Unit 23: The subjunctive - regulars

1 -er, -ir verbs

For -er and -ir verbs, take the ils form of the present tense, remove -ent and add -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent:

 

 

 

Bien que nous aimions bien le théâtre, nous y allons rarement  

Although we like the theatre a lot, we rarely go

Il faut que je finisse cette rédaction avant vendredi  

I must finish this essay by Friday

  See three more examples

2 Semi-irregular verbs

This rule holds for semi-irregulars such as commencer or manger which do not make the changes that they do in the present:

Il faut que nous mangions [and not *mangeions] à six heures  

We must eat at six o'clock

Je veux que nous commencions [and not *commençions] tout de suite  

I want us to start right away

But the rule does not hold for the remaining semi-irregulars which make the same changes as in the present tense:

Il faudra que j'achète / nous achetions une nouvelle voiture  

I'll / We'll have to buy a new car

Il est bien possible que je rejette / nous rejetions cette offre  

It's very possible that I'll / we'll reject this offer

3 Other -ir and -re, -oir verbs

Also following the above pattern are many -ir verbs with the present participle form ending in -ant rather than in -issant, and some -re and -oir verbs:

 

 

 

 

Je suis très contente qu'il se sente mieux aujourd'hui  

I'm very pleased he's feeling better today

Il n'y a aucun magasin qui vende cet article  

There are no shops selling this item

Comme il n'y avait pas de chaises, il a fallu que nous nous asseyions par terre  

As there weren't any chairs, we had to sit on the floor

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