Transfer of Meaning

Select from following or scroll down...   Expressing doubt Expressing necessity Expressing insistance Expressing fear with certain conjunctions with the indefinite antecendent with the superlative   INTRODUCTION If you are not familiar with English grammar, (or correct usage!) the word "subjunctive" can be totally foreign. However, the subjunctive mood exists in English, too. Usually, we use it after the word "that" when the first clause implies some doubt or wishing. Look at these examples: 1. I wish that she were here right now. Notice she were instead of she was. This verb is in the subjunctive mood. 2. She requests that he come to the meeting tomorrow. Here, he come, instead of the present indicative he comes, is in the subjunctive mood as well. In both sentences, the subjunctive is found after a clause where the following two conditions are met: 1. The preceding clause contains a phrase indicating some wishing, desiring or doubt. 2. The preceding clause ends with "that". Note: Sometimes, "that" is implied and not stated. In French, the subjunctive is much more common than in English. It is impossible to be a fluent, coherent speaker of French without some grasp of the subjunctive mood. Since the subjunctive is a "mood" (NOT A TENSE), it can exist in more than one tense. Therefore, there is a present subjunctive, past subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive and pluperfect subjunctive. Clearly, mastery of the present subjunctive is more important than the others. In fact, most native French speakers couldn't conjugate a verb in the imperfect subjunctive or the pluperfect subjunctive if they had to. The reasons for that will be discussed later. For now, let's concentrate on the uses for the subjunctive. The subjunctive is used normally in a subordinate clause (in other words, after the word que or some other conjuctions) where the preceding main clause requires the subjunctive. Like in English, French requires the subjunctive where the main clause expresses some doubt, wishing or emotion. Expressions of doubt requiring the subjunctive 1. douter que = to doubt that Example: Je doute que vous fassiez vos devoirs. = I doubt that you are doing your homework. Here, the verb fassiez is the present subjunctive form of faire. 2. ne pas croire que = to not believe that Example: Nous ne croyons pas que le monde soit rond. = We do not believe that the world is round. The verb soit is the present subjunctive form of être Note that the expression "croire que" does NOT require the subjunctive because no doubt is implied. Thus, we would say "Nous croyons que le monde est rond. (present indicative) 3. Il est douteux que = it is doubtful that Example: Il est douteux que vous arriviez à l'heure. = It is doutful that you will arrive on time. Note that even though we express the action in the second clause in the future tense in English, we must use the present subjunctive in French. 4. Il semble que; il ne semble pas que = It (doesn't) seem that Example: Il semble que l'école ne produise pas d'élèves intelligents. = It seems that the school isn't producing intelligent students. Note: In English, "it seems that" doesn't seem to imply a lot of doubt. However, it implies some uncertainty and thus, in French, requires the subjunctive. The expression "Il me semble que" = "It seems to me that" does NOT require the subjunctive. Presumably, this is because there is less doubt. Thus, "Il me semble que l'école ne produit pas d'élèves intelligents. 5. Il est possible que = It is possible that Example: Il est possible que nous allions en vacances. = It is possible that we may go on holiday. 6. Il se peut que = It is possible that Example: Il se peut que mes frères sachent faire la lessive. = It is possible that my brothers know how to do the laundry. 7. Il ne paraît pas que = It doesn't seem that Example: Il ne paraît pas que l'hiver parte bientôt. = It doesn't seem that winter will be ending soon. Note: Because there is no future subjunctive, the present subjunctive serves to indicate the future meaning. 8. Il est incroyable que = It is unbelievable that Example: Il est incroyable que cet animal puisse parler. = It is unbelievable that this animal can talk. back to top Impersonal expressions of necessity requiring the subjunctive In French, impersonal expressions of necessity require the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. In English, an example of an impersonal expression of necessity would be: "It is essential that he finish the work." The subject of the main clause is "it." However, "it" doesn't refer to any person, place, thing or concept; it has no antecedent. That is why the expression "it is essential" is considered impersonal. The rule is the same for the French equivalent Il est essentiel. Some common expressions of necessity include: 1. Il faut que = It is necessary that Example: Il faut que ma voiture soit réparée avant de partir. = It is necessary that my car be repaired before leaving. 2. Il est nécessaire que = It is necessary that Example: Il est nécessaire que le défilé commence à l'heure. = It is necessary that the parade start on time Note: "commence" is in the subjunctive mood, however, its form is the same as the present indicative. 3. Il est essentiel que = It is essential that Example: Il est essentiel que mon collègue et moi finissions ce projet. = It is essential that my colleague and I finish this project. 4. Il est important que = It is important that Example: Il est important que vous votiez pour le meilleur candidat. = It is important that you vote for the better candidate. back to top Expressions of desirability and insistance Most expressions of desirability or insistance in French, whether personal or impersonal require the subjunctive. Most of these expressions require the subjunctive even if the expression is in the negative. For instance, "I desire that you come" and "I DON'T desire that you come" would both require the subjunctive in French. Here are some of these expressions: 1. Il (n')est (pas) bon que = It is (not) good that Example: Il n'est pas bon que nous dormions pendant toute la journée. = It is not good that we sleep the whole day. 2. (ne pas) vouloir que = (not) to want that Example 1: Ma mère veut que je fasse mes devoirs = My mother wants me to do my homework. (literally) My mother wants THAT I do my homework. Example 2: Nos amis et moi, nous ne voulons pas que le ciel tombe. = My friends and I, we don't want the sky to fall. (literally) My friends and I, we don't want that the sky falls. VOULOIR + infinitive or VOULOIR + subjunctive? Remember that when you are talking about something you want to do, you can simply avoid the subjunctive: Example: "Je veux aller à l'école"; there is no need to say "Je veux que j'aille à l'école." As long as the person(s) that are wanting are the same person(s) who are doing, just use vouloir + the infinitive. It is only when the person(s) wanting and the person(s) doing are different that the subjunctive is required. Example: Nous voulons faire du ski. = We want to go skiing. The persons wanting (we), and the persons doing the skiing (we) are the same. Thus, use vouloir + infinitive.   