Category: French conjugation tip

The Conditional mood can be used to make polite requests or suggestions. This is common in service situations or formal communication. For example, “Pourriez-vous m’aider?” (Could you help me?) or…

The Subjunctive is often required after certain conjunctions that express doubt, purpose, or condition. Common conjunctions include “bien que” (although), “pour que” (so that), and “avant que” (before). For example,…

The Imperative is used differently in negative commands. Instead of the typical verb-pronoun structure seen in affirmative commands, the negative Imperative uses “ne” and “pas” around the verb. For example,…

The Subjunctive is used in indefinite clauses where the existence of the antecedent is uncertain or hypothetical. For example, “Cherchez quelqu’un qui puisse vous aider” (Look for someone who can…

The Past Conditional (Conditionnel Passé) is often used to express regrets or hypothetical situations that didn’t happen. For example, “J’aurais aimé venir” (I would have liked to come) or “Si…

When using reflexive verbs in the Imperative, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb in affirmative commands and is connected by a hyphen. For example, “Lève-toi!” (Get up!) or “Dépêchez-vous!” (Hurry…

The Subjunctive is frequently used after expressions of emotion, such as “je suis content que” (I am happy that) or “j’ai peur que” (I am afraid that). For example, “Je…

To express necessity, the Subjunctive is often used after phrases like “il faut que” (it is necessary that) or “il est important que” (it is important that). For example, “Il…

The Imperative can be softened to make polite requests by using “veuillez” (please) followed by the infinitive. For example, “Veuillez fermer la porte” (Please close the door) is a polite…

In formal writing, the Subjunctive is often used to express wishes, commands, or doubts in a more polished or elegant way. For example, “Que la force soit avec vous” (May…

When using the Imperative with pronouns, the order of the pronouns changes. In affirmative commands, the pronouns follow the verb and are connected by hyphens, such as “Donne-le-moi” (Give it…

Choosing between the Subjunctive and the Indicative can be challenging. The Subjunctive is used for actions that are uncertain, subjective, or dependent on something else, while the Indicative is used…