The subjunctive mood in French has a reputation as one of the trickiest grammatical challenges of the language, both in knowing when and how to use it. Fortunately, by learning a series of subjunctive French phrases, we can quickly identify many of the common contexts where the subjunctive is used.

Since they trigger the use of the subjunctive, these expressions du subjonctif indicate contexts when we need to use the subjunctive mood. For how to form the subjunctive, we recommend familiarizing yourself with présent subjonctif conjugation in our detailed post. We cover the other subjunctive tenses in our big post on French conjugation.

In this post, we’ll introduce the five main types of subjunctive French phrases, also known as French subordinating conjunctive phrases.

For every one of the conjunctive phrases we’ll introduce here, its use triggers the use of the subjunctive in the subordinating clause which follows. For a general overview of French conjunctions, check out our post on essential linking words in French.

Throughout this lesson, you’ll see plenty of subjunctive French sentences. To highlight the focus of our lesson in all of the example sentences, we’ll put the subordinating conjunctions in bold, and the resulting subjunctive conjugations in italics.

À condition que vous soyez prêts, allons-y ! – As long as you’re ready, let’s get going!

Intention conjunctions

We’ll start out our lesson on French subjunctive conjunctions with these expressions that indicate intention.

These conjunctions serve to link an action that someone has the intention of doing so that another event can occur.

afin que

Our first subjunctive French conjunction is afin que, which can be translated as so that or in order that.

Let’s take a look at this subjunctive French phrase in action, noticing how the verb which follows afin que is conjugated in the subjonctif présent:

• Veuillez me dire quand vous avez fini, afin que je puisse mettre à jour le document. – Please tell me when you have finished, so that I can update the document.

• Il l’aide à étudier afin qu’elle réussisse l’examen. – He helps her study in order that she may pass the exam.

de sorte que

The expression de sorte que means so that, in order that, or so.

• Il ralentit de sorte qu’ils puissent le suivre. – He slows down so that they can follow him.

• Je te rappelle la météo de sorte que tu mettes un imperméable. – I’m reminding you of the weather so that you put on a raincoat.

pour que

The expression pour que means so that, in order that, or for.

• Je mets les plats au milieu de la table pour que vous puissiez vous servir. – I am putting the dishes in the middle of the table so that you’re able to serve yourselves.

• Le médecin est sorti de la salle pour que le patient ait de l’intimité. – The doctor left the room so that the patient could have privacy.

Restriction conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive conjunction indicates restriction or concession. This type of conjunction introduces an event that will or would restrict another event from occurring, or that would serve as an obstacle for the second event to occur.

Let’s see some example sentences for each one of these subjunctive French phrases.

à moins que

À moins que is a conjunctive phrase that generally translates as unless, in the context of one thing being possible unless the other condition exists.

• J’arriverai vers midi, à moins que mon vol ait un délai. – I’ll arrive around noon, unless my flight has a delay.

• Vous vous amuserez, à moins que le parc d’attractions ne soit fermé. – You will have fun, unless the amusement park is closed.

ne explétif

In the second example, we’ve used the ne explétif. The inclusion of the ne explétif is optional and formal, but serves to reinforce the negative connotation of certain subjunctive French phrases such as à moins que.

Note that the ne explétif does not require “pas” and does not have any grammatically negative function in the sentence.

The ne explétif is also used with the following subjunctive phrases in French that we’ll see below: avant que, de crainte que, de peur que, and sans que.

bien que

The phrase bien que means although or even though. Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Bien que je sois malade, la fête passera. – Even though I am sick, the party will happen.

• J’y serai bien que mon ex vienne. – I will be there, even though my ex is coming.

quoique

The conjunction quoique can be translated as although, though, or even though. As with bien que, this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

Unlike most of the conjunctive phrases we’re looking at here, quoique is commonly used in the first half of a sentence, with the opposing clause coming after the subjunctive clause.

• Quoiqu‘il soit déjà tard, on va toujours en discuter. – Although it’s already late, we will still discuss it.

• Quoiqu’il ne soit pas prêt, je lui donne l’examen pareil. – Even though he’s not ready, I’m giving him the test anyway.

encore que

Our final restrictive subjunctive conjunction is encore que, which means although, even though, or notwithstanding that.

• Nous n’adopterons pas un chien encore que tu veuilles le faire. – We will not adopt a dog, even though you want to.

• C’est la bonne réponse, encore que tu aies besoin de plus de détail. – That is the correct answer, although you need more detail.

