15.6. Infinitif ou subjonctif ?

Using an Infinitive versus the Subjunctive

15.6.1. The Main Idea

French often chooses between an infinitive and the subjonctif présent based on the subject.

Je veux partir.	I want to leave.
Je veux que tu partes.	I want you to leave.
Il faut étudier.	One must study. / You have to study.
Il faut que nous étudiions.	We have to study.

Use the infinitive when the action is general or when the subject stays the same.

Use que + subjunctive when there is a specific second subject.

15.6.2. Same Subject: Use the Infinitive

When the person who wants, needs, hopes, or tries is the same person doing the second action, use the infinitive.

Je veux partir.	I want to leave.
Je souhaite réussir.	I hope to succeed.
J’aimerais voyager.	I would like to travel.
Je dois étudier.	I have to study.
J’essaie de comprendre.	I am trying to understand.

The subject is the same:

Je veux partir.	I want + I leave.
Je souhaite réussir.	I hope + I succeed.
J’aimerais voyager.	I would like + I travel.

15.6.3. Different Subject: Use Que + Subjunctive

When one person wants, wishes, needs, or asks for another person to do something, use que + subjunctive.

Je veux que tu partes.	I want you to leave.
Je souhaite que tu réussisses.	I hope you succeed.
J’aimerais que nous voyagions.	I would like us to travel.
Il faut que les étudiants étudient.	Students have to study.
Il est important que tu comprennes.	It is important that you understand.

Tiny rule with a lantern: same subject, infinitive; new subject, subjunctive. 🏮

15.6.4. Il Faut + Infinitive vs. Il Faut Que

Use il faut + infinitive for a general statement.

Il faut agir.	We have to act. / One must act.
Il faut protéger l’environnement.	We have to protect the environment.
Il faut poser des questions.	One must ask questions.
Il faut respecter toutes les cultures.	One must respect all cultures.

Use il faut que + subject + subjunctive when naming who must do it.

Il faut que nous agissions.	We have to act.
Il faut que les gens comprennent.	People have to understand.
Il faut que tu poses des questions.	You have to ask questions.
Il faut que tout le monde respecte toutes les cultures.	Everyone has to respect all cultures.

15.6.5. Il Est Important De vs. Il Est Important Que

Use de + infinitive when speaking generally.

Il est important de comprendre.	It is important to understand.
Il est essentiel d’écouter.	It is essential to listen.
Il est nécessaire de protéger la nature.	It is necessary to protect nature.
Il vaut mieux attendre ici.	It is better to wait here.

Use que + subjunctive when naming a subject.

Il est important que tu comprennes.	It is important that you understand.
Il est essentiel que nous écoutions.	It is essential that we listen.
Il est nécessaire que les pays protègent la nature.	It is necessary that countries protect nature.
Il vaut mieux que tu attendes ici.	It is better that you wait here.

15.6.6. Vouloir + Infinitive vs. Vouloir Que

Use vouloir + infinitive when the same person wants to do the action.

Je veux partir.	I want to leave.
Tu veux comprendre.	You want to understand.
Nous voulons voyager.	We want to travel.

Use vouloir que + subjunctive when someone wants another person to do the action.

Je veux que tu partes.	I want you to leave.
Tu veux que je comprenne.	You want me to understand.
Nous voulons qu’ils voyagent.	We want them to travel.

15.6.7. Souhaiter and Aimerais

Use souhaiter + infinitive when the subject is the same.

Je souhaite réussir.	I hope to succeed.
Je souhaite mieux comprendre.	I hope to understand better.
Nous souhaitons partir bientôt.	We hope to leave soon.

Use souhaiter que + subjunctive when there is a different subject.

Je souhaite que tu réussisses.	I hope you succeed.
Je souhaite qu’elle soit heureuse.	I hope she is happy.
Nous souhaitons que tout le monde comprenne.	We hope everyone understands.

