. The Conjunction que (or qu')
12
This indispensable particle functions as the link between the main clause and the subordinate clause. It contracts to qu' when the subsequent word begins with a vowel or a silent h, a mandatory phonetic adjustment in French to maintain fluid pronunciation (a process known as liaison).
13
J'ai peur que tu ne comprennes pas. (I'm afraid that you don't understand.)
14
Il a peur qu'elle arrive en retard. (He's afraid that she arrives late.)
15
3. The Subordinate Clause (The Feared Event in Subjunctive Mood)
16
This clause introduces a new subject and its verb, which must be conjugated in the present subjunctive mood. The general rule for forming the present subjunctive for most verbs involves taking the third-person plural (ils/elles) form of the present indicative, removing the -ent ending to find the stem, and then adding the standard subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. For the nous and vous forms, the stem is typically derived from the first-person plural (nous) indicative form to preserve the original vowel sounds. This distinction is crucial for maintaining phonetic consistency in these forms.
17
| Person | -ER Verbs (e.g., parler) | -IR Verbs (e.g., finir) | -RE Verbs (e.g., vendre) |
18
| :----------- | :--------------------------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------ |
19
| Que je | parle | finisse | vende |
20
| Que tu | parles | finisses | vendes |
21
| Qu'il/elle/on | parle | finisse | vende |
22
| Que nous | parlions | finissions | vendions |
23
| Que vous | parliez | finissiez | vendiez |
24
| Qu'ils/elles | parlent | finissent | vendent |
25
Many common verbs are irregular in the subjunctive, making their memorization essential for fluency. These irregular forms often stem from different indicative bases or historical linguistic developments.
26
| Verb | Que je | Que tu | Qu'il/elle/on | Que nous | Que vous | Qu'ils/elles |
27
| :-------- | :---------- | :---------- | :------------ | :---------- | :---------- | :----------- |
28
| être | sois | sois | soit | soyons | soyez | soient |
29
| avoir | aie | aies | ait | ayons | ayez | aient |
30
| faire | fasse | fasses | fasse | fassions | fassiez | fassent |
31
| aller | aille | ailles | aille | allions | alliez | aillent |
32
| pouvoir | puisse | puisses | puisse | puissions | puissiez | puissent |
33
| savoir | sache | saches | sache | sachions | sachiez | sachent |
34
| vouloir | veuille | veuilles | veuille | voulions | vouliez | veuillent |
35
| venir | vienne | viennes | vienne | venions | veniez | viennent |
36
| tenir | tienne | tiennes | tienne | tenions | teniez | tiennent |
37
The overarching pattern for this construction can be summarized as:
38
Subject 1 + avoir (conjugated) + peur que/qu' + Subject 2 + Verb (present subjunctive)
39
Example: Elle a peur que le train soit en retard. (She is afraid that the train will be late.) Here, elle is Subject 1, and le train is Subject 2.
40
Example: Nous avons peur que vous ne compreniez pas. (We are afraid that you don't understand.) Here, nous is Subject 1, and vous is Subject 2.
41
Example: J'ai peur qu'il ne fasse pas beau demain. (I'm afraid the weather won't be nice tomorrow.) Here, je is Subject 1, and il (impersonal subject for weather) is Subject 2.

