Subjunctive

Definition
Subjunctive is a mode of tense, different from indicative, used in embedded clauses and indicating that the information expressed in the clause is non-factive.

Example
The verb être in French has soit in (ii) as a subjunctive form, distinct from the indicative form est in (i).

(i) Je sais qu'il est capable I know that he isIND capable (ii) Il faut qu'il soit capable It must that he beSUBJ capable 'He should be capable'

Links

 * Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics