Ok, so i want to say "..unless i get a lot of homework." in French. I thought it was "..à moins que j'ai beaucoup des devoirs." but my computer is telling me it should be "j'aie". It says this is the present subjunctive. Please can someone tell me what this means and the correct way of writing the sentence. Thanks! =)
2007-03-01 07:47:10 · 8 answers · asked by Twinkle.Hayley 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"a moins que j'aie beaucoup de devoirs" (stick an 'accent grave' on that first 'a', Linux won't let me type with accents, sorry!)
The present subjunctive tense is used to express doubt or ambiguity as to whether or not the action will actually occur. In English we don't have a true 'subjunctive tense', but you could almost equate it with how we say "If I were you" instead of "If I was you". Since it's an expression of uncertainty (you aren't actually going to 'be' the other person), we change the verb form.
Subjunctive clauses almost always come after the words "que" or 'ou' (again, with the accent). Usually, the subjunctive is very similar to the imperative form (command form).
Another example:
Il est important qu'elle arrive a l'heure.
It is important that she arrive on time. (instead of 'that she arrives')
2007-03-01 08:05:46 · answer #1 · answered by James, Pet Guy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm french and I'll tell you the right way : "... que j'aie beaucoup de devoirs". So your computer was finally right !
2007-03-01 11:29:59 · answer #2 · answered by Alambic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with your computer. It is because you are discussing an eventuality that the subjunctive is needed here. .."Ã moins que j'aie" is correct.
If you haven't learned subjunctives yet, your teacher will be amazed!
http://www.terrace.qld.edu.au/academic/lote/french/y12subj.htm
http://www.staff.city.ac.uk/~ra735/grammar/french/verbs/subjunctive.html
2007-03-01 07:53:19 · answer #3 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the previous answers, particularly James'. I just wanted to add, though, that if it was the spellchecker in Word that corrected the sentence, you can click on 'explain' or 'about this sentence' in the suggestion box to find out why it wants to correct the sentence.
2007-03-02 02:36:31 · answer #4 · answered by jammycaketin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
woohoo the computer's right for once! yep it's que j'aie. and james got the perfect explanation :)
2007-03-01 23:17:36 · answer #5 · answered by misspimousse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
after some expressions you must use que and the present subjunctive unless is one of them
2007-03-02 00:00:48 · answer #6 · answered by v 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you've got it! '" moins que j'aie beaucoup de devoirs" would make it faultless!
2007-03-01 07:53:55 · answer #7 · answered by poutine 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
James's right and furthermore gives you the reason why!
James a raison et en plus il t'explique pourquoi!-
(James, tu a eu une bonne note, un point!)
Ciao.....John-John.-
2007-03-01 10:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by John-John 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