When To Use It

Employ avoir peur que whenever you need to express fear, worry, apprehension, or concern about a potential outcome or situation that involves a subject distinct from the one experiencing the emotion. This construction offers significant versatility, spanning a spectrum of emotional intensity from a mild premonition to profound anxiety. Its primary utility lies in its ability to convey the speaker's subjectivity and uncertainty about future or current states that are perceived as undesirable.
  • Anticipating Negative Outcomes: This is the most prevalent application. You are concerned that an undesirable event might materialize or that a negative state could exist. The subjunctive mood reinforces this sense of potentiality and apprehension, rather than factual certainty.
  • Les parents ont peur que leurs enfants se perdent dans la foule. (The parents are afraid their children might get lost in the crowd.) Their fear is directed at a potential negative event involving their children.
  • J'ai peur qu'il pleuve cet après-midi. (I'm afraid it might rain this afternoon.) The fear concerns an uncertain future weather event.
  • Expressing General Concern: Beyond specific, dramatic events, avoir peur que is suitable for articulating a general unease about broader circumstances or characteristics. This allows for a more nuanced expression of worry about situations that may not be immediately catastrophic but are nonetheless undesirable.
  • Nous avons peur que la situation économique s'aggrave davantage. (We are afraid that the economic situation will worsen further.) This conveys a general, ongoing anxiety about a systemic issue.
  • Tu as peur que ton ami soit trop stressé par ses études. (You are afraid your friend is too stressed by his studies.) Here, the concern is about a friend's well-being and current state.
  • Worries about Others' Actions or States: The core condition of a different subject means this structure is perfectly suited for expressing fear for someone else's well-being, their decisions, or their specific circumstances. This highlights empathy and concern for others, directing the emotional response towards external agents.
  • Elle a peur que son frère fasse une erreur. (She is afraid her brother might make a mistake.) Her fear is about her brother's potential action.
  • J'ai peur que les étudiants ne réussissent pas l'examen. (I am afraid the students will not pass the exam.) The worry here is about the students' potential failure.
It is imperative to distinguish between an actual fear of a negative outcome and a positive desire. While the subjunctive is employed here, it is triggered by the emotion of peur, implying an adverse prospect. This construction consistently conveys an emotional reaction to a potentially negative event, underscoring the speaker's subjective apprehension rather than an objective statement of fact.
Therefore, it is never used for anticipating positive outcomes.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific grammatical pitfalls when attempting to use avoir peur que. Awareness and understanding of these common errors are crucial for achieving accurate and natural French expression.
  • Incorrect Mood: Using the Indicative Instead of the Subjunctive: This is arguably the most pervasive error. Substituting the indicative mood (e.g., present tense) for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause fundamentally alters the sentence's meaning, implying certainty or factual reality rather than fear or doubt. The indicative asserts what is, while the subjunctive expresses what might be or what is subjectively felt.
  • Incorrect: J'ai peur qu'elle est fâchée. (This implies

Subjunctive Conjugation (Example: Parler)

Subject Subjunctive Form
Je
que je parle
Tu
que tu parles
Il/Elle
qu'il parle
Nous
que nous parlions
Vous
que vous parliez
Ils/Elles
qu'ils parlent

Meanings

This structure is used to express anxiety, worry, or fear regarding a specific event or action performed by another person.

1

Expressing anxiety

To indicate worry about a future or current event.

“J'ai peur qu'elle soit en retard.”

“Il a peur que nous ne comprenions pas.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Feeling Scared in French: How to use "I'm afraid that..." (avoir peur que)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Avoir peur que + Subj
J'ai peur qu'il vienne
Negative
Ne pas avoir peur que + Subj
Je n'ai pas peur qu'il vienne
Interrogative
As-tu peur que + Subj ?
As-tu peur qu'il vienne ?
Same Subject
Avoir peur de + Inf
J'ai peur de venir
Negative Same Subject
Avoir peur de ne pas + Inf
J'ai peur de ne pas venir

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je crains qu'il ne parte.

Je crains qu'il ne parte. (Departure)

Neutral
J'ai peur qu'il parte.

J'ai peur qu'il parte. (Departure)

Informal
J'ai peur qu'il se tire.

J'ai peur qu'il se tire. (Departure)

Slang
J'ai les boules qu'il se casse.

J'ai les boules qu'il se casse. (Departure)

The Fear Trigger

Avoir peur

Different Subjects

  • que + subjonctif that + subjunctive

Same Subject

  • de + infinitif to + infinitive

Indicative vs Subjunctive

Indicative
Je pense qu'il vient I think he is coming
Subjunctive
J'ai peur qu'il vienne I am afraid he is coming
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Examples by Level

1

J'ai peur.

