French Grammar: Present Subjunctive of Verbs with Two Stems
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Identify:
French Grammar: Present Subjunctive of Verbs with Two Stems
la grammaire française: les verbes avec deux radicaux au présent du subjonctif
Study:
The subjunctive is not a verb tense, but a mood. It is an alternative verb form that has to be used in certain circumstances. “Mood” is actually a good way to think of the subjunctive, since it often expresses a particular emotional mood – sadness, happiness, anger, desire, hopefulness, uncertainty, doubt, denial, etc.
The mood (sometimes called the mode) of a verb expresses an attitude toward the verb or describes how it is used in the sentence. There are two moods in French: the indicative mood and the subjunctive mood. The more common of the two moods is the indicative mood. The first forms of verbs learned in French are usually in the indicative mood. The indicative is used to indicate or express actions that definitely are taking place, did take place, or will take place. The subjunctive mood expresses the opposite of the indicative; it expresses what may happen.
Let’s compare the indicative and the subjunctive:
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| Indicative | Subjunctive |
| Indicates or points something out | Is subjective (not objective) |
| Is factual | Not factual |
| Statement stands alone | Statement can not stand alone |
| Is independent | Is dependent on something |
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Studying the chart above can be helpful in learning the uses of the subjunctive as it compares to the indicative. The French subjunctive occurs primarily in dependent clauses. The dependent clause that contains the subjunctive usually follows a main clause that contains the indicative. The main and dependent clauses must have a different subject, and the clauses are linked by que (or qu’).
Click here to learn How to Form the Present Subjunctive of Regular Verbs.
Click here to learn How to Form the Present Subjunctive of Irregular Verbs.
A handful of verbs have two (2) different stems to form the Present Subjunctive:
the 3rd person plural (ils) stem of the Present Indicative –> for je, tu, il, elle, on, ils, elles
the 1st person plural (nous) stem of the Present Indicative –> for nous, vous
The following is a list of verbs that have two (2) different stems in the Present Subjunctive:
APERCEVOIR : to notice / to catch sight of / to glimpse
j’aperçoive, tu aperçoives, il/elle/on aperçoive, nous apercevions, vous aperceviez, ils/elles aperçoivent
APPELER : to call
j’appelle, tu appelles, il/elle/on appelle, nous appelions, vous appeliez, ils/elles appellent
ACHETER : to buy
j’achète, tu achètes, il/elle/on achète, nous achetions, vous achetiez, ils/elles achètent
BOIRE : to drink
je boive, tu boives, il/elle/on boive, nous buvions, vous buviez, ils/elles boivent
CROIRE : to believe
je croie, tu croies, il/elle/on croie, nous croyions, vous croyiez, ils/elles croient
DEVOIR : to have to / must / should
je doive, tu doives, il/elle/on doive, nous devions, vous deviez, ils/elles doivent
EMPLOYER : to use
j’emploie, tu emploies, il/elle/on emploie, nous employions, vous employiez, ils/elles emploient
ENNUYER : to bother / to annoy / to bore
j’ennuie, tu ennuies, il/elle/on ennuie, nous ennuyions, vous ennuyiez, ils/elles ennuient
ENVOYER : to send
j’envoie, tu envoies, il/elle/on envoie, nous envoyions, vous envoyiez, ils/elles envoient
JETER : to throw
je jette, tu jettes, il/elle/on jette, nous jetions, vous jetiez, ils/elles jettent
MENER : to lead
je mène, tu mènes, il/elle/on mène, nous menions, vous meniez, ils/elles mènent
MOURIR : to die
je meure, tu meures, il/elle/on meure, nous mourions, vous mouriez, ils/elles meurent
PAYER : to pay / to pay for
je paie, tu paies, il/elle/on paie, nous payions, vous payiez, ils/elles paient
PRÉFÉRER : to prefer
je préfère, tu préfères, il/elle/on préfère, nous préférions, vous préfériez, ils/elles préfèrent
PRENDRE (to take):
je prenne, tu prennes, il/elle/on prenne, nous prenions, vous preniez, ils/elles prennent
RECEVOIR : to receive
je reçoive, tu reçoives, il/elle/on reçoive, nous recevions, vous receviez, ils/elles reçoivent
RÉPÉTER : to repeat
je répète, tu répètes, il/elle/on répète, nous répétions, vous répétiez, ils/elles répètent
TENIR : to hold
je tienne, tu tiennes, il/elle/on tienne, nous tenions, vous teniez, ils/elles tiennent
VENIR : to come
je vienne, tu viennes, il/elle/on vienne, nous venions, vous veniez, ils/elles viennent
VOIR : to see
je voie, tu voies, il/elle/on voie, nous voyions, vous voyiez, ils/elles voient
Adapt:
Je veux que vous répétiez après moi.
I want you all to repeat after me.
Je doute qu’ils viennent.
I doubt that they are coming.
Le chef insiste que ses employés prennent une pause.
The boss insists that his employees take a break.
Il est douteux que les enfants croient toujours au Saint Nicolas.
It is doubtful that the children still believe in Santa Claus.
Il est urgent que nous payions nos factures.
It is urgent that we pay our bills.
Je ne veux pas que tu achètes cette robe-là.
I do not want you (informal) to buy that dress.
Le professeur désire que vous receviez de bonnes notes.
The professor wants you all to receive good grades.
Le médecin suggère que je boive plus d’eau.
The doctor suggests that I drink more water.
