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

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-12-12

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Learn how to use vouloir que + Mode subjonctif in French

Look at these sentences using vouloir que:

Veux-tu que j'aille là-bas ?Do you want me to go there?

Je veux que tu sois à l'heure.I want you to be on time.

Nous voulons qu'il y ait moins de pollution.We want there to be less pollution.

Elle veut que nous fassions nos devoirs.She wants us to do our homework.

Nous voulons juste que tout soit parfait.We just want everything to be perfect.

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.

This rule applies to vouloir in all tenses:

Je voudrais tellement que ce film soit aussi bon que le livre !I so wish for the movie to be as good as the book!

Nous voulions que vous restiez.We wanted you to stay.

Ils voudraient que les ventilateurs fassent moins de bruit. They'd like the fans to be less noisy.

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Examples and resources

Ils veulent que je finisse mon repas.They want me to finish my meal.

Il veut qu'elle vienne ce soir.He wants her to come tonight.

Tu veux que je te donne un coup de main ?Do you want me to give you a hand?

Je veux que tu arrêtes de l'embêter.I want you to stop bothering him.