Ch 25 · Lesson 18French · Chapter 25 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Bien que and demander de: subjunctive with one subject, infinitive with two
, , and keep the subjunctive even with one subject; , and take an infinitive with two.
The short version
I asked him to leave:
.
Why?Hide
Verbs that ask, tell, advise or allow take the person with à and the action with plus an infinitive, even with two people involved: , . cannot do this: I want him to leave is .
keeps the subjunctive, even with one subject
, .
Why?Hide
, and have no infinitive twin, so they keep and the subjunctive even when one person does everything: , . To avoid the clause, drop the verb ( ) or use a noun ( ).
Four conjunctions with no infinitive
These keep and the subjunctive even when one person does everything:
| Conjunction | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| , . | Although I'm tired, I carry on. |
| , . | Although I'm tired, I carry on. |
| . | I'll work until I finish. |
| , . | Provided I have time, I'll do it. |
There is no . ( + infinitive does exist, but it means to the point of.) To avoid the clause, drop the verb or use a noun:
, .- Though tired, I carry on., .- Despite being tired, I carry on.
Two people, still an infinitive: demander de
Verbs that ask, tell, advise or allow someone put that person in front as an indirect object (à ) and the action after + infinitive. Two people, but no .
| Verb | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| . | I asked him to leave. |
| . | I told her to come. |
| . | He let us go out. |
| . | She advised me to refuse. |
cannot do this. I want him to leave is always ., never .
looks the same but the one who acts is the subject: . - I promised him I would come.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| | one subject: infinitive |
| | takes no |
| | emotions take |
| | takes no |
| | : perfect infinitive |
| | has no infinitive |
| | two subjects: + subjunctive |
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