When you are hunting for the perfect apartment or hiring for a job, you often describe an ideal: "I'm looking for a place that is quiet" or "We need someone who can help."
In French, when you describe something you are looking for but aren't sure actually exists, you use the subjunctive in the relative clause (the descriptive part of the sentence).
Searching for the ideal
Verbs like chercher (to look for), vouloir (to want), or expressions like avoir besoin de (to need) trigger the subjunctive when the noun they describe is a hypothetical ideal rather than a specific, known reality.
| We are looking for a candidate who is versatile. | On cherche un candidat qui soit polyvalent. |
| I am looking for a calm tenant who never makes noise. | Je cherche un locataire calme qui ne fasse jamais de bruit. |
| I need an atypical apartment that meets my requirements. | J'ai besoin d'un appartement atypique qui corresponde à mes exigences. |
Asking if the ideal exists
You also use the subjunctive when asking if such a perfect thing exists, because its existence is uncertain.
| Do you know a place that is peaceful? | Connaissez-vous un endroit qui soit paisible ? |
| Is there an affordable apartment that we can rent? | Est-ce qu'il y a un appartement abordable qu'on puisse louer ? |
The search vs. the reality
Once you actually find what you are looking for, the doubt is gone! When talking about a specific, existing person or thing, you use the standard indicative mood.
Compare a search for a hypothetical candidate:
| The recruiter is looking for a candidate who meets these requirements. | Le recruteur cherche un candidat qui corresponde à ces exigences. |
With a real, existing candidate who has been found:
| The recruiter just called a versatile candidate. | Le recruteur vient d'appeler un candidat polyvalent. |
Using other relative pronouns
This rule applies regardless of which relative pronoun connects your sentence. You will see it used with qui (who/that), que (whom/that), and dont (whose/of which).
| I am looking for an apartment whose location is peaceful. | Je cherche un appartement dont l'emplacement soit paisible. |