Vouloir the subjunctive present

Question

Just revising this lesson and am struck that it does not say when the subj of vouloir should be used. Is it after every phrase ending in 'que' or only those expressing some kind of uncertainty as it is in other cases? That does not seem to be what is going on. Also, although this is the present, towards the bottom of the list of questions you give the following translation: Il ne croit pas que nous lui voulions du mal = he doesn't believe that we wished him harm

Why is that 'wished' in the past? Could it also be translated as in the present?

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Chris, attached is the lesson that covers this, and the relevant quote

“ To express a desire for someone or something else to do/be something, in French you use the structure vouloir que always followed by Mode subjonctif. “

I would agree that rather than being at least a 2 step process to find from the lesson links ( even if you know what to look for ), it would better to have it as a direct single link.

Vouloir que + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = To want someone to do something in French

PS to the 2nd part, this is the example I see presented twice in the lesson, once in the main body and the other under ‘Examples and resources. Both times it is translated in the present as follows :

Il ne croit pas que nous lui voulions du mal.

He doesn't believe that we want to hurt him.

Anne Davies · Answer

Chris, I wasn’t clear whether you are asking when the subjunctive of vouloir is triggered or when vouloir que triggers a subjunctive verb in the subordinate clause (= always, as Maarten explains). I find this practical guide to the subjunctive very helpful and it covers your query about "que" https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/understanding-french-subjunctive/#does-que-subjunctive-in-french

(Re past tenses: the nous and vous forms of the subjunctive are the same as in l’imparfait for most verbs, even many irregular ones, but I’m sure you knew that)