Subjunctive triggers and forms

The subjunctive becomes a real working tense at B2. You need it not only because of set phrases, but because French uses it after many triggers of necessity, emotion, doubt, and desire.

Common triggers

• necessity / obligation: il faut que, je veux que
• emotion / judgment: je suis content que, c'est dommage que
• doubt / uncertainty: je doute que, bien que
• order / request: elle demande que, nous préférons que

Forms to know

• que je sois, que tu aies, qu'il fasse, que nous allions, qu'ils prennent
• Many common verbs have irregular subjunctive stems: être, avoir, faire, aller, pouvoir, savoir, vouloir, prendre

Watch out

The subjunctive is triggered by structure, not by the emotional strength of the English sentence. Learn the trigger phrase with the subjunctive form that follows it.