Subjunctive or indicative?

Free, no account needed

Will, demand, necessity

You want something to happen: the fact is not real yet, and the subjunctive says so.

Feelings and emotion

You react to a fact instead of asserting it: what matters is the reaction, and it calls for the subjunctive.

Doubt, possibility, unlikelihood

The fact is called into question: as long as it is not taken as true, the subjunctive applies.

Opinion, statement, certainty

The fact is presented as true: the indicative. This is where the negative forms switch mood.

Conjunctions with the subjunctive

These conjunctions set out a purpose, a concession or a condition: the fact is never taken as given.

Conjunctions with the indicative

These conjunctions report a real fact, a cause or a moment in time: the indicative, « après que » included.

Superlatives and relative clauses

After a superlative, or an antecedent you are looking for without knowing it exists, the relative clause takes the subjunctive.