Past Subjunctive (le subjonctif passé) in French
Private lessons, group classes, tutoring and language courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Find a teacherOur teachers
Looking for a language tutor? Contact one of our teachers!
Claudie S.
22.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Natalia L.
23.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Lenny M.
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
The past subjunctive (le subjonctif passé) expresses an uncertain action, supposedly realized at the moment when we express ourselves. In others words the precedence of the action.
It is also used to express regrets.
Examples:
- J'ai peur qu'elle soit partie. (I am afraid that she left.)
- Je suis heureuse que mes parents se soient réconciliés. (I am happy that my parents made peace.)
- C'est vraiment stupide que tu aies oublié ton livre à la maison. (it is too bad that you forgot your book at home.)
The action of the 'que' clause occurs before the action of the main clause (the moment you are talking about probably happened)
When using the subjunctive past in a subordinate clause, then the verb of the main proposition is in the present tense.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.Formation and endings of the past subjunctive in French
- 1.1.Conjugation of the past subjunctive with 'avoir'
- 1.2.Conjugation of the past subjunctive with 'être'
- 2.Exercises
- 2.1.Exercise for the past subjunctive in French I
- 2.2.French past subjunctive exercise II
- 2.3.French le subjonctif passé exercise III
- 2.4.French le subjonctif passé exercice IV
Formation and endings of the past subjunctive in French
The past subjunctive is made up of the present subjunctive of avoir or être + the past participle.
Examples
| Subjonctif présent | Participe passé | Objet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nous sommes désolés | que vous ne soyez pas | venu | au bal du lycée |
| Ils sont heureux | que tu aies | eu | ton bac |
| Tu as peur | que je sois | parti | sans toi |
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Simone P. 
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Lena W. 
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
David D. 
22.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Heather D.
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Andrea D.
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Mehdi O. 
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Nina C. 
13.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Costanza C.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ileana M. 
29.99 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Eugenia B.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Conjugation of the past subjunctive with 'avoir'
Most verbs form the past subjunctive with avoir. The past participle conjugated with the auxiliary 'avoir' does not agree with the subject. It agrees with the Direct Object Complement if it is placed before the verb.
Examples :
- Je ne pense pas qu'il aie acheté cette voiture. (I do not think he bought that car).
- Je ne pense pas qu'il l'ai achetée. (I do not think he bough it).
| parler (to speak) | finir (to finish) | travailler (to work) |
|---|---|---|
| que j'aie parlé | que j'aie fini | que j'aie travaillé |
| que tu aies parlé | que tu aies fini | que tu aies travaillé |
| qu'il/elle/on ait parlé | qu'il/elle/on ait fini | qu'il/elle/on ait travaillé |
| que nous ayons parlé | que nous ayons fini | que nous ayons travaillé |
| que vous ayez parlé | que vous ayez fini | que vous ayez travaillé |
| qu'ils/elles aient parlé | qu'ils/elles aient fini | qu'ils/elles aient travaillé |
You use the auxiliary 'avoir' to conjugate the past participle of 'avoir' and 'être'
- que tu aies eu (that I had)
- que vous ayez été (that you were)
Conjugation of the past subjunctive with 'être'
Verbs using 'être' are state verbs. You use it with reflexive verbs and with verbs of movement and lingering. The past subjunctive with 'être' agrees in gender and number with the noun they qualify. There are many verbs and among them you find:
| partir (to leave) | aller (to go) | venir (to come) |
|---|---|---|
| que je sois parti(e) | que je sois allé(e) | que je sois venu(e) |
| que tu sois parti(e) | que tu sois allé(e) | que tu sois venu(e) |
| qu'il/elle/on soit parti(e) | qu'il/elle/on soit allé(e) | qu'il/elle/on soit venu(e) |
| que nous soyons parti(e)s | que nous soyons allé(e)s | que nous soyons venu(e)s |
| que vous soyez parti(e)s | que vous soyez parti(e)s | que vous soyez venu(e)s |
| qu'ils/elles soient parti(e)s | qu'ils/elles soient parti(e)s | qu'ils/elles soient venu(e)s |
Others verbs that use the auxiliary verb 'être'.
