{"id":119354,"date":"2023-10-08T17:29:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T21:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/french-irregular-subjunctive\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T04:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T09:13:28","slug":"french-irregular-subjunctive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/french-irregular-subjunctive\/","title":{"rendered":"Irregular Subjunctive Verbs in French"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve been studying the subjunctive<\/strong>\u2014one of the most notorious French grammatical moods\u2014you may already know that there are plenty of irregular forms.\u00a0Fortunately, it’s just a matter of getting comfortable with a few common patterns<\/a>, even when it comes to the French irregular subjunctive.<\/p>\n

In this post, you’ll find three tricks to learn to bring order to irregular subjunctive forms<\/strong>\u00a0with example conjugations.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=4]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Are the Regular French Subjunctive Rules?<\/h2>\n

In order to understand the irregular subjunctive in French, we must first understand the rules for the regular subjunctive<\/a><\/strong>. We’ll concentrate on the present tense throughout this article to keep things simple, since that’s the subjunctive tense you’re most likely to encounter.<\/p>\n

First, identify the present tense\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em> (“they” masculine\/\u201cthey” feminine) form of your verb and remove the -ent<\/em> ending. Then, replace the ending with the following, depending on your subject:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Subject<\/strong><\/th>Ending<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
je<\/em> (I)<\/td>-e<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
tu<\/em> (you [informal])<\/td>-es<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
il\/elle\/on<\/em> (he\/she\/one)<\/td>-e<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
nous<\/em> (we)<\/td>-ions<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
vous<\/em> (you [formal or plural])<\/td>-iez<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ils\/elles<\/em> (they)<\/td>-ent<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

For example, if we wanted to put the regular verb choisir<\/em>\u00a0(to choose)\u00a0in the present subjunctive, we would start with\u00a0ils\/elles choisissent\u00a0<\/em>(they choose). Next, we chop off the\u00a0-ent<\/em> ending so we’re left with the stem\u00a0choisiss-<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Now we add the subjunctive endings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je choisisse<\/em><\/td>I choose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu choisisses<\/em><\/td>you choose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on choisisse<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one chooses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous choisissions<\/em><\/td>we choose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous choisissiez<\/em><\/td>you choose (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles choisissent<\/em><\/td>they choose<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Suffice it to say there are many verbs that don’t follow regular subjunctive conjugation rules. So now that you know the regular rules, you’re ready to break them.<\/p>\n

French Irregular Subjunctive Tricks<\/h2>\n

Just because a verb is irregular in the subjunctive doesn’t mean there are no patterns to rely on.<\/p>\n

Irregular subjunctive verbs can be grouped into two main groups that share the same rules, which I’ll cover below. Then I’ll show you a third group that breaks all the rules.<\/p>\n

1. Verbs with Two Stems<\/h3>\n

Remember how we created our subjunctive stems above, by chopping -ent<\/em> off of the present tense\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em> conjugation? Some verbs have two different stems in the subjunctive depending on the subject.<\/p>\n

For example, the verb jeter\u00a0<\/em>(to throw) has the stem\u00a0jett-<\/em> for the\u00a0je, tu, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em> conjugations and the stem\u00a0jet-<\/em>\u00a0for the\u00a0nous\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0vous\u00a0<\/em>conjugations. Check out this common verb conjugated fully with its two stems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je jett<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I throw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu jett<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you throw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on jett<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one throws<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous jet<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we throw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous jet<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you throw (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles jett<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they throw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Not too complicated, right?<\/p>\n

Lucky for you, there are many other verbs that follow this two-stem pattern: one stem for the je, tu, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles\u00a0<\/em>conjugations and another for the\u00a0nous\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0vous\u00a0<\/em>conjugations.\u00a0Some stem changes are small like the one above, while others are big\u2014as in, the two stems look quite different. Let’s look at some of these verbs more deeply.<\/p>\n

Verbs with Small Stem Changes<\/h4>\n

Generally speaking, these stem changes come down to a single letter or accent.\u00a0Here are some very common examples with conjugations so you can see for yourself:<\/p>\n

Aller<\/em> (to go) has the stems aill<\/em>– and\u00a0all-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que j'aill<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu aill<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on aill<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one goes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous all<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous all<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you go (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles aill<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they go<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Lever <\/strong><\/em>(to lift) has the stems l\u00e8v<\/em>– and lev-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je l\u00e8v<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I lift<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu l\u00e8v<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you lift<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on l\u00e8v<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one lifts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous lev<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we lift<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous lev<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you lift (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles l\u00e8v<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they lift<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Essayer <\/strong><\/em>(to try) has the stems essai-<\/em> and essay-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que j'essai<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I try<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu essai<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you try<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on essai<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one tries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous essay<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we try<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous essay<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you try (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles essai<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they try<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Appeler <\/strong><\/em>(to call) has the stems\u00a0appell-<\/em> and\u00a0appel-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que j'appell<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu appell<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on appell<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one calls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous appel<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous appel<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you call (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles appell<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they call<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In addition to those common verbs, here’s a list of verbs with small stem changes that are useful to remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verbs<\/strong><\/th>Stem changes<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Acheter<\/em><\/strong> (to buy)<\/td>ach\u00e8t-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>\u00a0
\n
\nachet-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Croire<\/em><\/strong> (to believe)<\/td>croi-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>\u00a0
\n
\ncroy-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ennuyer<\/em><\/strong> (to bore)<\/td>ennui-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>\u00a0
\n
\nennuy-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pr\u00e9f\u00e9rer<\/em><\/strong> (to prefer)<\/td>pr\u00e9f\u00e8r-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>
\n
\npr\u00e9f\u00e9r-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prendre<\/em><\/strong> (to take)<\/td>prenn-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>
\n
\npren-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Voir<\/em><\/strong> (to see)<\/td>voi-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>
\n
\nvoy-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Verbs with Big Stem Changes<\/h4>\n

