The French Verb 'Souhaiter Que' Needs the Subjunctive

Languages

Updated April 05, 2017

When souhaiter ("to wish" or "to hope for") precedes a dependent clause beginning with que, the dependent clause uses a subjunctive verb. It joins a long list of other French verbs expressing someone's will, an order, a need, a piece of advice or a desire; they all also need the subjunctive in the que subordinate clause.

'Souhaiter' and 'Souhaiter Que'

When used with que, souhaiter becomes souhaiter que ("to hope that"), which introduces a dependent clause that uses the French subjunctive.

Souhaiter que is all about the emotion of hoping. Thus, it fulfills the subjunctive's basic requirement of expressing actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain.

Je souhaite qu'il vienne.
I hope that he comes.

Souhaitons que tout aille bien.
We hope that all goes well.

Il est à souhaiter que...
It is to be hoped that...

As with souhaiter que, the French subjunctive is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by que or qui, and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different, as in:

Je veux que tu le fasses.
I want you to do it.

Il faut que nous partions.
It is necessary that we leave.

French Verbs and Expressions Similar to 'Souhaiter Que'

Here are other verbs and expressions that, like souhaiter que, communicate someone's will, an order, a need, a piece of advice, or a desire. They all require the subjunctive in the dependent clause that begins with que.

There are many other types of constructions that require the French subjunctive as well, which are listed and explained in the full-on "subjunctivator" (our term).