français · B2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Indicative or subjunctive?
Change mood when certainty, assertion, or existence becomes doubted, denied, or sought.
Understand the choice
Mood contrast reveals the speaker’s commitment. The known specialist belongs to an asserted reality. The person being sought has not yet been identified, so the relative clause presents a criterion rather than a fact.
Core rule: Use indicative for asserted or identified facts; subjunctive can appear after doubt/negation or with an indefinite, desired, or possibly nonexistent antecedent.
Notice it in context
Je connais un spécialiste qui peut nous aider, mais je cherche quelqu’un qui puisse venir demain.
I know a specialist who can help us, but I am looking for someone who can come tomorrow.
Peut describes a known person; puisse describes the desired but unidentified quelqu’un.
Je pense qu’il a raison, mais je ne pense pas qu’il ait toutes les informations.
I think he is right, but I do not think he has all the information.
Affirmative penser asserts with indicative; negated penser commonly triggers subjunctive.
Y a-t-il une solution qui soit moins coûteuse ?
Is there a solution that is less expensive?
The question seeks an uncertain solution, favoring subjunctive soit.
What to remember
- After croire and penser, inversion questions and negation often favor subjunctive, though nuance and register matter.
- The indicative remains possible when a question strongly presupposes an answer.
Common trap: Do not turn this into a mechanical negative-equals-subjunctive rule; the intended degree of assertion matters.