Monday, January 6, 2020
If the French Supposer Hypothesizes, Add Subjunctive
When supposer (to suppose or to assume) is used with a dependent clause beginning with que, the dependent clause may use a subjunctive verb, depending on how supposer is used. When it expresses an assumption, no:   Je suppose quil le fait.   I assume that he is doing it. When the subject is presenting a hypothesis, yes:   Supposons quil le fasse.   Lets suppose that he does it. Supposer que joins a long list of similar verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion; they all also need the subjunctive in the ​que subordinate clause. Supposer and Supposer Que Supposer que, when used to express an hypothesis, fulfills the subjunctives underlying requirement of expressing actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain. As with this use of supposer que, the French subjunctive is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by que or qui, and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different, as in:   Je veux que tu le fasses.   I want you to do it.    Il faut que nous partions.   It is necessary that we leave. French Verbs and Expressions Similar to Supposer Que Here are other verbs and expressions that, like supposer que, can communicate doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion. They all require the subjunctive in the dependent clause that begins with que. There are many other types of constructions that need the French subjunctive as well, which are explained and listed in the full-on subjunctivator (our term). accepter que  to acceptsattendre à ce que  to expect thatchercher ... qui*  to look fordà ©tester que  to hate thatdouter que**  to doubt thatil est convenable que  it is proper/fitting/appropriate thatil est douteux que**  it is doubtful thatil est faux que  it is false thatil est impossible que  it is impossible thatil est improbable que  it is improbable thatil est juste que  it is right/fair thatil est possible que  it is possible thatil est peu probable que  it is not very likely thatil nest pas certain que  it is not certain thatil nest pas clair que  it is not clear thatil nest pas à ©vident que  it is not obvious thatil nest pas exact que  it is not correct thatil nest pas probable que  it is unlikely thatil nest pas sà »r que  it is not certain thatil nest pas vrai que  it is not true thatil semble que  it seems thatil se peut que  it may be thatle fait que  the fact thatnier que***  to deny thatrefuser que  to refusesupposer que  to suppose / assume; to hypothesize *When you are looking for someone who may not exist, this indicates doubt and therefore requires the subjunctive in the dependent clause:    Je cherche un homme qui sache la và ©rità ©.   Im looking for a man who knows the truth. **These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively:    Je doute quil vienne. I doubt hes coming.   Je ne doute pas quil vient.  I dont doubt hes coming. ***When nier is in the negative, its followed by the the more formal ne explà ©tif, which uses only ne (without pas).   Il na pas nià © quelle ne soit partie.   He didnt deny that she left. Additional Resources The SubjunctivatorQuiz: Subjunctive or indicative?
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