- mourir (to die)
- devenir (to become)
- tomber (to fall)
- arriver (to arrive)
- sortir (to exit)
- revenir (to come back)
- venir (to come)
- entrer (to enter)
- rester (to stay)
- retourner (to return)
- apparaitre (to appear)
- naitre (to be born)
Keep your motivation and test your knowledge about the subjunctive with our exercises.
Exercises
- Exercise for the past subjunctive in French I
- French past subjunctive exercise II
- French le subjonctif passé exercise III
- French le subjonctif passé exercice IV
Exercise for the past subjunctive in French I
French past subjunctive exercise II
French le subjonctif passé exercise III
French le subjonctif passé exercice IV
Exercises
- Exercise for the past subjunctive in French I
- French past subjunctive exercise II
- French le subjonctif passé exercise III
- French le subjonctif passé exercice IV
Exercise for the past subjunctive in French I
French past subjunctive exercise II
French le subjonctif passé exercise III
French le subjonctif passé exercice IV
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Тома П.
Natalia will be really interested in you as a person, what your goals are, and motivation for you to learn the language. I liked how she was answering all my questions, were patient and positive on our lesson.
Natalia L.
Toma, your interest for the language and having learned other languages before will be very helpful for you, continue with your motivation for learning French!
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
LUCA .
She is kind, she listen to me and try to help me to understand, she use pictures, english words and try to show me the meaning of words . I recommand her. She offers books for free.
Hella K.
Hi there, thank you for stopping by! My name is Cristina, I'm a CELTA qualified English teacher and I have a Master’s Degree in Foreign Languages; I speak English fluently and I can communicate in Italian, Portuguese, French and Spanish. Being a language learner myself and thanks to my educational background I have a deep understanding of language structure and I can easily put myself in my students’ shoes and understand the areas they might struggle with.
I’ve been giving private lessons for one year, to both teenagers and adults of all levels. My lessons are very student-centered, which means that my first priority is to get to know you in order to tailor the lessons around your needs and interests. I create a friendly and trustful environment, I plan my lessons to be engaging and communicative and I encourage my students to take active part in the discovery of the target language. I use a wide variety of coursebooks, online tools and authentic materials that I adapt to online teaching through powerpoint presentations and file sharing. I believe that practicing all language skills (reading, listening, speaking, writing) as well as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation is key to fluency and I make it a point of helping my students to develop all of them.
Over the last few years I've had several experiences in international companies, which allowed me to become familiar with tourism and business-related language, so I can help you strengthen your communication skills in these areas, as well as in everyday conversational English to communicate with co-workers, clients and friends.
If you have any questions drop me a message or book a trial lesson so that we can get to know each other!
I look forward to meeting to you :)
Alina L.
Cristina is a professional and motivated teacher who recently passed her Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) and has already gained experience in teaching English. During her classes, she provides slides with exercises gathered from different books and uses a variety of teaching methods such as controlled practices or free speaking exercises. Throughout the whole lesson, she encourages her students to actively speak English.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a screening interview.
Cristina R.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Fabrizio Ventimiglia .
We are an Italian family residing in France for 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the children two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with the choice. Nous sommes une famille italienne résidant en France depuis janvier, nous avons deux enfants de 10 ans qui viennent de commencer la CM1. Nous avons demandé à Natalia de leur donner deux leçons par semaine pour accélérer leur apprentissage. Nous sommes super contents de Natalia. We are an Italian family living in France since 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the kids two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with this choice.
Fabrizio's children are learning French very fast, I have the impression that these lessons online have been helpful for them and I am sure they will master the language easily. They are very interested in learning.
Hello everyone!
My name is Wanda, I'm 27 and I'm French.
I have a Master's Degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language from the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, as well as 3 years of teaching experience (face-to-face, remote courses, or group classes).
I can teach you everything from grammar to culture, but I am particularly able to help you get a better pronunciation! Indeed, I also have a Master's Degree in Linguistics, for which I wrote a thesis about the pronunciation of people learning French as a foreign language =)
Regarding pronunciation, I'll help you without any judgment and only if you express the need to improve!
