Ch 19 · Lesson 18French · Chapter 19 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Je veux que tu viennes: will and the one-subject rule
, , take the subjunctive for someone else; one subject takes the infinitive ( ). Knowing and certainty keep the indicative.
The short version
One subject takes an infinitive, two take
.
Why?Hide
and look alike in English but are built completely differently. Same subject on both verbs means an infinitive and no . Different subjects plus the subjunctive. is simply impossible in French.
Verbs of will: vouloir que, exiger que
Verbs of wanting, wishing and demanding all behave like . Aimed at someone else, they take plus the subjunctive. They range from a wish to an order:
- souhaiter quewish
- vouloir quewant
- demander queask
- exiger quedemand
| Verb | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| . | I wish for you to be happy. |
| . | I want you to come. |
| . | I would rather you came tomorrow. |
| . | He asks that you wait here. |
| . | I demand that you be there. |
| . | He orders everyone to leave. |
is formal. In everyday French you ask a person to do something with + person + + infinitive:
.- I am asking you to come.
One subject or two: the infinitive rule
This rule decides between the infinitive and the subjunctive for every verb on this page. Ask who does the second action:
| Who acts | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| the same person | . | I want to leave. |
| someone else | . | I want you to leave. |
| the same person | . | She wants to come. |
| someone else | . | She wants us to come. |
English says to leave in both I want to leave and I want you to leave. French builds them differently, and neither half swaps: and are both wrong. The rule reaches well beyond ; the infinitive or subjunctive page follows it through every verb type.
Certainty takes the indicative
What someone wants is not real yet; what you know is. Verbs of knowing and certainty state a fact, so they keep the indicative:
| Trigger | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| will | . | I want him to come. |
| knowledge | . | I know he is coming. |
| necessity | . | She has to be there. |
| certainty | . | It is certain she is there. |
| opinion | . | I think he is right. |
works the same way: . - It is true that it is cold. Negate an opinion and it can flip to the subjunctive ( . - I do not think he is right); that is on the doubt and emotion page.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| . | the trigger needs a subjunctive |
| . | one subject: the infinitive |
| . | two subjects: + subjunctive |
| . | becomes |
| . | knowing states a fact |
| . | + adjective + |
Going further: il faut que: the workhorse and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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