When to use the Subjonctif Passé: the Ultimate Guide in 2021

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In this French grammar lesson you will learn about when to use the subjonctif passé in French.

In this lesson you will learn about:

  • when to use the subjunctive in French
  • how the subjonctif passé is used in sentences
  • how you can quiz yourself on when to use the subjonctif passé
  • how to practice with flashcards on when to use the subjonctif passé
  • how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn French

Please refer to the French B2 Curriculum to get a better overview of French grammar, if you are curious about how this fits in the overall structure of French B2.

Please also read how to form the subjonctif passé, to find out how you can form it.

By the end of the lesson you will know all about when to use the subjonctif passé!

Table of Contents

When to use the Subjonctif Passé

The same requirements for using the subjonctif présent are also there when it comes to using the subjonctif passé.

However, the only difference is that you use the subjonctif passé to refer to something that has already happened.

se comporter

Louis est choqué qu’elle se soit mal comportée.

Louis is shocked that she misbehaved.

dire

Je crains qu’Arthur n’ait pas dit la vérité.

I am afraid that Arthur has not told the truth.

faire

Nous ne pensons pas que vous ayez fait vos devoirs.

We don’t think that you did your homework.

lire

Je doute que vous ayez lu ma lettre.

I doubt that you have read my letter.

revenir

Nous sommes ravis qu’ils soient revenus.

We are delighted that they have returned.

Please note that in all examples, you are refering to actions that have already been completed.

Example Sentences on When to use the Subjonctif Passé

The final section of this lesson on when to use the subjonctif passé in French is about seeing the subjonctif passé in action.

This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of when to use the subjonctif passé in French through examples.

se comporter

Louis est choqué qu’elle se soit mal comportée.

Louis is shocked that she misbehaved.

dire

Je crains qu’Arthur n’ait pas dit la vérité.

I am afraid that Arthur has not told the truth.

faire

Nous ne pensons pas que vous ayez fait vos devoirs.

We don’t think that you did your homework.

lire

Je doute que vous ayez lu ma lettre.

I doubt that you have read my letter.

revenir

Nous sommes ravis qu’ils soient revenus.

We are delighted that they have returned.

Quiz Yourself on When to use the Subjonctif Passé

At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.

You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.

You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.

Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.

You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!

How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson

Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!

It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.

Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information.

There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.

  1. Anki
  2. The Flashcards in our Courses

After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our French B2 Anki Deck.

This Anki Deck contains 1,964 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for French B2!

All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.

You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!

However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?

The Courses of Language Atlas

Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?

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It never really seemed to work for me.

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So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.

Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.

I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.

However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.

The courses of Language Atlas have:

  • 800+ Lessons with audio
  • 800+ Quizzes
  • 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
  • A gamified way of learning a new language
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You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!

This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).

All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!

Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!

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