Expectation conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive phrase in French is used to introduce expectations.

These subjunctive phrases introduce expectations, on the condition of which a certain event will occur.

à supposer que

Our first expectation subjunctive conjunction is à supposer que, which means supposing that or even assuming that.

• Je peux faire à manger, à supposer que tu aies nettoyé la cuisine. – I can cook, assuming that you’ve cleaned the kitchen.

• Ils vont se marier, à supposer qu’elle soit prête. – They are going to get married, assuming that she’s ready.

en admettant que

The next expectation conjunction is en admettant que, which also means supposing that or assuming that.

• L’équipe gagnera, en admettant qu’ils aient autant pratiqué. – The team will win, supposing that they have practiced enough.

• Nous lui donnons la voiture, en admettant qu’il le veuille. – We are giving him the car, assuming that he wants it.

si tant est que

Our last expectation conjunction is si tant est que, which can be translated as supposing or supposing that.

• Si tant est que tu me dise la vérité, tout ira bien. – Supposing you are telling me the truth, everything will work out.

• J’aimerais te parler cet après-midi, si tant est que cela soit possible. – I would like to talk to you this afternoon, supposing that it is possible.

Time conjunctions

Another type of subjunctive conjunction in French is the time conjunction. These conjunctions introduce an element of time as a condition for a certain event to occur.

avant que

The phrase avant que means before, and is followed by a condition that must occur before another event can happen. This phrase can take the ne explétif, but does not need to, especially in spoken French.

• Je vais partir avant qu’il ne se lève. – I’m going to leave before he gets up.

• Nous le cacherons avant que vous nous voyiez. – We will hide it before you see us.

Note that while avant que takes the subjonctif, its sister phrase après que (meaning “after”) takes the indicatif (often in the form of le futur or le futur antérieur). This discrepancy is due to the subjonctif being used in cases of uncertainty (as in, before something happens, there is an element of uncertainty). The indicatif, on the other hand, is used where there’s more certainty (as in, after something happens, you know what happened). It’s common for native French speakers to use the subjonctif after après que, but it’s actually grammatically incorrect!

en attendant que

The subjunctive phrase en attendant que has a variety of possible translations, including while waiting for, in expecting that, or with the expectation that. This phrase introduces an occurrence that will cause another action to stop.

• En attendant que le médecin soit prêt, l’enfant lit. – While waiting for the doctor to be ready, the child reads.

• Je me prépare en attendant qu’il vienne à l’heure. – I’m getting ready with the expectation that he will arrive on time.

jusqu’à ce que

The conjunction jusqu’à ce que means until or up to the point that. This conjunction introduces an event that will cause another event to cease. Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Je caresse le chat jusqu’à ce qu’il s’endorme. – I pet the cat until he falls asleep.

• Nous pratiquons jusqu’à ce que nous nous sentions prêts. – We practice up to the point that we feel ready.

Condition conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive conjunction in French that we’ll look at is the conditional conjunction. As indicated by the name, this type of conjunction introduces a condition that is necessary for the situation in the other clause to occur.

à condition que

The subjunctive conjunction à condition que can be translated as on the condition that or as long as, while introducing the action that must be done for the other to occur.

• Tu peux aller au cinéma avec tes amis à condition que la vaisselle soit faite. – You can go to the cinema with your friends on the condition that the dishes are done.

• Nous assistons au concert à condition que Zaz chante ! – We’ll go to the concert as long as Zaz sings!

de façon que

Next, the conjunction de façon que means so that or such that.

• On lui a donné la tâche de façon qu’elle prenne responsabilité. – We gave her the task so that she takes responsibility.

• Parlez de façon que je puisse vous entendre. – Speak in a way such that I can hear you.

pourvu que

The subjunctive French phrase pourvu que means provided that, and can sometimes be translated as let’s hope that. This conjunction appears in a famous quote by Napoléon Bonaparte’s mother: «Pourvu que ça dure.» – “Let’s hope it lasts.” Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Il viendra, pourvu qu’on puisse le convaincre. – He will come, provided that we can convince him.

• Pourvu que vous ayez le temps, vous pouvez finir la tâche. – Provided that you have the time, you can finish the task.

sans que

The conjunction sans que means without or without which, and can take the ne explétif.

• On l’a fait sans qu’il ne sache. – We did it without him knowing.

• Tu as acheté le cadeau sans que nous ne nous en apercevions. – You bought the gift without us noticing.

non pas que

The negative phrase non pas que means not that, and can be used without pas for more formal literary contexts. This phrase is often followed by the conjunction mais (but).

