{"id":3070,"date":"2026-09-23T10:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T08:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/?p=3070"},"modified":"2026-09-23T10:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T08:32:16","slug":"subjunctive-or-indicative-in-french-when-to-use-the-subjunctive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/subjunctive-or-indicative-in-french-when-to-use-the-subjunctive\/","title":{"rendered":"Subjunctive or Indicative in French? When to use the Subjunctive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re learning French, sooner or later you hit a fork in the road: after que<\/em>, should you use the indicative or the subjunctive? It’s one of the most common stumbling blocks from intermediate level onwards. The subjunctive (le subjonctif<\/em>) is everywhere in everyday French: il faut que<\/em>, je veux que<\/em>, je ne pense pas que<\/em>. The hard part is knowing when it’s really needed, because almost identical expressions can require different moods: il semble que<\/em> takes the subjunctive, while il me semble que<\/em> takes the indicative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might think English speakers are at a disadvantage here, since the English subjunctive (“If I were you\u2026”) is now so rare that most of us barely notice it. In French, though, it’s everywhere, and it often turns up where English wouldn’t use it: “I’m glad you’re here” takes the subjunctive in French, je suis content que tu sois l\u00e0<\/em>, even though the English verb stays perfectly ordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article you’ll find the general logic, the three main groups of verbs and expressions that call for the subjunctive<\/strong>, the special cases (the ones where the indicative comes back into play) and a final summary to help you get it right every time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. The big picture: real action or uncertain action?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The indicative presents an action as a fact, something real or certain. The subjunctive is used when the action is uncertain or rejected<\/strong>: it’s a wish, a fear, a doubt, a necessity, not something that has been established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n