aimer at B2 — the subjunctive
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When your liking lands on somebody else’s actions, French changes gear.
Why « aimer que » takes the subjunctive
French splits the world in two. Facts take the indicative; anything filtered through a feeling takes the subjunctive. Liking is a feeling, so aimer que triggers it: « j’aime que tu sois là », not « que tu es là ».
The good news is that aimer itself is regular in the subjunctive, and four of its six forms are identical to the present. Only nous aimions and vous aimiez change — the same i you already met in the imperfect.
In practice the subjunctive rarely appears after aimer alone. It shows up constantly after j’aimerais que, which is the polite request of B1 pointed at another person. That pairing is worth drilling until it is automatic.
💡 Focus at this level: Subjunctive & set phrases
👨🏫 How to trigger it correctly
1. Two subjects, one « que ». The subjunctive needs a change of person. Same person, no subjunctive: « j’aime venir », plain infinitive.
2. Learn the trigger, not the table. « j’aimerais que… » as one block, then slot verbs behind it.
3. Concede with « bien que ». « Bien qu’il aime Paris, il part. » A B2 marker examiners look for.
🎮 Practise « aimer »
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