You already know that main clauses expressing wishes, emotions, or suggestions trigger the subjunctive. But what happens when that main verb is in a past tense, like the imparfait or the passé composé?
In classic literature, a past-tense main clause required a complex tense called the imperfect subjunctive. Today, however, this tense is completely obsolete in everyday spoken and written French.
Instead, the modern sequence of tenses is much simpler: if the action in the subjunctive clause happens at the same time as (or after) the main past-tense verb, you simply use the present subjunctive.
| I suggested that he come with us. | J'ai suggéré qu'il vienne avec nous. |
| My father wanted me to ask for permission. | Mon père voulait que je demande la permission. |
Notice how vienne and demande remain in the present subjunctive, even though ai suggéré and voulait are in the past.
The Past Subjunctive for Prior Actions
What if the action in the subjunctive clause happened before the emotion or opinion expressed in the main clause? In this case, you use the past subjunctive (le subjonctif passé).
The past subjunctive is formed just like the passé composé, but with its auxiliary verb (avoir or être) conjugated in the present subjunctive.
| They were surprised that his refusal had caused such astonishment. | Ils étaient surpris que son refus ait provoqué un tel étonnement. |
| It was unacceptable that you had not yet read my suggestion! | Il était inadmissible que vous n'ayez pas encore lu ma suggestion ! |
In these examples, the refusal and the failure to read the suggestion happened prior to the surprise or the judgment. Because the action was already completed, the auxiliary verbs (avoir) are conjugated in the subjunctive (ait and ayez), followed by their past participles.