Ch 20 · Lesson 18French · Chapter 20 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Après qu'il est parti, avant qu'il ne parte
takes the subjunctive, the indicative; and the after or à is not a negative.
The short version
takes the indicative, does not
, .
Why?Hide
at something that has not happened yet, so it takes the subjunctive: . at something that has, so careful French uses the indicative: . And the in is not a negative: it never takes .
Avant que or après que?
points at something that has not happened yet, so it takes the subjunctive. points at something that has, so careful French takes the indicative.
| Conjunction | The event | Example |
|---|---|---|
| not yet | . |
| it has happened | , . |
| one subject | , . |
The ne explétif: avant qu'il ne parte
After , , and , careful French often adds a that negates nothing. It takes no :
| Conjunction | With ne | English |
|---|---|---|
| . | Go before it rains. |
| , . | I'll come unless it rains. |
| . | He keeps quiet for fear of being heard. |
Leave it out and nothing changes: . means the same.
Read it in writing, use it in a formal essay, and never treat it as a negative. Add and you have a real negative with a different meaning:
, .- I will come unless the weather is bad.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| . | on the list: subjunctive |
| . | a real cause: indicative |
| . | one subject: |
| | on the list: subjunctive |
| | : indicative |
Going further: The always-subjunctive list and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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