Use aimerais + infinitive for what the same subject would like to do.

J’aimerais voyager.	I would like to travel.
J’aimerais poser une question.	I would like to ask a question.

Use aimerais que + subjunctive for what someone would like another person to do.

J’aimerais que tu viennes.	I would like you to come.
J’aimerais que nous parlions de ce sujet.	I would like us to talk about this topic.

15.6.8. Object Pronouns with the Infinitive

With infinitives, object pronouns go before the infinitive.

Je veux le faire.	I want to do it.
J’essaie de le comprendre.	I am trying to understand it.
Je commence à y penser.	I am starting to think about it.
J’ai besoin d’en parler.	I need to talk about it.
Je voudrais lui répondre.	I would like to answer him / her.

15.6.9. Object Pronouns with the Subjunctive

With the subjunctive, object pronouns go before the subjunctive verb.

Je veux que tu le fasses.	I want you to do it.
Il faut que nous en parlions.	We have to talk about it.
J’aimerais qu’elle lui réponde.	I would like her to answer him / her.
Il est important que tu y penses.	It is important that you think about it.

15.6.10. Useful Contrast Table

Infinitive	Subjunctive
Je veux partir.	Je veux que tu partes.
Je souhaite réussir.	Je souhaite que tu réussisses.
J’aimerais voyager.	J’aimerais que nous voyagions.
Il faut agir.	Il faut que nous agissions.
Il est important de comprendre.	Il est important que tu comprennes.
Je veux le faire.	Je veux que tu le fasses.
J’ai besoin d’en parler.	Il faut que nous en parlions.

15.6.11. Common Beginner Mistakes

Avoid	Better
~~Je veux que tu partir.~~	Je veux que tu partes.
~~Il faut que nous agir.~~	Il faut que nous agissions.
~~Il est important que tu comprends.~~	Il est important que tu comprennes.
~~Je veux de partir.~~	Je veux partir.
~~Il faut de protéger l’environnement.~~	Il faut protéger l’environnement.

15.6.12. Core Patterns

same subject	infinitive
different subject	que + subjunctive
general necessity	il faut + infinitive
specific subject necessity	il faut que + subjunctive
general importance	il est important de + infinitive
specific subject importance	il est important que + subjunctive
object pronoun + infinitive	Je veux le faire.
que + object pronoun + subjunctive	Je veux que tu le fasses.

15.6.13. Practice

I want to leave.
I want you to leave. informal
We have to act. general
We have to act. subjunctive
It is important to understand.
It is important that you understand. informal
I hope to succeed.
I hope you succeed. informal
I want to do it.
I want you to do it. informal

15.6.14. Answers

I want to leave.	Je veux partir.
I want you to leave. informal	Je veux que tu partes.
We have to act. general	Il faut agir.
We have to act. subjunctive	Il faut que nous agissions.
It is important to understand.	Il est important de comprendre.
It is important that you understand. informal	Il est important que tu comprennes.
I hope to succeed.	Je souhaite réussir.
I hope you succeed. informal	Je souhaite que tu réussisses.
I want to do it.	Je veux le faire.
I want you to do it. informal	Je veux que tu le fasses.

15.6.15. Short Dialogue

A : Qu’est-ce qu’il faut faire ?	A: What should we do?
B : Il faut agir. Il faut que nous protégions l’environnement.	B: We have to act. We have to protect the environment.
A : Tu veux participer ?	A: Do you want to participate?
B : Oui, je veux aider. Et j’aimerais que tout le monde comprenne le problème.	B: Yes, I want to help. And I would like everyone to understand the problem.
A : Moi aussi. Il est important d’en parler.	A: Me too. It is important to talk about it.

15.6.16. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to choose between an infinitive and the present subjunctive. Use the infinitive for general statements or same-subject actions, and use que + subjunctive when the sentence names a different or specific subject after expressions of necessity, importance, wish, desire, uncertainty, or emotion.