Irregular Subjunctive Verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire) in Context

Bonjour!

In our last lesson, you learned the regular and predictable pattern for forming the present subjunctive for most French verbs. We saw how to take the ils form, drop the -ent, and add the subjunctive endings.

Today, we'll focus on the exceptions to that rule: the four most common irregular verbs. This lesson will help you recognize the present subjunctive forms of être (to be), avoir (to have), aller (to go), and faire (to do/make) in context. Because these verbs are used so frequently, being able to spot their unique subjunctive forms is a major step toward more advanced comprehension.

The "Usual Suspects" of Irregularity

Just as in the present indicative, the verbs être, avoir, aller, and faire have highly irregular conjugations in the subjunctive. They don't follow the ils stem rule, so the best approach is to familiarize yourself with their patterns directly.

First, let's look at their conjugation tables. The resource below presents them clearly.

For a quick visual summary that you can reference anytime, the following image is an excellent tool. It includes our four verbs plus a few other common irregulars.

Hearing the Forms

Now that you've seen the written forms, let's hear them pronounced. This will help you connect the spelling to the sound, which is crucial for recognition in spoken French.

Recognizing the Verbs in Context

Seeing the verb in a full sentence is where it all comes together. Notice how the subjunctive is triggered by expressions of necessity, emotion, or doubt.

Here are some examples using our irregular verbs:

• Être: Je suis content que tu sois là. (I'm happy that you are here.)
• Avoir: J'ai peur que nous n'ayons pas assez d'argent. (I'm afraid that we don't have enough money.)
• Faire: Il faut que je fasse mes devoirs. (I have to do my homework.)
• Aller: Je veux que tu ailles avec moi. (I want you to go with me.)

A Practical Tip: The "Nous" Test

Sometimes, an indicative form and a subjunctive form sound identical (e.g., j'ai vs. que j'aie). How can you be sure which one you're hearing or which one to use? There's a clever trick for this.

The following video explains a technique where you mentally switch the sentence to the nous form. Since que nous avons (indicative) and que nous ayons (subjunctive) sound very different, it instantly clarifies which mood is required.

Practice Time

Let's practice recognizing and forming these verbs. Complete the sentences below by conjugating the verb in parentheses into the present subjunctive. Check your answers against the solutions provided.

1. Il est important que vous ________________ (être) à l'heure.
2. Je ne pense pas qu'il ________________ (faire) assez chaud pour nager.
3. Il faut que nous y ________________ (aller) ensemble.
4. Ils sont ravis que leur fils ________________ (avoir) un nouveau travail.

Solutions:

1. Il est important que vous soyez à l'heure.
2. Je ne pense pas qu'il fasse assez chaud pour nager.
3. Il faut que nous y allions ensemble.
4. Ils sont ravis que leur fils ait un nouveau travail.

Conclusion

Excellent work today. While irregular verbs require a bit more attention, focusing on these four core verbs—être, avoir, aller, faire—gives you the tools to understand a huge range of subjective expressions in French.

Key Takeaways:

• The present subjunctive forms of être, avoir, aller, and faire are irregular and must be learned.
• You can recognize them in sentences following common subjunctive triggers (e.g., il faut que, je veux que, je suis content que).
• For forms that sound alike (e.g., j'ai/j'aie), the "nous test" is a practical way to determine if the subjunctive is needed.

Preview of the Next Lesson:

In our next session, we will deepen the concepts from this module by focusing on distinguishing between indicative and subjunctive usage in sentences with common triggering phrases. You'll learn why Je pense que... takes one mood, while Je ne pense pas que... takes another, solidifying your ability to choose the correct mood in context.