I am afraid.

2

J'ai peur de l'araignée.

I am afraid of the spider.

3

Il a peur.

He is afraid.

4

Nous avons peur.

We are afraid.

1

J'ai peur de tomber.

I am afraid of falling.

2

J'ai peur qu'il pleuve.

I am afraid it will rain.

3

Tu as peur de sortir ?

Are you afraid to go out?

4

Il a peur qu'elle parte.

He is afraid she will leave.

1

J'ai peur qu'il ne soit trop tard.

I am afraid it might be too late.

2

Elle a peur que nous ne comprenions pas.

She is afraid we won't understand.

3

Avez-vous peur qu'ils annulent le vol ?

Are you afraid they will cancel the flight?

4

J'ai peur de ne pas réussir.

I am afraid of not succeeding.

1

Je crains qu'il ne faille agir vite.

I fear that it is necessary to act quickly.

2

Il a peur que le projet soit compromis.

He is afraid the project might be compromised.

3

Nous avons peur que les conditions ne soient pas réunies.

We are afraid the conditions might not be met.

4

J'ai peur qu'elle ait oublié notre rendez-vous.

I am afraid she might have forgotten our meeting.

1

Je redoute qu'il ne soit trop tard pour faire marche arrière.

I dread that it is too late to turn back.

2

Il a peur que cette décision n'entraîne des conséquences graves.

He is afraid that this decision might lead to serious consequences.

3

Craignez-vous qu'il ne puisse pas assumer ses responsabilités ?

Do you fear he might not be able to handle his responsibilities?

4

J'ai peur que tout ce travail ne soit vain.

I am afraid that all this work might be in vain.

1

Je crains fort qu'il ne faille se résoudre à cette issue.

I strongly fear that one must resign oneself to this outcome.

2

Il est à craindre que la situation ne s'envenime.

It is to be feared that the situation might worsen.

3

Je crains que vous n'ayez mal interprété mes propos.

I fear you may have misinterpreted my remarks.

4

On craint que les mesures ne soient insuffisantes.

It is feared that the measures might be insufficient.

Easily Confused

Feeling Scared in French: How to use "I'm afraid that..." (avoir peur que) vs Penser que vs Avoir peur que

Both use 'que', but 'penser' takes indicative and 'avoir peur' takes subjunctive.

Feeling Scared in French: How to use "I'm afraid that..." (avoir peur que) vs Que vs De

Learners use 'que' even when the subject is the same.

Feeling Scared in French: How to use "I'm afraid that..." (avoir peur que) vs Indicative vs Subjunctive

Learners forget to conjugate the subjunctive.

Common Mistakes

✗

J'ai peur qu'il vient.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

Must use subjunctive.
✗

J'ai peur que je tombe.

✓

J'ai peur de tomber.

Same subject rule.
✗

J'ai peur à qu'il vienne.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

No 'à' needed.
✗

J'ai peur de qu'il vienne.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

Use 'que' for different subjects.
✗

Il a peur qu'elle part.

✓

Il a peur qu'elle parte.

Subjunctive ending.
✗

J'ai peur de qu'il ne vienne.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

Incorrect structure.
✗

J'ai peur que nous avons peur.

✓

J'ai peur que nous ayons peur.

Subjunctive of avoir.
✗

J'ai peur qu'il soit venu.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

Tense mismatch.
✗

Je crains que il vienne.

✓

Je crains qu'il vienne.

Elision required.
✗

J'ai peur que il ne soit pas là.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il ne soit pas là.

Elision required.
✗

Je crains qu'il ne viendrait.

✓

Je crains qu'il ne vienne.

Conditional is incorrect.
✗

J'ai peur que ça soit vrai.

✓

J'ai peur que ce soit vrai.

