Impersonal expressions requiring the subjunctive

Level 3

Impersonal expressions like il faut que (it is necessary that) or il est possible que (it is possible that) trigger the subjunctive mood in the following clause. This mood highlights the speaker's attitude—such as doubt, emotion, or requirement—rather than stating a simple fact.

How It Works

In French, the mood of a verb depends on the 'trigger' in the main clause. Impersonal expressions are common triggers for the subjunctive. Note that in everyday spoken French, the formal Il est... is frequently replaced by C'est... (e.g., C'est important que...).

1. Common Triggers:

  • Necessity: Il faut que... (It is necessary that...)
  • Time: Il est temps que... (It is time that...)
  • Possibility/Doubt: Il est possible que..., Il se peut que... (It may be that...)
  • Judgment/Emotion/Preference: Il est dommage que... (It's a shame that...), Il est important que... (It's important that...), Il vaut mieux que... (It is better that...)

2. The 'Que' Connection and the Infinitive Alternative:
When there is a specific subject, the subjunctive verb follows the conjunction que. If the next word starts with a vowel, remember to use elision (qu'il, qu'elle). However, if you are making a general statement without a specific subject, you drop que and use an infinitive instead. For most expressions, use de + infinitive (e.g., Il est important de partir), while il faut and il vaut mieux take a direct infinitive (e.g., Il faut partir, Il vaut mieux partir).

3. Certainty vs. Uncertainty:
Expressions that assert a fact or high probability usually take the indicative:

  • Il est certain que... + Indicative
  • Il est vrai que... + Indicative
  • Il me semble que... (It seems to me that...) + Indicative (treated as a personal assertion).

Conversely, Il semble que... (It seems that...) triggers the subjunctive when expressing doubt or mere possibility, though it can take the indicative when stating a known, obvious fact.

Note on Probability: A common trap is the expression Il est probable que. Because it expresses a high degree of likelihood, the prescriptive rule is that it takes the indicative (e.g., Il est probable qu'il viendra). However, its opposite, Il est peu probable que (It is unlikely that), expresses heavy doubt and strictly triggers the subjunctive (e.g., Il est peu probable qu'il vienne). Note that you will frequently hear native speakers use the subjunctive even with Il est probable que in everyday modern French.

4. Negation and Interrogation:
When you negate an expression of certainty or turn it into a question using inversion, it introduces doubt, which triggers the subjunctive.

  • Il est certain qu'il vient (Indicative) vs. Il n'est pas certain qu'il vienne (Subjunctive).
  • Est-il certain qu'il vienne ? (Subjunctive).

Examples (5)

  1. Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs.

    It is necessary that you do your homework.

    Word by Word: It must that you do your homework.

    The expression 'il faut que' is the most common trigger for the subjunctive verb 'fasses' (from faire).

  2. Il est possible qu'elle vienne demain.

    It is possible that she will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: It is possible that she comes tomorrow.

    Because 'il est possible' expresses uncertainty, the verb 'vienne' (from venir) must be in the subjunctive.

  3. C'est dommage que vous soyez malades.

    It's a shame that you (plural) are sick.

    Word by Word: It is shame that you be sick.

    This expresses a judgment or emotion about a fact, triggering the subjunctive 'soyez' (from être).

  4. Il est vrai qu'il fait beau aujourd'hui.

    It is true that the weather is nice today.

    Word by Word: It is true that it makes beautiful today.

    Since 'il est vrai' expresses a certainty/fact, we use the indicative 'fait' instead of the subjunctive.

  5. Il se peut qu'il pleuve cet après-midi.

    It may be that it rains this afternoon.

    Word by Word: It itself can that it rains this afternoon.

    The impersonal 'il se peut que' indicates possibility, requiring the subjunctive 'pleuve'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative for necessity.

    Il est important que tu es là.
    Il est important que tu sois là.

    Learners often use the familiar indicative 'es' (you are) instead of the required subjunctive 'sois' after expressions of importance.

  • Using the indicative after 'il se peut que'.

    Il se peut qu'il pleut.
    Il se peut qu'il pleuve.

    The expression 'il se peut que' (it may be that) expresses possibility and doubt, so it must be followed by the subjunctive, not the indicative.

  • Assuming all impersonal expressions take the subjunctive.

    Il est certain qu'il vienne.
    Il est certain qu'il vient.

    Expressions of certainty like 'il est certain' or 'il est évident' take the indicative because they present the information as a known fact.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Impersonal expressions requiring the subjunctiveLevel 3

Learn This First

To use the subjunctive after impersonal expressions, you first need to know how to form the subjunctive mood. You also need to understand how 'il est' functions in impersonal constructions and how the conjunction 'que' is used to link the expression to the following action.