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The subjunctive CHAPITRE 8

In English Verbs may be in one of three moods: indicative, imperative, or
subjunctive. Most verbs are in the indicative mood which is used to make statements
of fact. The imperative mood is used to make commands.
Indicative: Dorothy eats like a bird.

Imperative: Eat your vegetables!

The subjunctive mood is not often used in English. It is sometimes used in formal
situations, as in subordinate clauses following an expression of necessity.
It is important that he read this book. (You can tell from the form he read that
the verb is not in the indicative mood, which would be he reads.)
A Check the appropriate column to indicate whether the mood of the underlined
verb is in the indicative or subjunctive mood.
Indicative Subjunctive
1. La Paz is the world’s highest capital city.
2. It is necessary that he rehearse now.
3. It is important that your sister listen.
4. I think your brother wants to come with us.
5. It is important that he see a doctor.
6. Daisy speaks three languages.

In French Verbs may also be in the indicative, imperative, or subjunctive mood.

Unlike in English, the subjunctive mood is frequently used in French. One of its uses
is to express necessity, following phrases such as il faut que and il est important que.
Il faut que vous achetiez des médicaments.
To form the subjunctive of most verbs, drop the -ent ending from the present-tense
ils form and add these endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

parlent finissent vendent

que je parle finisse vende
que tu parles finisses vendes
qu’il/elle/on parle finisse vende
que nous parlions finissions vendions
que vous parliez finissez vendiez
qu’ils/elles parlent finissent vendent

Verbs, such as boire, devoir, prendre, venir, and voir, that have stem changes in the
present indicative have the same changes in the subjunctive.
Indicative: ils boivent, nous buvons Subjunctive: que je boive, que nous buvions
Indicative: ils prennent, vous prenez Subjunctive: qu’il prenne, que vous preniez
Indicative: ils voient, vous voyez Subjunctive: que tu voies, que vous voyiez

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Nom ___________________________________ Date ___________ Classe _________________

THE SUBJUNCTIVE CHAPITRE 8

B Check the appropriate column to indicate whether the mood of the underlined
verb is in the indicative or subjunctive. Indicative Subjunctive
1. Il faut que tu sortes le chien.
2. Au petit-déjeuner, je prends des céréales.
3. Il faut qu’elle vienne tout de suite.
4. Il est important que je parle avec toi.
5. Nous devons faire nos devoirs.
6. Il faut que tu dormes beaucoup.

In French The forms of the following verbs are irregular in the subjunctive.
aller être avoir faire
que je/j’ aille sois aie fasse
que tu ailles sois aies fasses
qu’il/elle/on aille soit ait fasse
que nous allions soyons ayons fassions
que vous alliez soyez ayez fassiez
qu’ils/elles aillent soient aient fassent

Il faut que j’aille chez le docteur.

C Complete each of the following sentences with the correct subjunctive form of
the verb in parentheses.
1. Il faut que nous __________nous levions____ de bonne heure. (se lever)
2. Il est important qu’on ______________________ le petit-déjeuner tous les
jours. (prendre)
3. Marc, il faut que tu ______________________ chez le docteur. (aller)
4. Il faut que j’ ______________________ ce soir. (étudier)
5. Il est nécessaire que tu ______________________ en forme. (être)
6. Il est important qu’ils ______________________ les médicaments. (acheter)
7. Simone et Sophie, il faut que vous ______________________ une trousse de
premiers soins. (avoir)
8. Il est important que nous ______________________ de la crème solaire.
(mettre)
9. Il faut que Mamie ______________________ patiente. (être)
10. Allez les enfants, il faut que vous ______________________ du lait. (boire)

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