This is a very hard tense because the subjunctive mood is almost non-existant in English. It is used in French to express doubt or emotion. Here are the most common uses: Informal commands, requests, or recommendations.

What is the Subjunctive Mood? In most cases, the subjunctive form of a verb is usually the third-person form of the verb with the ‑s dropped, but the verb to be is a special case. The subjunctive is used after certain expressions that contain an order or a request, a hypothetical, or a wish.

The subjunctive is used after verbs and expressions of doubt, denial, and disbelief. The indicative tenses, which state facts (present, passé composé, imperfect, and future) are used after verbs and expressions of certainty and probability.

In French, feelings like doubt and desire require the subjunctive, as do expressions of necessity, possibility, and judgment. It can be helpful to consider them in themed groups: Preferences, Advice, Needs, Desires, Orders. Additional Subjunctive Triggers.

The stem of the present tense subjunctive is the same as the stem used for the ordinary present tense. The present tense subjunctive endings for -er and -re verbs are: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez and -ent. The present tense subjunctive endings for -ir verbs are: -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez and -issent.

All regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs as well as many irregular verbs* are conjugated according to this pattern:

1. Start with the present tense ils conjugation of the verb.
2. Drop –ent to find the subjunctive stem.
3. Add the appropriate subjunctive ending: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

The subjonctif is a French mood (or mode) which expresses the speaker’s opinion, desire, emotion, or uncertainty. We have already learned three other modes: l’indicatif (facts: le présent, le passé composé, l’imparfait, le futur, le plus-que-parfait), l’impératif (commands), and le conditionnel (conditional actions).

Jusqu’à ce que + Le Subjonctif = Until [someone] does [something]

1. Ma mère me chantait des chansons jusqu’à ce que je m’endorme.My mother used to sing to me until I fell asleep.
2. Il appellera jusqu’à ce qu’elle réponde.
3. J’attendrai jusqu’à ce qu’il ait terminé.
4. On est restés à l’intérieur jusqu’à ce que la pluie s’arrête.

The subjunctive is used when a person wants someone else to do something, eg I want you to help me. It can also be used to express thoughts, possibility or necessity. With regular verbs, take the ils/elles form of the present tense, take off the -ent and add the following endings: Subject pronoun. Ending.

Here are five tips on how to avoid using the subjunctive:

1. Rather than using impersonal verbs with que + the subjunctive, replace it with the infinitive.
2. Replace que with si.
3. You can also express doubt or possibility through the use of an adverb, rather than the subjunctive structure.

French Subjunctive Uses

1. Je veux que tu fasses la vaisselle. I = first person, want = verb of influence, you = different person, do the dishes = the action the first person is trying to influence.
2. Je suis contente que tu fasses la vaisselle.