In: Level B2, Verbs Tenses & Conjugation, Subjonctif présent, Mode subjonctif, Verbe irrégulier

The verb VOULOIR is irregular in the Subjonctif Présent:

que je veuille	I want
que tu veuilles	you want
qu'il/elle/on veuille	he/she/we want
que nous voulions	we want
que vous vouliez	you want
qu'ils/elles veuillent	they want

Note that the nous and vous forms are the same as in L'Imparfait. (See Conjugate regular verbs in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense))

As for the other forms, the irregular root veuill- is followed by the regular endings of Le Subjonctif Présent:

-e, -es, -e, [-], [-], -ent

Have a look at these examples:

Ils n'arrivent pas à croire que je veuille rester !
They can't believe that I want to stay!

C'est comme ça, que tu le veuilles ou pas.
It's this way, whether you want it or not.

Il faut déjà qu'il veuille bien m'aider.
He has to be willing to help me to start with.

Il ne croit pas que nous lui voulions du mal.
He doesn't believe we want to hurt him.

Que doit-il faire pour que vous vouliez sortir avec lui ?
What does he have to do for you to want to go out with him?

Je doute qu'ils veuillent venir.
I doubt they want to come.

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Il faut déjà qu'il veuille bien m'aider.
He has to be willing to help me to start with.

Ils n'arrivent pas à croire que je veuille rester !
They can't believe that I want to stay!

C'est comme ça, que tu le veuilles ou pas.
It's this way, whether you want it or not.

Que doit-il faire pour que vous vouliez sortir avec lui ?
What does he have to do for you to want to go out with him?

Je doute qu'ils veuillent venir.
I doubt they want to come.

Il ne croit pas que nous lui voulions du mal.
He doesn't believe we want to hurt him.

Q&A Forum 3 questions, 6 answers

MarnieC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Il faut que...

"il faut déjà qu'il veuille bien m'aider." Is the use of déjà necessary? I see that it adds emphasis to the fact that "he" really wants to help but can one do without it? Just Curious!

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer1

SteveB2 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Marnie,

I don't think it can be omitted without changing the meaning slightly.

The lesson translates the original phrase as:

"He has to be willing to help me to start with."

Déjà is emphasizing the "to start with" part of the phrase.

Without déjà, I would translate it as:

"He has to be willing to help me."

[non-native speaker].

Like01 year ago

Marnie asked:View original

Il faut que...

"il faut déjà qu'il veuille bien m'aider." Is the use of déjà necessary? I see that it adds emphasis to the fact that "he" really wants to help but can one do without it? Just Curious!

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DonaldC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

What drives this sentence to be in the subjunctive tense?

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer3

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Donald, I looked at the lesson referenced above and was unable to locate the sentence you mentioned. Is there a specific phrase that you had in mind? I too am curious at times when I read a phrase in French to know what drives the verb tense other than the French grammar rules. I am quite intrigued with your question and look forward to a knowledgeable reply from the Kwiziq team. There must be some underlying rationale, other than just the rules, as to the reasons the subjunctive is used. Bonne chance, Ron

Like02 years ago

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Donald ! Unfortunately, I'm unable to see the sentence you're referring to. When using the Q&A, always copy and paste the specific French you refer to, and I'll be happy to clarify things for you :) À bientôt !

Like02 years ago

DonaldC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Je suis désolé. En ce moment, je ne peux pas le trouver. Quand je le trouverai, je vous l'enverrai. Merci d'avoir essayé m'aider. Je ne veux pas vous gaspiller votre temps. Peut-être c'est une autre question- ca veut-dire, l'usage de au lieu d'un autre verbe.

Like02 years ago

Donald asked:View original

What drives this sentence to be in the subjunctive tense?

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JaniceC1Kwiziq community member

Vouliez vs. veuilliez

When I read signs etc. that seem to use the subjunctive they use "que vous veuilliez" What am I missing? :-)

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer2

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Janice ! The form that you see on signs (veuillez, not veuilliez) - and that indeed looks similar to Le Subjonctif Présent - is actually L'Impératif Présent, used to express commands and advice. The difference is that with L'Impératif you don't express the verb's subject ([vous] Veuillez), and of course that Le Subjonctif Présent form with "vous" would be "vous vouliez". In French, you'll use "Veuillez + infinitif" as a formal polite way to ask someone to do something: "Veuillez ouvrir votre cahier." (Please open your notebook.) "Veuillez m'excuser" (Please do excuse me) I hope that's helpful! À bientôt !

Like33 years ago

JaniceC1Kwiziq community member

Hello, yes that is great thank you Aurélie. I was definitely confused by that difference on signs! What also confused me though was when I tried to look vouloir up on the Figaro conjugasion site there seemed to be two forms of conjugasions?! What are the 1ere and 2eme forme of a verb? Not all of the forms of vouloir change... http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/conjugaison/verbe/vouloir.html Thank you :-)

Like03 years ago

Janice asked:View original