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FrenchConjugationSubjonctif

Manger (to eat) · Subjonctif

By TutorLily Editorial Team · Last updated

Manger in the French subjonctif présent is: je mange, tu manges, il/elle/on mange, nous mangions, vous mangiez, ils/elles mangent. The subjonctif of manger uses the regular stem 'mang-' with subjonctif endings. No extra 'e' needed for any form (subjonctif endings start with -e or -i, not -a or -o).

manger conjugation in the Subjonctif Présent
To EatManger
I eat
je mange
you eat
tu manges
he/she eat
il/elle/on mange
we eat
nous mangions
you eat
vous mangiez
they eat
ils/elles mangent
Examples

Manger (to eat) in context

Sentences that use manger in the subjonctif. Tap each to hear it.

Il faut que je mange quelque chose.

I need to eat something.

Je veux que tu manges plus de légumes.

I want you to eat more vegetables.

Il faut qu'il mange lentement.

He needs to eat slowly.

Avant que nous mangions, attendons les autres.

Before we eat, let's wait for the others.

J'aimerais que vous mangiez plus sainement.

I'd like you to eat more healthily.

Je doute qu'ils mangent tout ce qu'on leur sert.

I doubt they will eat everything they are served.

Tip

Working with the subjonctif

The subjonctif isn't a tense — it's a mood. It signals doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, or hypothetical possibility. The standard trigger families: "il faut que" (it's necessary), "je veux que" (I want), "je doute que" (I doubt), "avant que" (before), "bien que" (although), "pour que" (so that). The form usually comes from the third-person plural of the present indicative (ils parlent → que je parle). Most -er verbs look identical in subjonctif and indicative for je/tu/il/ils — only the nous/vous forms shift, and only irregular verbs like être (sois), avoir (aie), aller (aille), faire (fasse) need full memorisation.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do you conjugate manger in the subjonctif?
The subjonctif of manger is: que je mange, que tu manges, qu'il mange, que nous mangions, que vous mangiez, qu'ils mangent. No extra 'e' needed — subjonctif endings start with -e or -i, never the problematic -a/-o.
When do I need to use the subjonctif of manger?
Use it after triggers of necessity, will, doubt, or time: 'il faut que je mange' (I need to eat), 'je veux qu'il mange' (I want him to eat), 'avant que tu manges' (before you eat). Health and parenting contexts use this constantly: 'il faut que tu manges tes légumes' (you need to eat your vegetables).
Why doesn't the subjonctif need the extra 'e'?
The -ger spelling rule only operates before endings that start with -a or -o (which would create a hard g). Subjonctif endings are -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent — none start with -a or -o. So 'mange' (subjonctif je/tu/il), 'mangions', 'mangent' all keep the bare 'g' before vowels that already preserve the soft sound.
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More tenses of Manger (To Eat)

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Manger (to eat) · Imparfait
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Manger (to eat) · Futur

More verbs in subjonctif

All tenses
Manger (to eat)
subjonctif
Être (to be)
subjonctif
Avoir (to have)
subjonctif
Aller (to go)
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