The Subjunctive and the Imperative

 

Most French language learners spend their early months chasing tenses present, the past, the future and for good reason. Tenses tell you when something happens. But French grammar holds something even more expressive than time: mood. And among all the moods in the French language, two stand out for the richness they bring to communication the Subjunctive (le subjonctif) and the Imperative (l'impératif).

These two moods are not about time. They are about relationship, attitude, and intention. learn them, and French language stops sounding like a dictionary and starts sounding like a human being.

What Is a Mood, exactly?

Before diving in, let's clarify the term. In the grammar, a 'mood' or 'mode in French' refers to the speaker's stance toward what they are saying. Are they stating a fact? That's the indicator. Are they expressing a condition? That's the condition. Are they expressing doubt, desire, or emotion? That's the subjunctive. Are they issuing a command or invitation? That's the necessity.

Think of tenses as the clock of language and moods as the emotional temperature.

The Subjunctive (Le Subjonctif)

What Is the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive is the mood of uncertainty, subjectivity, and feeling. Whenever a speaker steps away from stating cold facts and enters the territory of wishes, fears, doubts, obligations, or personal judgments, French language typically demanding the subjunctive. It signals: 'This is not neutral information this is filtered through how I feel or what I believe.'

English lanaguage has a dying form of the subjunctive 'I suggest that he be present, but French uses it constantly and vigorously. It cannot be avoided.

How to Form the Present Subjunctive

For most verbs, take the third-person plural (ils) form of the present indicative, drop the -ent ending, and add the subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

Example with parler (to speak):

Base: ils parlent → stem: parl-

Subject                 Form

que je                   parle

que tu                   parles

qu'il/elle                parle

que ours               parlions

que vous              parliez

qu'ils/elles            parlent

Irregular verbs like être, avoir, aller, and faire have their own unique subjunctive stems and must be memorized separately.

1. être → _que je sois/ que tu sois/ qu'il soit…
2. Avoir → _ que j'aie/ que tu aies/ qu'il ait…
3. aller → _ que j'aille/ que tu ailles/ qu'il aille…
4. fair → _ que je fasse/ que tu fasses/ qu'il fasse…

When to Use the Subjunctive

The subjunctive is almost always found in a subordinate clause introduced by que. The trigger is in the main clause. Here are the main categories:

1. Expressions of Wish or Desire

1. Je veux que tu viennes avec moi. — I want you to come with me.
2. Elle préfère qu'on parte tôt. — She prefers that we leave early.

2. Expressions of Emotion

1. Je suis content que tu sois là. — I'm glad you are here.
2. Il est triste qu'elle ne puisse pas venir. — He is sad that she cannot come.

3. Expressions of Doubt or Uncertainty

1. Je doute qu'il ait raison. — I doubt that he is right.
2. Il est possible qu'il pleuve demain. — It's possible that it will rain tomorrow.

4. Impersonal Expressions of Necessity or Judgment

1. Il faut que vous fassiez attention. — You must pay attention.
2. Il est important que nous soyons à l'heure. — It is important that we be on time.

5. Specific conjunctions

Certain conjunctions always trigger the subjunctive, no matter what follows:

1. bien que (although): Bien qu'il soit affamé, il travaille. — Although he is humgry, he works.
2. pour que (so that): Je parle lentement pour que tu comprennes. — I speak slowly so that you understand.
3. avant que (before): Pars avant qu'il arrive. — Leave before he arrives.
4. à moins que (unless): Je viendrai à moins qu'il ne pleuve. — I'll come unless it rains.

A Note on the Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive (subjonctif passé) is formed with the subjunctive of avoir or être + the past participle. It expresses a past action viewed through the lens of the subjunctive:

Je suis désolé qu'il soit parti sans me dire au revoir. — I'm sorry that he left without saying goodbye.

The Imperative ( L'Impératif )

What Is the Imperative?

The imperative is the mood of direct-action commands, instructions, requests, encouragements, and invitations. It is the mood use when want something to happen. Unlike every other mood, the imperative does not use a subject pronoun. The verb stands alone, and the audience is understood.

French has only three imperative forms: 

tu (informal singular), nous (let's…), and vous (formal or plural).

How to Form the Imperative

For regular -er verbs, take the present tense tu form and drop the final -s. For -ir and -re verbs, keep the present tense forms as they are.

Example with manger (to eat):

Form                      Imperative

tu                           Mange! — Eat!

nous                      Mangeons! — Let's eat!

vous                      Mangez! — Eat! (plural/formal)

Example with finir (to finish):

Form                       Imperative

tu                            Finis ! — Finish!

nous                       Finissons ! — Let's finish!

vous                       Finissez ! — Finish!

Irregular Imperatives

Four essential verbs have irregular imperative forms:

Verb                      tu                             nous                         vous

être                      sois                         soyons                      soyez

avoir                     aie                           ayons                       ayez

aller                      va                            allons                       allezs

avoir                   sache                       sachons                   sachez

Examples in context:

1. Sois patient! — Be patient!
2. Ayez confiance! — Have confidence!
3. Allons-y! — Let's go!
4. Sache que tu n'es pas seul. — Know that you are not alone.

The Negative Imperative

To turn a command into a prohibition, simply wrap it with ne…pas:

1. Ne parle pas si vite ! — Don't speak so fast!
2. N'oubliez pas vos affaires. — Don't forget your belongings.
3. Ne soyons pas en retard. — Let's not be late.

Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative

When reflexive verbs are used in the imperative, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb and is attached with a hyphen. 

Note: that te becomes toi in positive commands:

1. Lève-toi ! — Get up!
2. Dépêchons-nous ! — Let's hurry!
3. Ne te décourage pas. — Don't get discouraged.

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