French grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
The past subjunctive: que j'aie fait, qu'il soit parti
How to form the subjonctif passé, when to use it instead of the present subjunctive, and the subjunctive in relative clauses.
How to form it
The (past subjunctive) is or in the present subjunctive + the past participle. The same verbs take as in the passé composé, and the participle agrees in the same way.
| Subject | (with ) | (with ) |
|---|---|---|
| (j') | que je sois parti(e) | |
| que tu sois parti(e) | ||
| / / | ||
| que nous soyons parti(e)s | ||
| que vous soyez parti(e)(s) | ||
| / |
Present or past subjunctive?
The subjunctive has only two everyday tenses. The present subjunctive is for an action at the same time as the main verb or later. The past subjunctive is for an action that happened before it, or will be finished by then.
The tense of the main verb doesn't matter: (that you came), (that you had come).
| Present subjunctive | Past subjunctive |
|---|---|
| (you're coming) | (you came) |
| (it's raining) | (it had rained) |
| (he's leaving) | (we didn't listen) |
The subjunctive in relative clauses
After a superlative () or , the verb after or is often in the subjunctive, in careful French: In relaxed speech the indicative is also heard.
The subjunctive is also used when you are looking for something that may not exist: If you know it exists, use the indicative:
- C'est la plus belle ville que j'aie visitée.It's the most beautiful town I've visited.
- Je cherche un appartement qui soit près de la gare.I'm looking for a flat that's near the station.