For these verbs, the differences between stems are more significant, usually involving a group of letters.<\/p>\n

Some of the most common verbs in this group include the following:<\/p>\n

Vouloir<\/em> (to want) has the stems veuill-<\/em> and\u00a0voul-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je veuill<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I want<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu veuill<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you want<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on veuill<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one wants<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous voul<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we want<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous voul<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you want (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles veuill<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they want<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Devoir <\/strong><\/em>(to have to) has the stems\u00a0doiv-<\/em> and\u00a0dev-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je doiv<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I have to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu doiv<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you have to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on doiv<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one has to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous dev<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we have to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous dev<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you have to (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles doiv<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they have to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Venir <\/strong><\/em>(to come) has the stems\u00a0vienn-<\/em> and\u00a0ven-<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je vienn<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu vienn<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on vienn<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one comes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous ven<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous ven<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you come (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles vienn<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they come<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In addition to these three common verbs, here’s a list of other “big stem change” verbs with their dual stems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verbs<\/strong><\/th>Stem changes<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Tenir<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(to keep)<\/td>tienn-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>
\n
\nten-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boire<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(to drink)<\/td>boiv-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and\u00a0ils\/elles<\/em>\u00a0
\n
\nbev-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mourir<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(to die)<\/td>meur-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em>\u00a0and ils\/elles<\/em>
\n\u00a0
\nmour-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recevoir<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(to receive)<\/td>re\u00e7oiv-<\/em>\u00a0for je<\/em>, tu<\/em>, il\/elle\/on<\/em> and ils\/elles<\/em>
\n
\nrecev-<\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0nous<\/em> and\u00a0vous<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

2. Verbs with Irregular Stems<\/h3>\n

Unlike the irregular subjunctive verbs above, some verbs simply have an irregular stem that you’ll tack your endings onto when conjugating. Not to worry, though: once you memorize the stem, the rest is easy!<\/p>\n

For example, one of the most common verbs in this category is faire<\/em>\u00a0(to do\/make)<\/strong>. It has the irregular subjunctive stem\u00a0fass-<\/em>,\u00a0and the normal subjunctive endings are added to that. Check out its full conjugation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je fass<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>I do<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu fass<\/strong>es<\/em><\/td>you do<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on fass<\/strong>e<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one does<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous fass<\/strong>ions<\/em><\/td>we do<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous fass<\/strong>iez<\/em><\/td>you do (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles fass<\/strong>ent<\/em><\/td>they do<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Here are some other common verbs with irregular subjunctive stems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verbs<\/strong><\/th>Irregular subjunctive stems<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Pouvoir<\/em><\/strong> (to be able to)<\/td>puiss-<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Savoir<\/em><\/strong> (to know)<\/td>sach-<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pleuvoir<\/em><\/strong> (to rain)<\/td>pleuv-<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Falloir<\/em><\/strong> (to be necessary)<\/td>faill-<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Keep in mind that pleuvoir<\/em> and falloir<\/em>\u00a0are normally only ever conjugated in the\u00a0il\/elle\/on\u00a0<\/em>form. For example, we would only say something like, il est n\u00e9cessaire\u00a0qu’il pleuve\u00a0<\/em>(it is necessary that it rains).<\/p>\n

3. Completely Irregular Subjunctive Verbs<\/h3>\n

There are some verbs that don’t seem to follow any rhyme or reason in the subjunctive. Not only are their stems totally irregular, but their endings also don’t follow the patterns outlined above.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, this group includes some of the most commonly used verbs in the French language\u2014\u00eatre<\/em> (to be) and avoir<\/em> (to have)<\/a>\u2014so you may learn them naturally simply through exposure.<\/p>\n

\u00catre:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que je sois<\/em><\/td>I am<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu sois<\/em><\/td>you are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on soit<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous soyons<\/em><\/td>we are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous soyez<\/em><\/td>you are (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles soient<\/em><\/td>they are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Avoir:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
French<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
que j'aie<\/em><\/td>I have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que tu aies<\/em><\/td>you have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'il\/elle\/on ait<\/em><\/td>he\/she\/one has<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que nous ayons<\/em><\/td>we have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
que vous ayez<\/em><\/td>you have (formal or plural)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
qu'ils\/elles aient<\/em><\/td>they have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Where to Practice the French Subjunctive<\/h2>\n

It can be helpful to have interactive practice tools to make sure you really remember everything. Here are my recommendations:<\/p>\n