6 1 The subjunctive impersonal expressions will opinion

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion Samir ne veut pas que son père ait honte. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion Forms of the present subjunctive • You have already been using verb tenses in the indicative mood. You can also use French verbs in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express an attitude, an opinion, or personal will, or to imply hypothesis or doubt. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • To form the present subjunctive of most verbs, take the ils/elles stem of the present indicative and add the subjunctive endings. For nous and vous, use their imparfait forms. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 3

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion The present subjunctive parler finir attendre parlent finissent attendent que je/j’ parle finisse attende que tu parles finisses attendes qu’il/elle parle finisse attende que nous parlions finissions attendions que vous parliez finissiez attendiez qu’ils/elles parlent finissent attendent © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 4

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • Use the same pattern to form the subjunctive of verbs with spelling or stem changes. acheter achète, achètes, achète, achetions, achetiez, achètent croire croie, croies, croie, croyions, croyiez, croient prendre prenne, prennes, prenne, prenions, preniez, prennent Recevoir reçoive, reçoives, reçoive, recevions, receviez, reçoivent © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 5

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • Some verbs are unpredictably irregular in the present subjunctive. aller aille, ailles, aille, allions, alliez, aillent avoir aie, aies, ait, ayons, ayez, aient être sois, soit, soyons, soyez, soient faire fasse, fasses, fasse, fassions, fassiez, fassent pouvoir puisse, puisses, puisse, puissions, puissiez, puissent savoir sache, saches, sache, sachions, sachiez, sachent vouloir veuille, veuilles, veuille, voulions, vouliez, veuillent © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 6

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion Impersonal expressions and verbs of will and emotion • Sentences calling for the subjunctive fit the pattern [main clause] + que + [subordinate clause]. In each case, the subjects of the two clauses are different and que is used to connect the clauses. Note that although the word that is optional in English, the word que cannot be omitted in French. MAIN CLAUSE CONNECTOR SUBORDINATE CLAUSE Il est étonnant It is surprising que (that) Thierry ne connaisse pas ses parents. Thierry doesn’t know his parents. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 7

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • The subjunctive is used after many impersonal expressions that state an opinion. Impersonal expressions followed by the subjunctive Ce n’est pas la peine que… It is not worth the effort… Il est indispensable que… It is essential that… Il est bon que… It is good that… Il est nécessaire que… It is necessary that… Il est dommage que… It is a shame that… Il est possible que… It is possible that… Il est essentiel que… It is essential that… Il est surprenant que… It is surprising that… Il est étonnant que… It is surprising that… Il faut que… One must… / It is necessary that… Il est important que… It is important that… © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Il vaut mieux que… It is better that… 8

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion ATTENTION! Some verbs used only in the third person singular, including some used in impersonal expressions, have irregular present subjunctive forms. valoir (to be worth it): qu’il vaille falloir (to be necessary): qu’il faille pleuvoir (to rain): qu’il pleuve Je ne pense pas que ça en vaille la peine. I don’t think it’s worth the effort. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 9

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • When the main clause of a sentence expresses will or emotion, use the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Expressions of will Expressions of emotion demander que… to ask that… aimer que… to like that… désirer que… to desire that… avoir peur que… to be afraid that… exiger que… to demand that… être content(e) que… to be happy that… préférer que… to prefer that… être désolé(e) que… to be sorry that… proposer que… to propose that… être étonné(e) que… to be surprised that… recommander que… to recommend that… être fâché(e) que… to be mad that… souhaiter que… to hope that… être fier/fière que… to be proud that… suggérer que… to suggest that… être ravi(e) que… to be delighted that… vouloir que… to want that… regretter que… to regret that… © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 10

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion ATTENTION! The verb demander is often used with an indirect object + de + [infinitive]. Papa nous demande de rentrer avant minuit. Dad is asking us to come home before midnight. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 11

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion Notre grand-père désire qu’on lui rende visite cet été. Our grandfather wants us to visit him this summer. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Je suis ravie que nous allions chez notre oncle. I’m delighted that we’re going to our uncle’s house. 12

6. 1 The subjunctive: impersonal expressions; will, opinion, and emotion • Although the verb espérer expresses emotion, it does not trigger the subjunctive. J’espère que le nouveau prof n’est pas trop strict. I hope that the new teacher isn’t too strict. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Nous espérons qu’ils ont des citrons à la supérette. We hope they have lemons at the mini-market. 13