Subjunctive or Indicative Mood? A Difficult Choice in French

Distinguishing the present subjunctive from the present indicative can be a real challenge, even for people who already have a strong command of the language. However, the difficulty goes beyond verb forms: more often than not, it is choosing the correct mood based on context that causes confusion. So how can you tell whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative?

This question comes up frequently for learners, regardless of their level or background. In general, the subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses introduced by “que,” but this rule is not absolute. The meaning of the sentence, the speaker’s intention, and the verb used can all influence the choice of mood.

Below are a few key guidelines to help you better understand when to use the subjunctive and when the indicative is more appropriate.

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Conjunctive expressions: subjunctive or indicative?

others only require it in certain contexts. Finally, some expressions can be followed by either the subjunctive or the indicative, depending on the meaning of the sentence.

The list below (non-exhaustive) presents several expressions that frequently cause difficulty for people learning French.

Expressions that require the subjunctive

à condition que, ce n’est pas que, avant que, afin que, à moins que, à supposer que, de peur que, en admettant que, en attendant que, de crainte que, jusqu’à ce que, malgré que, non pas que, non que, pour peu que pour que, pourvu que, quel que, quelque… que, qui que, quoi que, sans que, si peu que, si tant est que, soit que… soit que, supposé que, trop… pour que…, de façon à ce que, de manière à ce que

These expressions are often better understood through guided practice. Explore French courses at LRDG to work on these structures using concrete examples.

Expressions for which the subjunctive is common, but not mandatory

quoique, pour autant que, moyennant que, le fait que, en supposant que, encore que, au lieu que, autant que, bien que, de ce que, encore que

Expressions for which the mood depends on the meaning of the sentence*

d’aussi loin que, de façon que, de manière que, de sorte que, du plus loin que, en sorte que

Expressions that require the indicative

après que, quand, lorsque, comme, depuis que, pendant que, tandis que, parce que, puisque, comme

* When the verbal mood depends on context, it is helpful to remember that the subjunctive is used to express doubt, uncertainty, desire, necessity, intention, or possibility. The indicative, on the other hand, is used to express an action or fact considered certain or already realized.

Verbs and the subjunctive

Verbs that require the subjunctive after “que”

Some verbs require the use of the subjunctive when followed by the conjunction “que.” These are typically verbs expressing doubt, emotion, desire, or possibility, concepts that are frequently addressed in language training at LRDG.

Verbs of regret

regretter (to regret)

Verbs of fear

craindre (to fear), avoir peur (to be afraid), redouter (to dread), avoir honte (to feel ashamed)

Verbs of doubt

douter (to doubt), il semble (it seems), nier (to deny), contester (to contest), ne pas croire (not to believe), ne pas penser (not to think), ne pas être certain (not to be certain) 

Verbs of wish or desire

avoir hâte (to look forward to), souhaiter (to wish), avoir besoin (to need), avoir envie (to want), désirer (to desire), aimer (to like/love), aimer mieux (to prefer), proposer (to suggest), suggérer (to suggest), préférer (to prefer), vouloir (to want), s’attendre (à ce que) (to expect), ne pas espérer (not to hope)

Verbs of command

vouloir (to want), ordonner (to order), exiger (to demand), conseiller (to advise), demander (to ask), tenir (à ce que) (to insist), ne pas dire (to forbid saying) 

Verbs of prohibition or permission

défendre (to forbid), interdire (to prohibit), refuser (to refuse), s’opposer (à ce que) (to oppose), permettre (to allow), accepter (to accept), consentir (à ce que) (to consent) 

Verbs of emotion or feeling

trouver normal (to find normal), trouver intéressant (to find interesting), être content·e (to be happy), être heureux·se (to be happy), être désolé·e (to be sorry), être triste (to be sad), être étonné·e (to be surprised), apprécier (to appreciate), détester (to hate), se réjouir (to rejoice) 

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Impersonal expressions followed by the subjunctive

Obligation

il faut, il est nécessaire, il est obligatoire, il est essentiel, il est important, il importe, il convient, il est urgent, il est grand temps, il vaut mieux

Probability

il est possible, il se peut que, il est impossible, il arrive que

Preference

il est important, il est préférable, il est souhaitable, il est dommage, il est inacceptable

Evaluation and emotion

il est bon, il est mauvais, il est normal, il est utile, il est faux, il est juste, il est naturel, il est opportun

il est dommage, il est honteux, il est regrettable, il est surprenant, il est triste, il est scandaleux

These nuances are often difficult to master on one’s own. Discover LRDG’s teaching culture and our approach to supporting every learner.

Verbs that require the indicative

Some verbs require the indicative when used in the affirmative form, even when followed by “que.” These are typically verbs of statement, opinion, or perception.

Verbs of certainty

être certain (to be certain), être sûr (to be sure), ne pas douter (not to doubt), être clair (to be clear), être évident (to be obvious), être vrai (to be true), être convaincu (to be convinced), être persuadé (to be persuaded)

Verbs of opinion

penser (to think), croire (to believe), estimer (to consider), se douter (to suspect), s’imaginer (to imagine), trouver (to find)

Verbs of declaration

dire (to say), annoncer (to announce), raconter (to tell), écrire (to write), promettre (to promise), affirmer (to affirm), reconnaître (to acknowledge), confirmer (to confirm), préciser (to clarify)

Verbs of perception

entendre (to hear), voir (to see), sentir (to feel), remarquer (to notice), constater (to observe), sembler (to seem)

Verbs of hope and likelihood

espérer (to hope), il est probable (it is likely), supposer (to suppose)

Verbs ofrecollection

se rappeler (to remember), se souvenir (to remember)

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Understanding the difference between the subjunctive and the indicative is a key step but practicing them in a variety of contexts is what truly leads to progress.

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