The Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is formed in French by taking the 3rd person
plural of the present simple and removing its ending and adding the
following endings:
| 1st person singular |
+ e |
| 2nd person singular |
+ es |
| 3rd person singular |
+ e |
| 1st person plural |
+ ions |
| 2nd person plural |
+ iez |
| 3rd person plural |
+ ent |
Here are some examples:
| 3rd person plural
presen simple |
Lisent |
Chantent |
Sortent |
| Root (-ending) |
Lis - |
Chant - |
Sort - |
| Je |
Lise |
Chante |
Sorte |
| Tu |
Lises |
Chantes |
Sortes |
| Il / elle |
Lise |
Chante |
Sorte |
| Nous |
Lisions |
Chantions |
Sortions |
| Vous |
Lisiez |
Chantiez |
Sortiez |
| Ils / elles |
Lisent |
Chantent |
Sortent |
There are a series of common verbs that are irregular when forming
the present subjunctive. These verbs are:
| |
Être (to be) |
Avoir (to have) |
Aller (to go) |
Savoir (to know) |
| Je |
Sois |
Aie |
Aille |
Sache |
| Tu |
Sois |
Aies |
Ailles |
Saches |
| Il / elle |
Soit |
Ait |
Aille |
Sache |
| Nous |
Soyons |
Ayons |
Allions |
Sachions |
| Vous |
Soyez |
Ayez |
Alliez |
Sachiez |
| Ils / elles |
Soient |
Aient |
Aillent |
Sachent |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Pouvoir (to be able to) |
Vouloir (to want) |
Faire (to do) |
Falloir (to be necessary) |
| Je |
Puisse |
Veuille |
Fasse |
|
| Tu |
Puisses |
Veuilles |
Fasses |
|
| Il / elle |
Puisse |
Veuille |
Fasse |
Il faille |
| Nous |
Puissions |
Voulions |
Fassions |
|
| Vous |
Puissiez |
Vouliez |
Fassiez |
|
| Ils / elles |
Puissent |
Veuillent |
Fassent |
|
VOCABULARY
les bateaux
| Boat |
Bateau (m) |
Sailor |
Marin (m) |
| Bow |
Proue (f) |
Deck |
Pont (m) |
| Stern |
Poupe (f) |
Cabin boy |
Mousse (m) |
| Starboard |
Tribord (m) |
Rudder |
Timon (m) |
| Port |
Bâbord (m) |
Yacht |
Yacht (m) |
| Mast |
Mât (m) |
Paddle |
Rame (f) |
| Cabin |
Cabine (f) |
Anchor |
Ancre (f) |
| Sail |
Veille (f) |
Keep |
Quille (f) |
| Captain |
Capitaine (m) |
Length (of the ship) |
Longueur (f) |
| To sail |
Naviguer |
Draught |
Calaison (f) |
| To sink |
Couler |
To be shipwrecked |
Naufrager |