Formal pronoun.
✗

Je crains que le fait qu'il vienne soit vrai.

✓

Je crains qu'il ne vienne.

Redundant.
✗

J'ai peur que il ne faille pas le faire.

✓

J'ai peur qu'il ne faille pas le faire.

Elision.

Sentence Patterns

J'ai peur de ___.

J'ai peur qu'il ___.

Je crains que ___ ne ___.

Avez-vous peur que ___ ___ ?

Real World Usage

Job Interview common

Je crains que mes compétences ne soient pas suffisantes.

Texting very common

J'ai peur qu'il soit en retard.

Travel common

J'ai peur que le vol soit annulé.

Social Media common

J'ai peur que les gens ne comprennent pas mon message.

Food Delivery occasional

J'ai peur que la nourriture soit froide.

Medical common

Je crains que ce ne soit grave.

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💡

The 'ils' trick

Always look at the 'ils' form of the present tense to find your subjunctive stem.
⚠️

Don't use 'que' twice

If the subject is the same, use 'de' + infinitive. Never use 'que' + subject + verb if the subject is you.
🎯

The 'ne explétif'

Adding 'ne' before the subjunctive verb makes you sound very sophisticated in formal writing.
💬

Register matters

Use 'Je crains que' for formal settings and 'J'ai peur que' for daily life.

Smart Tips

Stop! Change it to 'I'm afraid of...' (J'ai peur de...).

J'ai peur que je tombe. → J'ai peur de tomber.

Immediately think 'Subjunctive'.

J'ai peur qu'il vient. → J'ai peur qu'il vienne.

Use 'Je crains que' instead of 'J'ai peur que'.

J'ai peur que vous soyez déçu. → Je crains que vous ne soyez déçu.

Use the 'ils' form of the present tense as your base.

J'ai peur qu'il part. → J'ai peur qu'il parte.

Pronunciation

kuh -> k'

Elision

The 'que' becomes 'qu'' before a vowel.

parle (parl)

Subjunctive endings

Most endings are silent (-e, -es, -ent).

Concerned

J'ai peur... qu'il vienne.

Rising intonation on 'peur' to show anxiety.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Fear is a 'Subjunctive' monster: it changes the verb to keep you on your toes!

Visual Association

Imagine a person shivering (fear) while holding a 'Subjunctive' mask over their face. The mask changes the shape of the verb underneath.

Rhyme

When you're scared and feeling blue, use the subjunctive, it's the thing to do!

Story

Marie is scared. She is afraid that her cat will run away. She says, 'J'ai peur que mon chat s'enfuie.' Because she is the one who is scared, she also says, 'J'ai peur de perdre mon chat.'

Word Web

peurcraindrequesubjonctifdouteémotion

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about things you are afraid of happening today using 'J'ai peur que'.

Cultural Notes

The 'ne explétif' is often used in formal speech to sound more educated.

The subjunctive is used, but sometimes replaced by the indicative in very casual speech.

Standard French rules apply, but the subjunctive is strictly followed in formal education.

The subjunctive mood comes from Latin 'subjunctivus', meaning 'subjoined' or 'attached'.

Conversation Starters

“

De quoi as-tu peur ?

“

As-tu peur que le climat change ?

“

Crains-tu que l'intelligence artificielle remplace les emplois ?

“

Redoutes-tu que les nouvelles technologies ne nous isolent ?

Journal Prompts

Write about three things you are afraid of doing today.
Write about a concern you have for the future of the planet.
Describe a fear you have regarding your career path.
Reflect on a fear you once had and how it shaped your perspective.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Conjugate the verb in the subjunctive.

J'ai peur qu'il (venir) ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vienne
Subjunctive of venir is vienne.
Select the correct structure. Multiple Choice

J'ai peur ____ tomber.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Same subject requires 'de'.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

J'ai peur qu'il part.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: part
Should be 'parte'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur qu'il pleuve
Correct word order.
Translate to French. Translation

I am afraid he is late.

