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Advanced Subjunctive Uses

Master all contexts requiring the subjunctive including after superlatives doubt expressions and in independent clauses.
Use the subjunctive after a superlative when expressing a personal opinion or judgment.
Subjunctive after superlatives of opinion.
C'est le meilleur film que j'aie jamais vu = It's the best film I've ever seen
Use the subjunctive after expressions of uniqueness: le seul le premier le dernier + relative clause.
Subjunctive after le seul/premier/dernier.
C'est le seul ami qui me comprenne vraiment = He's the only friend who truly understands me
Use the subjunctive after expressions of doubt or denial: douter que nier que ne pas penser que ne pas croire que.
Subjunctive after verbs of doubt and denial.
Je ne crois pas qu'il soit honnête = I don't think he is honest
After penser and croire in the affirmative use the indicative. In the negative or question use the subjunctive.
Penser/croire: affirmative = indicative / negative/question = subjunctive.
Je pense qu'il vient (ind.) / Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne (subj.)
The subjunctive is used in concessive clauses after quoi que (whatever) où que (wherever) qui que (whoever).
Subjunctive after quoi que / où que / qui que.
Quoi qu'il fasse je l'aimerai toujours = Whatever he does I will always love him
Use the subjunctive in purpose clauses after pour que afin que de façon que de sorte que.
Subjunctive in purpose clauses.
Je t'explique pour que tu comprennes = I explain so that you understand
Use the subjunctive after avant que (before) and à moins que (unless) but NOT after après que (indicative).
Avant que / à moins que = subjunctive / après que = indicative.
Pars avant qu'il arrive / après qu'il est arrivé (indicative)
Use the subjunctive in independent clauses to express a wish command or mild imperative (literary/formal style).
Subjunctive in independent clauses for wish or command.
Vive la France! / Qu'il entre! / Soit dit entre nous
The imperfect subjunctive (subjonctif imparfait) appears in literary texts as a more formal version of the present subjunctive.
Imperfect subjunctive = literary present subjunctive.
Il fallait qu'il vînt = It was necessary that he come (literary)
Distinguish entre verbs that always take subjunctive (vouloir que attendre que) and those that fluctuate (espérer que — indicative in standard French).
Espérer que takes indicative not subjunctive.
J'espère qu'il viendra (NOT vienne) = I hope he will come