If le Fait Que Is Supposition, Use the Subjunctive

The subjunctive after le fait que (the fact that) is optional: It depends on what you mean.When youre actually talking about  a fact, you do not need the subjunctive, as in: Le fait quil le faitThe fact that hes doing it(You know for a fact that hes doing it.)However, when youre talking about a supposition, you do need the subjunctive, as in:Le fait que tout le monde sacheThe fact that everyone knows(Youre supposing that everyone knows, but you dont know it for a fact.) The Heart of the Subjunctive This goes to the heart of the subjunctive  mood, which  is used to express actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain, such as will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity and judgment.   The subjunctive can seem overwhelming, but the thing to remember is: the subjunctive subjectivity or  unreality. Use this mood enough and it will become second nature...and quite expressive. 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. For example:      Je veux que tu le fasses. I want you to do it.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il faut que nous partions. It is necessary that we leave. Dependent Clauses Take the Subjunctive When They: Contain verbs and expressions that express someones will, an  order, a need, a piece of advice or a desire.Contain verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling, such as fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or any other sentiments.Contain verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition  and opinion.Contain verbs and expressions, such as  croire que  (to believe that),  dire que (to say that),  espà ©rer que (to hope that),  Ãƒ ªtre certain que (to be certain that),  il paraà ®t que  (it appears that),  penser que  (to think that),  savoir que  (to know that),  trouver que  (to find/think that) and  vouloir dire que (to mean that), which only require the subjunctive when the clause is  negative or interrogatory. They  do  not  take the subjunctive when they are used in the affirmative, because they express facts that are considered certain—at least in the speakers mind.Contain French  conjunctive phrases  (locutions conj onctives), groups of two or more words that have the same function as a conjunction and imply supposition.  Contain the  negative pronouns  ne ... personne  or  ne ... rien, or the  indefinite pronouns  quelquun  or  quelque chose.Follow main clauses containing superlatives. Note that in such cases,  the subjunctive is optional, depending on  how concrete the speaker feels about what is being said.   Why le Fait Que Sometimes Takes the Subjunctive Le fait que (the fact that) is an example of number 4:  an expression of doubt, possibility, supposition  and opinion. There are many expressions in this category and for all of them, its the same. If they are expressions of uncertainty and subjectivity, they, of course, do take the subjunctive. When they talk about an actual fact, they do not take the subjunctive. So think before you write or speak these common expressions, which most times take the subjunctive: accepter que  Ã‚  to acceptsattendre à   ce que   to expectchercher ... qui   to look fordà ©tester que   to hatedouter que  Ã‚  to doubt thatil est convenable que  Ã‚  it is appropriate/proper/fitting/suitable thatil est douteux que  Ã‚  it is doubtful thatil est faux que  Ã‚  it is false thatil est impossible que  Ã‚  it is impossible thatil est improbable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil est juste que  Ã‚  it is right/fair thatil est possible que  Ã‚  it is possible thatil est peu probable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil nest pas certain que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas clair que  Ã‚  it is not clear thatil nest pas à ©vident que  Ã‚  it is not obvious thatil nest pas exact que  Ã‚  it is not correct thatil nest pas probable que  Ã‚  it is improbable thatil nest pas sà »r que  Ã‚  it is not certain thatil nest pas vrai que  Ã‚  it is not true thatil semble que  Ã‚  it seems thatil se peut que  Ã‚  it may be thatle fait que   Ã‚  the fact thatnier que  Ã‚  to deny thatrefuser que  Ã‚  to refusesupposer que  Ã‚  to suppose, hypothesize Additional Resources The French SubjunctiveFrench ConjunctionsThe Subjunctivator!Quiz: Subjunctive or indicative?