Example: Nous voulons que notre ami fasse du ski = We want our friend to go skiing Here, the persons wanting (we) and the person doing the skiing (our friend) are different. Thus, use the construction vouloir que followed by the subordinate clause in the subjunctive. 3. (ne pas) aimer que = (not) to like that Example 1: J'aime qu'il ne pleuve pas. = I like that it's not raining. Example 2: Vous n'aimez pas que votre ennemi vienne ce soir. = You don't like that your enemy is coming this evening. 4. (ne pas) désirer que = (not) to desire that Example: Le président de la République désire que l'éléctorat le choisisse. = The President of the Republic desires that the electorate choose him. 5. Il (n')est (pas) préférable que = It is (not) preferable that Example: Il n'est pas préférable que l'étudiant rate l'examen. = It is not preferable that the student fail the exam. 6. préférer que = to prefer that Example: Je préfère que tu n'éternues pas. = I prefer you not to sneeze. 7. (ne pas) insister que = (not) to insist that Example: Le professeur n'insiste pas que nous rendions le devoir aujourd'hui. = The professor doesn't insisit that we hand in the homework today. 8. tenir à ce que = to insist that Ex. Vous tenez à ce que le travail soit bien fait. = You insist that the work be done well.  9. exiger que = to require that Example: Mes amis exigent que je paie le loyer. = My friends require that I pay the rent. Note: exiger can also be used in the impersonal expression il est exigé que. = It is required that. Example: Il est exigé que l'on stationne la voiture ailleurs. = It is required that people park their cars elsewhere. back to top     Conjunctions requiring the subjunctive There are many conjunctions in French that require the subjunctive. Here are some of the most important which you should aim to memorize: 1. avant que + ne = before Example: Nous ne partirons pas pour Lausanne avant que ma mère (ne) sache où nous allons. = We will not leave for Lausanne before my mother knows where we are going. The "ne" in parentheses is referred to as the "pleonastic ne." It has no negative meaning and is only used following a few conjunctions and expressions of fear which will be covered later. Its use is no longer manditory and it is being used less and less, but should be retained in formal writing and will certainly impress the examiner! 2. sans que = without Example: Il a fini le travail sans que son voisin (ne) s'en rende compte. = He finished the work without his neighbour realising it. NB: The "ne" can also be used with this conjunction. 3. jusqu'à ce que = until Example: Tu ne peux pas recevoir ton bac juqu'à ce que tu finisses tes examens. = You cannot receive your 'A' Levels until you finish your exams. 4. à moins que + ne = unless Example: Il ne survivra pas à moins que les meilleurs médecins (ne) le soignent. = He will not survive unless the best doctors treat him. Again, remember that the "ne" has no negative meaning here. 5. pour que = so that; in order that Example: La ville a établi des limites de vitesse pour que les conducteurs ne conduisent pas trop vite. = The city established speed limits so that drivers don't drive too fast. back to top       Expressions of fear In French, there are two principal expressions used for fear. Both of these expressions, when followed by que require the subjunctive and, more formally, the pleonastic 'ne'. They are "avoir peur" and "craindre". Craindre is an irregular verb that is conjugated like "joindre." 1. avoir peur que + ne = to be afraid that; to fear that Example: L'homme a peur que le chien (ne) le morde. = The man is afraid that the dog will bite him. 2. craindre que = to fear that; to be afraid that Example: Je crains que ma copine (n')ait une panne de voiture. = I am afraid that my girlfriend's car has broken down. back to top   Indefinite & negative antecedents This is one of the few times in French that the subjunctive can exist in a sentence without the word que. An indefinite antecedent exists when the object talked about, or referenced in the main clause is nonexistant (negative antecendent)or its existance is in doubt (indefinite antecendent); this case comes about usually when talking about a search for something or someone with certain qualities. Here are a few examples: Example 1: Nous cherchons quelqu'un qui puisse travailler indépendamment. = We are looking for someone who could work independently. Remember: The main point of the subjunctive here is to indicate doubt or uncertainty about the existence of the person who can work independently. That person has not yet been located. Example 2: Il ne connaît personne qui veuille venir à la fête. = He doesn't know anyone who would want to come to the party. In this example, there is no one who wants to come to the party. Since such as person is nonexistent, the subjunctive is used. However, if there is someone who wants to go to the party, the subjunctive is NOT used: ie: Il connaît quelqu'un qui VEUT venir à la fête. = He knows someone who WANTS to come to the party. The main point here is that the person talked about does exist and is not theoretical. In such a case, use the indicative. Example 3: Il n'y a rien du tout dans cette situation qui soit compréhensible. = There is nothing at all about this situation that is understandable.  back to top   Superlatives A superlative is an expression of totality or uniqueness that, in English, is usually expressed with the ending "-est" and some other words. For example, words such as "greatest", "best", "most", "only" are examples of superlatives. When these equivalents in French are followed by que, they are normally also followed by a clause in the subjunctive: Example 1: Voilà la plus belle femme que je n'aie jamais vue. = There is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. Example 2: La seule voiture que nous puissions conduire se trouve là bas. = The only car that we can drive is located over there. Back to Index