How French works
The subjunctive is sometimes used in a relative clause when the sense of the sentence is to put something in a certain class. There are three such contexts which require the subjunctive:
After a superlative and a virtual superlative (that is, words acting like a superlative) such as seul, premier, dernier, unique:
C'est l'homme le plus intelligent que je connaisse
He's the cleverest man I know
C'est la fleur la plus belle que j'aie jamais vue
It's the prettiest flower I have ever seen
C'est la première personne que j'aie rencontrée ici
He / she's the first person I met here
It is important, however, to note the following nuance:
C'est le seul homme qui peut le faire
He's the only man who can do it
[i.e. the speaker is certain that he will do the job]
C'est le seul homme qui puisse le faire
He's the only man who could do it
[i.e. the speaker is not certain that he will be available to do the job]
Note that in this case the use of the subjunctive is a question of nuance rather than obligation, and that the conditional can also be used with the same meaning as the subjunctive:
C'est le seul homme qui pourrait le faire
He's the only man who could do it
Note also that the subjunctive is not used after the phrase la première fois que as this is considered to involve a simple statement of fact:
C'est la première fois que vous venez à Manchester?
Is this the first time you've been to Manchester?
Where a person / thing is being sought but is hypothetical rather than real. For example:
Je cherche quelqu'un qui fasse ce genre de travail
I'm looking for someone who does this type of work
Note that it is often possible to use either the subjunctive or the indicative in this context, but that the meaning is different. For example, imagine you are looking for a suitcase with little wheels on the bottom. If you are in a lost property office because you have lost the suitcase, you would ask:
Je cherche une valise qui a de petites roulettes en-dessous
I'm looking for a suitcase which has little wheels on the bottom
However, if you are in a shop because you wish to buy the suitcase, you would ask:
Je cherche une valise qui ait de petites roulettes en-dessous
I'm looking for a suitcase which has little wheels on the bottom
Here are some other examples:
Y a-t-il quelqu'un ici qui sache parler japonais?
Is there someone here who speaks Japanese?
but
Je connais quelqu'un ici qui sait parler japonais
I know someone here who speaks Japanese
Trouvez-moi quelqu'un qui soit capable de le faire!
Find me someone who is capable of doing it!
but
J'ai trouvé quelqu'un qui est capable de le faire
I've found someone who is capable of doing it
After the negative constructions ne... rien, personne, aucun(e), pas un(e), pas de, que, or after expressions implying a negative, such as peu de:
Je n'ai rien trouvé qui me plaise
I've found nothing I like
Je n'ai pas trouvé de traitement qui puisse me guérir
I haven't found a treatment that can cure me
Il n'y a que toi qui saches la réponse
It's only you who knows the answer
Il y a peu de personnes qui soient prêtes à faire un tel sacrifice
There are few people who are prepared to make such a sacrifice
The subjunctive is also used in a so-called concessive clause , that is a clausesimplying the conceding of a point.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Qui que vous soyez | whoever you are |
| Quoi que vous fassiez | whatever you do |
| Quelle que soit ta décision | whatever your decision may be |
| Où que vous alliez | wherever you go |
| D’où que tu viennes | wherever you come from |
| Si difficile que soit la tâche | however difficult the task is |
For more information about this type of clause, see 53:2.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| à condition que | provided that |
| à moins que + ne | unless |
| afin que | in order that |
| avant que + ne (optional) | before |
| bien que | although |
| de façon / manière (à ce) que | so that |
| de peur / crainte que + ne | for fear that |
| de sorte que | so that |
| en attendant que | until |
| en supposant que | assuming that |
| jusqu’à ce que | until |
| le temps que | while |
| non que | not that |
| pour que | so that |
| pourvu que | provided that |
| quoique | although |
| que (in imperative sentences) | so that |
| sans que | without |
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (au fur et) à mesure que | (at the same time) as |
| à peine ... que | scarcely ... when |
| ainsi que | just as |
| alors que | while, whereas |
| après que | after |
| au / à tel point que | to such an extent that |
| aussitôt que | as soon as |
| chaque fois que | every time that |
| depuis que | since |
| dès que | as soon as |
| étant donné que | given that |
| lorsque | when |
| maintenant que | now that |
| parce que | because |
| pendant que | while |
| puisque | since |
| selon / suivant que | depending on whether |
| si bien que | so, so much that |
| tandis que | while, whereas |
| tant que | as long as |
| une fois que | once |
| vu que | seeing that |
The subjunctive is also used after the conjunction que having the sense of whether:
Il s'occupera du problème qu'il le veuille ou non
He'll deal with the problem whether he likes it or not
Note that the subjunctive is only used after the conjunctions de sorte que, de manière à ce que and de façon à ce que where the outcome is intended. For example:
Quelqu'un a enlevé le panneau de sorte que les gens ne sachent plus où aller
Someone has taken down the sign so that [i.e. in order that] people don't know which way to go
Where the outcome is simply a natural consequence of the action in the main clause, the indicative is used. For example:
Quelqu'un a enlevé le panneau de sorte que les gens ne savent plus où aller
Someone has taken down the sign so that [i.e. with the result that] people don't know which way to go
When a hypothetical clause beginning with si is followed by a second hypothetical clause introduced with que in the sense of si, the subjunctive is used in the latter clause:
Si le temps s'éclaircit et qu'ils soient toujours là...
If the weather gets brighter and they are still there...