• Non pas que je te déteste, mais tu m’énerves. – Not that I hate you, but you annoy me.

• Non que cela ne soit pas possible, mais ça serait très difficile. – Not that it isn’t possible, but it would be very difficult.

pour peu que

The phrase pour peu que can mean in the event that or should.

• Pour peu que tu doives y aller, je t’accompagnerai. – Should you have to go there, I will accompany you.

• Le professeur imprime les copies pour peu que les élèves viennent en cours. – The teacher prints copies in the event that the students come to class.

soit que… soit que

Another conditional conjunctive phrase is soit que… soit que, which means whether… or. This expression is used to express doubt or choice between two options.

• Soit qu’il pleuve, soit qu’il neige, la poste va arriver. – Whether it rains or whether it snows, the post will arrive.

• Soit que tu la fasses, soit que je la fasse, la tâche sera complétée. – Whether you do it or I do it, the task will be completed.

pour éviter que

Our final conditional conjunctive phrase is pour éviter que, meaning in order to avoid or ensuring that.

• Je cache les bonbons pour éviter que les enfants les trouvent. – I’m hiding the candy in order to avoid the kids finding it.

• Vous faites des préparations pour éviter que le pire cas ne se produise pas. – You make preparations to ensure that the worst case doesn’t happen.

Fear conjunctions

Our final type of French subjunctive phrases are used to express fear. These conjunctive phrases introduce an event that instills fear or poses a risk and should be avoided.

de crainte que

The phrase de crainte que can be translated as for fear that or lest. This phrase can be followed by the ne explétif.

• J’ai de la preuve, de crainte qu’on ne me doute. – I have proof, lest anyone doubt me.

• Il se prépare de crainte que je le choisisse. – He is preparing himself, for fear that I choose him.

de peur que

Our second and final fear conjunction is de peur que, which can translate as for fear of, out of fear that, or lest. As with de crainte que, de peur que can be followed by the ne explétif.

• Nous avons tout nettoyé de peur que vous veniez. – We cleaned everything out of fear that you would come.

• Je n’ouvrais pas la porte de peur que quelqu’un ne soit à l’autre côté. – I didn’t open the door lest someone be on the other side.

Other conjunctions

So far, this post has given a very thorough overview of the subordinating conjunctive phrases that trigger the use of the subjunctive. Before we go, we’ll introduce two final French words that trigger the subjunctive, even though they don’t fall into the same grammatical categories as the ones we’ve focused on so far.

il faut que

No lesson on subjunctive French phrases would be complete without mentioning il faut que. This is one of the classic subjunctive phrases in French that’s often taught alongside the conjugation of the mood since it’s so common, and since it always triggers the use of the subjunctive.

The phrase il faut que is an impersonal way to state it is necessary that. As indicated, il faut que introduces necessity without needing to be conjugated to a particular subject.

• Il faut que tu fasses la vaisselle ! – It is necessary that you do the dishes!

• Il faut que les politiciens comprennent qu’on en a marre ! – The politicians need to understand that we’re fed up!

Il faut que is one of the many ways of expressing obligation in French that we cover in our dedicated post, alongside other equivalents of must, to need to, and to have to.

que

Our final French subjunctive word is que, which generally translates here as that. Hopefully you’ve noticed by now that que appears in all of the subjunctive conjunctions we’ve seen so far!

Que can also be used on its own to introduce a new clause in the sentence. However, the conjunction que only triggers the subjunctive when it is used with a main clause that expresses subjectivity: hope, doubt, opinion, preference, or hypothetical. Additionally, que is used more often in French than in English, because its equivalent is often optional in English.

• Je doute que tu aies fait la lessive. – I doubt [that] you did the laundry.

• Il me semble que vous ne soyez pas heureux. – It seems to me that you are not happy.

Conclusion

In this post, we’ve covered the meanings and uses of some common French subjunctive phrases, specifically subjunctive conjunctions. These uses range from prerequisite conditions to preventative conditions.

In more formal language, a few of these conjunctions can be followed by the ne explétif, which we introduced with à moins que and then mentioned in the other subjunctive French sentences where it can be used.

Using the subjunctive with conjunctions as we’ve seen here will help you express different ideas in sophisticated language, and will go a long way to having you sound like a native French speaker in no time!

To close, we’ll just leave you with the full list of subjunctive French phrases we’ve covered in this post, along with their usual English translations. We also note which of these subjunctive conjunctions commonly take the ne explétif.