78

Negative and Interrogative Verbs.

(1) Verbs used negatively or interrogatively and implying uncertainty are followed by the subjunctive with the conjunction que; if 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, is n't he ill?

Remarks on examples given above.

1. I do not know that he is ill, but I do not doubt it.

2. I am asking for information because I am in doubt, hence the subjunctive. If, however, I believed that he was ill and if I were merely trying to find out if you also believed it, the indicative would be used. Croyez-vous que je suis malade? Il ne croit pas que je suis ici. Croyez-vous que je ferai cela? In these three examples there is no doubt in the mind of the speaker.

3. I do not believe he is ill — doubt of the strongest kind.

4. Impersonal verbs implying certainty or probability when used negatively or interrogatively imply doubt and require the subjunctive. Il ne me semble pas qu'il soit malade, but ne vous semble-t-il pas qu'il est malade? See 7 and 8.

5 and 6. I have no doubt as to his being ill.

7 and 8. A negative-interrogative calls for an affirmative answer. Ne dites-vous pas qu'il a tort? Ne trouvez-vous pas que cette petite fille est gentille ?

(2) The subjunctive is not used after est-ce que? n'est-ce pas que? nor generally after such verbs as savoir, to know, faire savoir, to let know, dire, to tell, apprendre, to

learn, to hear, to inform, informer, to inform, when they are used interrogatively or negatively, if there is no doubt in the mind of the speaker.

The verb espérer takes the subjunctive only when used negatively or interrogatively.

Croire (irregular), to believe, to think.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE.

croyant.

PRESENT INDICATIVE.

je crois.

tu crois.
il croit.

nous croyons.

vous croyez.
ils croient.

PAST INDEFINITE.

j'ai cru.

trahir, to betray.

regretter, to regret.

PAST PARTICIPLE.

cru.

IMPERFECT INDICATIVE.

je croyais.

PAST DEFINITE.

je crus.
FUTURE.
je croirai.
CONDITIONAL.

je croirais.

prétendre, to pretend.

de son mieux, one's best.

1. Mlle. votre sœur espère, je crois, que vous lui enverrez l'argent que vous lui avez promis. 2. Je ne crois pas que vous lui ayez prêté le livre que vous lui réclamez. 3. Supposez-vous que nous osions jamais lui en parler? 4. Oubliez-vous qu'elle est plus âgée que nous ? 5. Si vous êtes puni, ne croyez pas que j'en sois la cause: je n'ai parlé de vous à personne. 6. Vous ne m'aviez pas dit que vous étiez indisposé: j'espère que vous vous portez mieux. 7. N'espérez pas que je trahisse mon ami pour vous faire plaisir. 8. Ne savez-vous pas que M. votre frère est revenu de Paris? 9. Ils se flattent que je répondrai à leur lettre, mais ils se trompent. 10. Elle

ne croit pas que vous préfériez mon livre au sien. 11. Je vous demande pardon, mais je vous assure qu'elle a écrit six lettres depuis mon arrivée. 12. Ne vous imaginez pas que nous nous amusions ici sans vous; nous vous regrettons beaucoup et nous parlons de vous à chaque instant. 13. Je suppose que vous me défendrez si l'on m'attaque. 14. Je ne pense pas que l'on vous attaque, mais, si on le fait, je serai là et vous défendrai. 15. Je n'espère pas qu'il réussisse, mais je pense qu'il travaillera bien. 16. Croient-ils que je les attende? 17. Oui, monsieur, ils espèrent que vous les attendrez.

(A) 1. She does not think that her father has come. 2. She thinks that her mother has come. 3. Does she think that we have come? 4. It may be that they have come. 5. She must finish her work at once. 6. I do not pretend that he is right, but I think you are wrong. 7. I hope you will answer your sister's letter; do you forget she is ill? 8. I do not forget that she is ill, but I shall not answer her letter yet. 9. She thinks that you have forgotten her. 10. I do not suppose you will give her all that money. 11. She does not hope that her father will give her any, but I think that he will. 12. I must have some paper, some ink, and a better pen. 13. Did you tell them that I would thank them myself? 14. Don't you find [that] this water [is] very good? 15. Do you believe that they are in London? 16. Do (est-ce que) you believe that (cela)? 17. Is (est-ce que)

not that true?

(B) 1. Do you think that this subject is an easy one? 2. You think that this subject is somewhat difficult, do you not? 3. Don't you think that it's very interesting? 4. Did you know that everybody believes that it is the

most difficult in the whole French grammar?

5. Have

I told you that the French [people] themselves are not 6. Is it possible that I have not

always sure about it?

7. Must we study it?

8. You

9. Do 10. Don't you think I am

told you that (cela)? hope that soon you will find it easier, don't you? you hope that I am wrong? right? 11. Do you think that English history is interesting? 12. Is it possible that French history is much more interesting? 13. Does (est-ce que) nobody know that we 14. Does any one know that I have lent you

are here? some money? 15. Who told you that everybody knows it? 16. It seems to me that you have learned this lesson well; does it seem to you that I am right? 17. Is it right for you to believe that?

79

Verbs of Emotion.

(1) Words or phrases expressing will, wish, command, doubt, fear, expectation, prohibition, permission, complaint, joy, sorrow, surprise, or any other emotion, are followed by the subjunctive with the conjunction que: Je désire que vous lui parliez, I wish you to speak to him. Je défends que vous l'attendiez, I forbid you to wait for him.

PAST INDEFINITE.

j'ai voulu.

je veux, I wish, want, command.

je veux bien, I am willing, consent.

CONDITIONAL.

je voudrais.

je voudrais or je voudrais bien, I should like.

Notice the difference in meaning between the present indicative and the conditional of the verb vouloir.

Il veut le faire, he wishes (wills, means) to do it.

Il voudrait le faire, he would like to do it.

Je veux être à Paris avant le 1er mai, I wish (intend) to be in Paris before the first of May.

Je voudrais y être maintenant, I should like to be there now, or 1 wish I were there now.

(2) In French, the subjunctive is always used after verbs expressing wish or will, except only when both verbs (that is, the verb expressing wish or will and the verb depending on it) have the same person or persons for subjects; in which case the second verb is put in the infinitive.

Je veux que vous restiez ici, I wish you to stay here.
Il veut rester ici, he wishes to stay here.

défendre, to forbid.

répliquer, to reply.

ordonner, to command.

exiger, to demand, insist.

souhaiter, to wish (to make a wish for). trouver bon, to approve.

douter, to doubt.

trouver mauvais, to disapprove.

surpris, surprised.

1. Je doute qu'il réussisse. 2. Je désire que vous m'attendiez. 3. Il veut que nous lui obéissions sans répliquer. 4. Vous ordonnez qu'on vous obéisse. 5. Elle exige que nous vous attendions. 6. Je défends qu'on le punisse. 7. Je suis surpris que vous lui parliez encore après ce qu'il a dit et fait contre vous. 8. Je regrette