Does 'Avant Que' Need the Subjunctive?

Verbs, Expressions and Conjunctions That Require the French Subjunctive

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Updated August 13, 2017

The French term avant que means "before." It is a conjunction, and it requires the subjunctive.

Examples

Cache le cadeau avant qu'il ne le voie.
Hide the gift before he sees it.

Je le ferai avant que tu ne partes.
I'll do it before you leave.

Avant que uses the ne explétif, which is why ne appears after avant que in the examples above. The ne is often omitted in informal, spoken French.