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Verbs Requiring Subjunctive

The subjunctive is required after verbs expressing commands, demands, desires, permissions, prohibitions, preferences, requests, and wishes:

aimer mieux (to prefer)
commander (to order)
consentir (to consent)
craindre (to fear)
défendre (to forbid)
demander (to ask, demand)
désirer (to desire)
empêcher (to prevent)
exiger (to demand)
insister (to insist)
interdire (to forbid)
ordonner (to order)
permettre (to permit)
s'étonner (to be surprised)
se fâcher (to be upset)
se réjouir (to rejoice)
souhaiter (to wish)
vouloir (to want)

Exigez-vous que nous partions?
(Are you demanding that we leave?)

Mes parents défendent que je devienne artiste.
(My parents forbid me to become [that I become] an artist.)

The subjunctive is also used after verbs and expressions of feeling, or emotion such as fear, joy, regret, surprise:

avoir honte (to be ashamed)
avoir peur (to be afraid)
être content (to be happy)
être désolé (to be sorry)
être flatté (to be flattered)
être gêné (to be bothered, embarrassed)
être malheureux (to be unhappy)
être triste (to be sad)

Sa mère est triste qu'il ne puisse venir.
(His mother is sad that he cannot come.)

Nous avons bien honte que notre fils vous ait fait rater votre train.
We are embarassed that our son made you miss your train.

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