6.3 Subjunctive vs. indicative mood

French grammar gets tricky with subjunctive and indicative moods. They're used differently based on certainty and feelings. Subjunctive expresses doubt or wishes, while indicative states facts.

Knowing when to use each mood is key to sounding fluent. It's all about the main clause - if it's uncertain or emotional, use subjunctive. For facts and certainties, stick with indicative.

Subjunctive vs Indicative Moods

Expressing Doubt, Uncertainty, Subjectivity, or Unreality

• The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, or unreality
• Often triggered by specific conjunctions, expressions, or verbs that convey doubt, desire, necessity, or emotion
  • "que" (that)
  • "bien que" (although)
  • "il faut que" (it is necessary that)
  • "vouloir que" (to want that)
• Required in certain idiomatic expressions
  • "Vive la France!" (Long live France!)
  • "Qu'il fasse beau ou qu'il pleuve" (Whether it's sunny or rainy)

Expressing Facts, Certainty, and Objectivity

• The indicative mood is used to express facts, certainty, and objectivity
• Used in main clauses and in subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions of time, cause, and condition
  • Time: "quand" (when), "lorsque" (when)
  • Cause: "parce que" (because), "puisque" (since)
  • Condition: "si" (if)

Mood Choice in Context

Personal Opinion, Feeling, or Judgment

• When the main clause expresses a personal opinion, feeling, or judgment, the subjunctive mood is used in the subordinate clause
  • "Je suis content que tu sois là" (I am glad you are here)
  • "Je regrette qu'il ne puisse pas venir" (I regret that he cannot come)
• The subjunctive mood emphasizes the subjectivity or uncertainty of the opinion or feeling expressed in the main clause

Facts or Certainty

• When the main clause expresses a fact or certainty, the indicative mood is used in the subordinate clause
  • "Je sais qu'il est intelligent" (I know he is intelligent)
  • "Il est évident qu'elle a raison" (It is obvious that she is right)
• The indicative mood reflects the objective nature of the fact or certainty stated in the main clause

Conditional Sentences

• In conditional sentences expressing a possible or likely condition, the indicative mood is used in the "if" clause (si clause)
  • The main clause can be in the present, future, or imperative
  • "Si j'ai le temps, j'irai au cinéma" (If I have time, I will go to the movies)
  • "Si tu finis tes devoirs, tu peux sortir" (If you finish your homework, you can go out)
• In conditional sentences expressing an unlikely or hypothetical condition, the imperfect subjunctive is used in the "if" clause (si clause)
  • The main clause uses the conditional
  • "Si j'avais le temps, j'irais au cinéma" (If I had time, I would go to the movies)
  • "Si j'étais riche, j'achèterais une grande maison" (If I were rich, I would buy a big house)

Subjunctive and Indicative Uses in Complex Sentences

Subordinate Clauses Expressing Doubt, Emotion, Necessity, or Subjectivity

• In complex sentences with two clauses, the subjunctive mood is used in the subordinate clause when the main clause expresses doubt, emotion, necessity, or subjectivity
  • "Il est possible qu'il vienne demain" (It is possible that he will come tomorrow)
  • "Je suis heureux que tu aies réussi ton examen" (I am happy that you passed your exam)
  • "Il faut que nous partions maintenant" (It is necessary that we leave now)

Subordinate Clauses Expressing Facts or Certainty

• The indicative mood is used in subordinate clauses when the main clause expresses a fact or certainty
  • "Il est certain qu'il viendra demain" (It is certain that he will come tomorrow)
  • "Je sais que tu as travaillé dur" (I know you worked hard)
  • "Il est clair qu'elle est la meilleure candidate" (It is clear that she is the best candidate)

Conjunctions and Expressions Triggering Subjunctive or Indicative

• The subjunctive mood is used in subordinate clauses introduced by certain conjunctions or expressions
  • "bien que" (although), "pour que" (so that), "jusqu'à ce que" (until)
  • "Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs" (I want you to do your homework)
  • "Bien qu'il soit fatigué, il continue à travailler" (Although he is tired, he continues to work)
• The indicative mood is used with other conjunctions
  • "parce que" (because), "lorsque" (when), "si" (if)
  • "Je sais que tu fais tes devoirs" (I know you are doing your homework)
  • "Nous irons à la plage lorsque le soleil brillera" (We will go to the beach when the sun shines)

Meaning Changes with Subjunctive or Indicative

• In some cases, the choice between subjunctive and indicative can change the meaning of the sentence
  • "Je cherche quelqu'un qui sache parler français" (I am looking for someone who can speak French, subjunctive, implying uncertainty)
  • "Je cherche quelqu'un qui sait parler français" (I am looking for someone who can speak French, indicative, implying certainty)
• The subjunctive mood suggests a hypothetical or desired situation, while the indicative mood indicates a factual or definite situation
  • "Je veux un emploi qui me permette de voyager" (I want a job that allows me to travel, subjunctive, expressing a desire)
  • "J'ai un emploi qui me permet de voyager" (I have a job that allows me to travel, indicative, stating a fact)