Lesson 77: Formation of the Present Subjunctive.

Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.

- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

There are two methods1 of obtaining the present subjunctive from the primitive tenses (or principal parts). Neither method is without exceptions, and neither applies to avoir or être.

First Method. Change -ant of the present participle to e. In regular verbs of the third conjugation, e before v in the stem must be changed to oi.

donnant: que je donne.

recevant: que je reçoive.

Second Method. Drop -nt of the third person plural present indicative. This rule applies to all regular verbs and to about twenty more of the irregular verbs than are covered by the first method, while the present subjunctive of only two verbs, savoir and pleuvoir, may be obtained by the first method and not by the second.

In other words, since the ending of the third person plural, -ent, is silent, when we pronounce the third person plural present indicative of most French verbs, we are also pronouncing the first person singular present subjunctive.

ils donnent: que je donne.

ils reçoivent: que je reçoive.

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE OF REGULAR VERBS,

TERMINATIONS: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

These are also the terminations for all irregular verbs, except avoir and être (Lesson 76).

1 Teachers will state to their pupils which method is to be followed. The other may be entirely ignored.

2 In the principal parts, give the first person singular only of the present indicative; the pupil should know the tense so well that the third person plural is instantly ready for use in the formation of the present subjunctive.

Using these four verbs as models, be prepared to conjugate the present subjunctive of any of the regular verbs previously given.

There is no future subjunctive. The present subjunctive is used to express both present and future time.

Exercise.

1. On me dit qu'il est essentiel que vous arriviez à Londres avant le 1er avril. 2. Il est bien important que je finisse, le plus tôt possible, tout ce que j'ai déjà commencé; alors il sera possible que j'y arrive à temps (in time). 3. Vous lui avez désobéi: il est juste qu'on vous punisse. 4. Il est évident que l'on nous attendra. 5. Il me semble qu'il n'est pas certain qu'on nous attende. 6. Il est préférable que vous lui rendiez ce livre vous-même. 7. Il vaut mieux que nous restions ici ce soir. 8. Il est temps que vous fermiez vos livres. 9. Il est juste que vous me payiez ce que vous me devez. 10. Est-il possible que je vous doive quelque chose? 11. Il est certain que vous m'avez emprunté dix francs, il y a plus de six mois. 12. Se peut-il que vous l'oubliiez? 13. Il faut que nous nous le rappelions, n'est-ce pas ? 14. Il est probable que ma sœur sera ici bientôt. 15. qu'elle soit avec nous.

Il importe peu

1. Is it possible that you relate false stcries? transpires that the story I was telling is not false.

2. It 3. It is

fortunate for you that it is true. well, but I am not sure. friend. 6. It is possible that you are mine too, but it seems to me that you are not. 7. It has been decided at last that we will give you the first prize. 8. Is it fitting that I should receive it? 9. That letter must be sent [express two ways] before 1.30. 10. We must begin as soon as she gets here. 11. Children must obey their parents. 12. It is probable that they will not always do it, and their parents must have a great deal of patience. 13. It is urgent that she answer the letter she received a few days ago. 14. It is time for you to go to bed; it is eleven o'clock. get here to-morrow morning? study several hours a day. your lessons so well. 18. If my father accepts your invitation, it will be possible for us to be at your house on Saturday next.

4. It seems as if you worked

5. It seems to him that you are his

15. At what time must I 16. It is evident that you 17. It is good that you prepare

Lesson 78: Subjunctive of Doubt.

Je jette ma langue aux chiens.—I give it up.

Verbs used negatively or interrogatively and implying uncertainty are followed by the subjunctive with the conjunction que; if, however, there is no doubt in the mind of the speaker, the indicative is used.

1. Je crois qu'il est malade, I believe that he is ill.

2. Croyez-vous qu'il soit malade, do you believe that he is ill?

3. Je ne crois pas qu'il soit malade, I do not believe that he is ill.

4. Il n'est pas certain qu'il soit malade, it is not certain that he is ill.

5. Oubliez-vous qu'il est malade, do you forget that he is ill?

6. Saviez-vous qu'il était malade, did you know that he was ill?

7. Ne croyez-vous pas qu'il est malade, do you not believe that he is ill? 8. N'est-ce pas qu'il est malade, isn't he ill?