I studied one year in Japan (Osaka) where I gave French classes at the University of Kansai. During this time, I met a lot of people from various background and I became very open-minded and comfortable with different cultures.
What I like the most in teaching French is getting to meet and know people from different cultures =)
So, I'll be waiting for you! =)
See you soon,
Wanda
Laia B.
Wanda is a fantastic teacher, she's always up to solve problems and doubts. She teaches from grammar to speaking, with a good emphasis on pronunciation and phonetics which are essential in French!
Wanda N.
Hi!
My name is Krisztina! I’m a teacher of German and French with the corresponding qualifications. I've grown up in a bilingual family (Hungarian-German), so I speak both languages as a native language. I’ve been teaching for six years, so I’m able to estimate your needs, and to meet them. In my lessons, I recreat real life situations, so that you will be able to adapt yourselves to different circumstances. I’m a patient, positive and creative person, who is looking forward to see you in her lessons. So don’t hesitate to book a lesson with me.
Nadia D.
I am very satisfied with my new teacher. Looks like I'm going to get French soon! Looking forward to each lesson. Krisztina knows many languages, which allows her to understand pronunciation difficulties and to remain patient. Hope to pass C1 one day!
Krisztina L.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Lida T.
Very modern. At the same time, we process texts via a file. The lessons were adapted to my needs and are very effective and recommendable!
We worked with Lida to perfect her French. She is at a very advanced level and we study specific vocabulary for her work. She is a very dedicated student and I see her speaking French better and better. Lida, keep up the good work!
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
AHlem ( AHlem ) .
she have books and she knows how the delf / dalf works, she gives me some advises that i didn't find in youtube video
Hella K.
Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
Lyudmil S.
Katia's approach is very enjoyable and the hours go by! I am very happy with the progress I make and the material used is easy to absorb. I highly recommend Katia, she is positive, punctual and a very cheerful teacher which nowadays is not so easy to find!
Katia H.
Hello my name is George im more than happy to be your english teacher.
Im from Ottowa, Ontario.
Languages have always been my passion, I studied English and i also was raised bilingual as mi mother speaks spanish, due to this i have been involved in language learning just like you, i was also a student and with effort i was able to perfect my spanish and learn german b2 level.
Im a certfied Celta instructor. ( The maximum achievement for english teachers)
my teaching method is to expand vocabulary, practice it and owning it.
same goes with grammar. I will always introduce you to new vocabulary and we will work together to understand the grammar fundamentals.
I use power point presentations and different communication platforms such as zoom and skype, i also have objects to show.
Learning English can be so exciting.
Alina L.
George is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher and an English and Spanish native speaker. His classes are really well-structured and he uses creative teaching methods and material to help you improve your language skills.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a screening interview.
George F.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
Elena A.
TISKA is a very prepared, kind and helpful teacher. i love studying with her because she makes the lesson to be intereesant and nice. she understands my needs and gives me the right homework.
Tiska G.
Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
Jeff V.
I was so pleased with my lesson with Katia. She speaks a clear French that is easy to follow and handles the technology brilliantly. She is a good listener and instantly types up vocabulary words, generating a list so I could reinforce and see what I had learned. I was really impressed. I highly recommend her for learning French.
Katia H.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Irene M.
She is a very nice person and a great teacher. She is able to make you learn grammar while speaking and writing. I think that's amazing to find a teacher like her because learning becomes funny and seems to be easy. I hope to learn french as well as she speaks it. I found a teacher and at the same time a friend who lives far form me,that speaks another language and that I couldn't have found in any other way. I absolutely recommend her!
Irene is a great student, I have seen her French improving very fast. She is able to speak about many different topics and give her opinion in a very detailed way. We are working in improving her writing skills and I see how she is doing better and better very quickly. Congratulations for all your work Irene!
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
Simona .
Tiska is giving a great support to my 8 years daughter in this challenging period! We scheduled regularly lessons to improve her French language skill and to review grammars rules in a funny enjoyfull way. Super professional and very kind teacher!
Tiska G.