LIV: La formation du subjonctif - Verbs with two stems in the subjunctive

La formation du subjonctif - Verbs with two stems in the subjunctive

The following verbs share a similar two-stem irregularity in the present indicative (for example, ils viennent BUT nous venons). The boot stem (for the forms je, tu, il / elle, ils / elles) is the third person plural of the present indicative, the very same as the stem for regular formation of the subjunctive. The first person plural of the present indicative provides the second stem for the nous and vous forms of the subjunctive. The regular subjunctive endings are added to these two stems.

Example: boire - to drink

• je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles stem:
  • boiv-
  • (boivent - ent)
• noun, vous stem:
  • buv-
  • (buvons - ons)

boire - present subjunctive
que je boive	que nous buvions
que tu boives	que vous buviez
qu'il / elle / on boive	qu'ils / elles boivent

Below are several verbs that follow this pattern. Only the je and nous forms are provided, but each follows the same formation rules as boire.

Verbs with Two Subjunctive Stems - Additional Examples
infinitive	stem for: je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles	stem for: nous/vous
aller - to go	que j'aille	que nous allions
boire - to drink	que je boive	que nous buvions
croire - to believe	que je croie	que nous croyions
devoir - to have to	que je doive	que nous devions
prendre - to take	que je prenne	que nous prenions
tenir - to hold	que je tienne	que nous tenions
venir - to come	que je vienne	que nous venions
vouloir - to want	que je veuille	que nous voulions

Pronunciation - Two stems

Listen carefully to the audio below. The narrator goes through each of the irregular forms. Review the chart, listen and repeat what you hear.

Aller

While the verb aller is included in the chart above, it has an irregular stem (not based on the 3rd plural form) for the je, tu, il / elle, ils / elles forms: aill-. Review the complete forms below:

• je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles stem:
  • aill-
  • irregular
• noun, vous stem:
  • all-
  • (allons - ons)

aller - to go
que j'aille	que nous allions
que t'ailles	que vous alliez
qu'il / elle / on aille	qu'ils / elles aillent