Answer starts with: J'a...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur qu'il soit en retard
Subjunctive of être is soit.
Conjugate 'avoir' in the subjunctive. Conjugation Drill

J'ai peur qu'il ____ peur.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ait
Subjunctive of avoir is ait.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

J'ai peur / (nous / partir)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que nous partions
Subjunctive of partir is partions.
Match the trigger to the mood. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Indicative vs Subjunctive
Penser takes indicative, Avoir peur takes subjunctive.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate the verb in the subjunctive.

J'ai peur qu'il (venir) ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vienne
Subjunctive of venir is vienne.
Select the correct structure. Multiple Choice

J'ai peur ____ tomber.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Same subject requires 'de'.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

J'ai peur qu'il part.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: part
Should be 'parte'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

peur / qu'il / j'ai / pleuve

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur qu'il pleuve
Correct word order.
Translate to French. Translation

I am afraid he is late.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur qu'il soit en retard
Subjunctive of être is soit.
Conjugate 'avoir' in the subjunctive. Conjugation Drill

J'ai peur qu'il ____ peur.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ait
Subjunctive of avoir is ait.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

J'ai peur / (nous / partir)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que nous partions
Subjunctive of partir is partions.
Match the trigger to the mood. Match Pairs

Penser vs Avoir peur

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Indicative vs Subjunctive
Penser takes indicative, Avoir peur takes subjunctive.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Nous avons peur qu'il ___ (pleuvoir) demain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pleuve
Fix the error Error Correction

J'ai peur que tu fasses trop de bruit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que tu fasses trop de bruit.
Reorder the words to make a sentence Sentence Reorder

peur / qu' / J' / il / soit / ai / tard / trop

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur qu'il soit trop tard
Translate to French Translation

I am afraid you are wrong.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que tu te trompes.
Match the beginning with the correct ending. Match Pairs

Match the pieces:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que... | tu sois là
Select the correct form Multiple Choice

J'ai peur que ma mère ___ (savoir) la vérité.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sache
Complete the sentence Fill in the Blank

Tu as peur qu'on ___ (perdre) le match ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: perde
Correct the verb Error Correction

J'ai peur que le café est froid.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que le café soit froid.
Put it in order Sentence Reorder

peur / a / Elle / qu' / ils / oublient / tout

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle a peur qu'ils oublient tout
Translate this tech worry Translation

I'm afraid the Wi-Fi isn't working.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai peur que le Wi-Fi ne marche pas.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Because it expresses an emotion and subjective uncertainty about the future.

No, it is grammatically incorrect and sounds unnatural.

It is a stylistic 'ne' used in formal French that does not make the sentence negative.

If the subject is the same, use 'de'. If different, use 'que'.

Yes, when followed by a clause.

Yes, you use the past subjunctive (e.g., 'J'ai peur qu'il soit venu').

Yes, joy, sadness, and doubt also trigger the subjunctive.

Absolutely, it is very common in daily conversation.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tengo miedo de que + subjuntivo

The conjugation patterns differ, but the trigger is identical.

German low

Ich habe Angst, dass...

German uses the indicative, French uses the subjunctive.

English low

I'm afraid that...

English relies on modal verbs to express uncertainty.

Japanese low

〜のではないかと心配する

Japanese uses particles and specific verb endings rather than a mood shift.

Arabic moderate

أخاف أن...

Arabic uses a specific case ending for the verb.

Chinese none

我怕...

Chinese uses context and auxiliary words.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Ninja Mode: Using 'Without' (sans que + Subjunctive)

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Six of the most common ways to use the subjunctive in French - Everyday French

French in Plain Sight
Le subjonctif/ the subjunctive tense in French explained in detail 🇫🇷 13:36 YouTube

Le subjonctif/ the subjunctive tense in French explained in detail 🇫🇷

Elizabeth Nkere

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