ABSTRACT
Je veux qu’il soit là plus tôt la prochaine fois. I want him to be there earlier next time. (subjunctive because the speaker wishes something to happen)
Les nuits je rêve que nous sommes amis. At night I dream that we are friends. (this actually happens)
Je doute que vous m’aimiez un jour. I doubt that you will ever love me. (the speaker is uncertain that something will happen)
Je cache les cadeaux parce qu’il vient. I’m hiding the presents because he’s coming. (his coming is a reality)
Cache les cadeaux de peur qu’il ne vienne ! Hide the presents in case he comes! (the speaker is afraid that something might happen)
Tenses in which the subjunctive is used
There is a marked difference between the use of the subjunctive in speech and in writing:
In written French the subjunctive is used in four tenses: the present, the past, the imperfect and the pluperfect.
