vouloir que + Subjunctive

Wanting Someone Else to Act with Vouloir Que

Level 3

When you want someone else to perform an action, French uses the structure vouloir que + [different subject] + [subjunctive verb]. This is a mandatory rule in French, even in casual conversation.

How It Works

In English, we say 'I want you to go.' In French, you cannot translate this literally. Instead, you must say 'I want that you go' using the subjunctive mood.

1. The Two-Subject Rule

  • Same Subject: If you want to do something yourself, use the infinitive.
    Je veux partir. (I want to leave.)
  • Different Subject: If you want someone else to do it, use que + subjunctive.
    Je veux que tu partes. (I want you to leave.)

2. Conjugating Vouloir
While the main verb is usually in the present tense, it is very common to use the conditional form (je voudrais) to sound more polite when making requests.

3. Subjunctive Forms
Remember that vouloir itself has irregular subjunctive stems (veuill- and voul-), but the verb following que is the one that must be in the subjunctive mood. Don't forget elision: que becomes qu' before a vowel (e.g., qu'il, qu'elle).

Examples (5)

  1. Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs.

    I want you to do your homework.

    Word by Word: I want that you do (subjunctive) your homework.

    Here, 'fasses' is the subjunctive form of 'faire'. The subjects are different (Je vs Tu).

  2. Je voudrais que vous veniez à la fête.

    I would like you to come to the party.

    Word by Word: I would like that you come (subjunctive) to the party.

    Using 'je voudrais' (conditional) makes the request more polite than 'je veux'.

  3. Mes parents veulent que j'étudie la médecine.

    My parents want me to study medicine.

    Word by Word: My parents want that I study (subjunctive) the medicine.

    The subjunctive 'étudie' is required because the parents are expressing their will for another person (me).

  4. Il ne veut pas qu'on lui pose des questions.

    He doesn't want us to ask him questions.

    Word by Word: He not wants not that one to him poses (subjunctive) some questions.

    Even in the negative, 'vouloir que' triggers the subjunctive 'pose'.

  5. Elle veut que nous soyons à l'heure.

    She wants us to be on time.

    Word by Word: She wants that we be (subjunctive) at the hour.

    'Soyons' is the irregular subjunctive of 'être'.

Common Mistakes

  • Translating the English 'want [someone] to [verb]' literally.

    Je veux toi venir.
    Je veux que tu viennes.

    French does not allow a stressed pronoun (toi) followed by an infinitive after 'vouloir'. You must use a 'que' clause with the subjunctive.

  • Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.

    Je veux que tu vas au magasin.
    Je veux que tu ailles au magasin.

    'Vas' is indicative; 'ailles' is the correct subjunctive form of 'aller' required after 'vouloir que'.

  • Using 'que' when the subject is the same.

    Je veux que je parte.
    Je veux partir.

    If the person wanting and the person acting are the same, you must use the infinitive, not a 'que' clause.

How It Connects

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

vouloir que + SubjunctiveLevel 3Wanting Someone Else to Act with Vouloir Que

Learn This First

To use 'vouloir que' correctly, you need to be comfortable conjugating 'vouloir' in the present tense, understand how to use 'que' to connect two clauses, and know how to conjugate the second verb in the subjunctive mood.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

vouloir