Le subjonctif présent
The mood for doubt, desire, emotion, and necessity — and the expressions that trigger it.
The rule
The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, or subjectivity — as opposed to the indicative mood, which states facts. It almost always appears in a subordinate clause introduced by "que".
It's triggered by specific expressions: il faut que (it's necessary that), je veux que (I want... to), je doute que (I doubt that), c'est dommage que (it's a shame that), and expressions of emotion like je suis content que.
To form it for most verbs, take the ils form of the present indicative, drop -ent, and add: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. So finir → ils finissent → que je finisse.
Examples
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Il faut que tu finisses tes devoirs.You need to finish your homework.
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Je veux qu'elle vienne avec nous.I want her to come with us.
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Elle doute qu'il ait raison.She doubts he's right.
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C'est dommage que vous partiez déjà.It's a shame you're already leaving.
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Je suis content que tu sois là.I'm glad you're here.
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Il est possible qu'il pleuve demain.It might rain tomorrow.
Common mistakes
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Il faut que tu finis tes devoirs.Il faut que tu finisses tes devoirs.
"Il faut que" triggers the subjunctive, not the indicative — "finisses", not "finis".
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Je pense qu'il vienne.Je pense qu'il vient.
"Je pense que" expresses certainty, so it takes the indicative — the subjunctive is only used after expressions of doubt, emotion, or necessity.
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Je veux que tu viens.Je veux que tu viennes.
Wanting someone else to do something ("je veux que") requires the subjunctive.
