Subjonctif présent - Actif (Basic Format)

38A

Subjonctif présent – actif (Basic format)

For the subjects:  je, tu, il - elle - on, and ils - elles:

1)   For all verbs (besides the exceptions listed in the table below), take the "ils" form of the verb in the Présent – Indicatif …

Example: ils prennent

2)   Remove the "-ent" ending:

Example: prenn-

3)   Add que before the subject, and then add the  appropriate ending:

-e (je),  -es (tu),  -e (il, elle, on),  -ent (ils, elles)

Examples:

... que je prenne

... que tu prennes

... qu'il/elle/on prenne

... qu'ils/elles prennent

For the subjects: nous, and vous:

1)   For all verbs (except those listed in the table below), take the "nous" form of the verb in the Présent – Indicatif …

Example: nous prenons

2)   Remove the "-ons" ending:

Example: pren-

3)   Add que before the subject, and the appropriate ending:

-ions (nous),  -iez (vous)

Example: ... que nous prenions  (contains only one "n")

A few verbs take special spellings, as shown in the table below:

avoir:

(to have)

aie,  aies,  ait,

ayons,  ayez,  aient

être:

(to be)

sois,  sois,  soit,

soyons,  soyez,  soient

aller:

(to go)

aille,  ailles,  aille,

allions,  alliez,  aillent

devoir

(to have to)

doive,  doives,  doive,

devions,  deviez,  doivent

faire:

(to do/to make)

fasse,  fasses,  fasse,

fassions,  fassiez,  fassent

falloir

(to be necessary)

faille – only done with the subject "il"

pouvoir:

(to be able)

puisse,  puisses,  puisse,

puissions,  puissiez,  puissent

savoir:

(to know)

sache,  saches,  sache,

sachions,  sachiez,  sachent

vouloir:

(to want)

veuille,  veuilles,  veuille,

voulions,  vouliez,  veuillent

38A

Examples:

A) Present time-frame introduction: (When the introduction to the Subjonctif passé is in a present time frame):

Example 1 (masculin / féminin singulier)

Je suis (present time frame) surpris qu'il (elle) travaille si fort.

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) does work so hard. (for emphasis, or negative)

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) is working so hard.

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) works so hard.

Example 2 (masculin / féminin singulier)

Je suis (present time frame) surpris qu'il (elle) parle à l'entraîneur.

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) does speak / does talk to the trainer. (for emphasis, or negative)

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) is speaking / is talking to the trainer.

I am (present time frame) surprised that he (she) speaks / talks to the trainer.

Example 3 (masculin / féminin singulier)

Je suis (present time frame) triste qu'il (elle) ait mal à la tête.

I am (present time frame) sad that he (she) does have a headache. (for emphasis, or negative)

I am (present time frame) sad that he (she) is having a headache.

I am (present time frame) sad that he (she) has a headache.

B) Past time-frame introduction: (When the introduction to the Subjonctif passé is in a past time frame):

Example 4 (masculin / féminin singulier)

J'étais (past time frame) surpris qu'il (elle) travaille si fort.

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) did work so hard. (routinely, at some time in the past) (for emphasis, or negative)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) used to work so hard. (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) was working so hard.

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) would work so hard. (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) worked so hard. (routinely, at some time in the past)

Example 5 (masculin / féminin singulier)

J'étais (past time frame) surpris qu'il (elle) parle à l'entraîneur.

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) did speak / did talk to the trainer. (routinely, at some time in the past). (for emphasis, negative)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) spoke / talked to the trainer. (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) used to speak / used to talk to the trainer. (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) was speaking / was talking to the trainer. (was "in the act of" speaking / talking)

I was (past time frame) surprised that he (she) would speak / would talk to the trainer. (routinely, at some time in the past)

Example 6 (masculin / féminin singulier)

J'étais (past time frame) triste qu'il (elle) ait mal à la tête.

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) did have a headache ... (was "in a state of" having a headache) (for emphasis, or negative)

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) had a headache. (was "in a state of" having a headache)

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) was having a headache. (was "in a state of" having a headache)

Example 7 (masculin / féminin singulier)

J'étais (past time frame) triste qu'il (elle) ait des maux de tête.

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) did have headaches ... (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) had headaches ... (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) used to have headaches ... (routinely, at some time in the past)

I was (past time frame) sad that he (she) would have headaches ... (routinely, at some time in the past)