The Mysteries of French language: The Subjunctive
If you’ve been struggling to learn French and master its many grammatical rules, take heart. You’re in good company. French can be a tricky language to learn, and even French natives make mistakes. There are rules, of course, but there exist so many exceptions that rules usually only apply about….80% of the time. Just when we think we have mastered, say, the order of multiple object pronouns, adverb formation, or how to form a question in French we discover, to our chagrin, a whole slew of exemptions and exclusions. What is a French learner to do?
Case in point: when to use the French subjunctive, le subjonctif? All agree to use the subjunctive after il faut que (it’s necessary that) and il n’est pas clair que (it’s unclear that) to convey obligation and uncertainty, respectively. In other cases, however, the answer is not so clear-cut.
For example, what about il semble que (it seems that) and il est probable que (it’s probable that)? Grammar books would say that while the former expression takes the subjunctive; the latter does not. But ask two native French speakers and you might get two different responses.
Avant que (before doing) and après que (after doing) seem to solicit the same confusion. The first expression is followed by the subjunctive; the secondis not. However, time and time again the subjunctive can be heard after the expression après que, by native French speakers! On French television! Ciel!
To both native speakers and French-learners alike, many of these “rules” seem downright illogical. (Why on earth would the verb “to wish” in French take the subjunctive, but not the verb “to hope”?)
Since we are in the same boat, so to speak (dans le meme sac), perhaps we should simply appreciate this beautiful language for what it is: un mystère, and enjoy the journey.
Besides, you’ll find that the French will very much appreciate your attempts to speak their language, for they know how slippery it can be. And when you find yourself stumped over a certain “rule” in French, you might just look around, grin unashamedly, raise your shoulders and exclaim: C’est français!
You can learn more about subjunctive and various conjugations by reading here.
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