Tas 1
Tas 1
Tas 1
The subjunctive is one of four moods in French (indicative, imperative, subjunctive and conditional). A mood is a
grammatical term which helps categorize verb tenses. The subjunctive mood is used more frequently in French than in
English. It has two tenses: present and past. It expresses several concepts, such as a wish, hope, or doubt, as well as
an obligation or a necessity. One such expression which is always followed by the subjunctive is il faut que (it is
necessary that ...).
Because the subjunctive occurs in subordinate clauses, the subordinating conjunction que is usually included as part of
the paradigm for the subjunctive forms.
In the singular for -re and -ir verbs, the subjunctive looks and sounds different from the present indicative since the
stem is different for the two moods. Listen:
Tex: Il faut que j'appelle Paw-Paw ce soir. Tex: I have to call Paw-Paw tonight.
Tammy: D'accord. A quelle heure est-ce Tammy: Okay. What time do we have to
qu'il faut que nous appelions Paw-Paw? call Paw-Paw?
Tex explique les règles à ses étudiants: Tex explains the rules to his students:
Il faut que vous parliez clairement; pas de You must speak clearly; no chewing gum!
chewing-gum!
Bien sûr, il faut qu'on finisse avant midi. Le Of course, we must end before meal times.
déjeuner, c'est sacré! Lunch is sacred!
Joe-Bob, il faut que tu attendes la fin du Joe-Bob, you must wait until the end of
cours avant de dormir. class before sleeping.
Et il faut que nous sortions ensemble après We must go out together after the review
le cours de révision pour prendre un verre. to have a drink.
2. Bette : Il faut que Tex m' ___________ mieux que Tammy! (aimer)
9. Tammy : Tex veut que nous _________ quelques années avant le mariage. (attendre)
10. Edouard : Il faut que nous ___________ dans un bon restaurant. (manger)
11. Tammy : Il ne faut pas que vous __________ en mangeant ('while eating')! (parler)
© 2009 • department of french & italian • liberal arts ITS • university of texas at austin updated: 10 Dec 09