Usages particuliers du subjonctif
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The French subjunctive is most often found in subordinate clauses (e.g., Il faut que tu partes), but it can also be used in main or independent clauses.* In general, this latter usage tends to be formal.
1) Third person imperative: que + subjunctive
The subjunctive can be used after que as a third person imperative, for commands, wishes, concessions, suppositions, and exclamations.
Qu’ils mangent de la brioche ! | Let them eat brioche! | |
Que Dieu vous bénisse. | (May) God bless you. | |
Qu’il y réussisse cette fois ! | Let him succeed this time! I hope he succeeds this time! |
|
Qu’il repose en paix. | May he rest in peace. | |
Qu’il soit en retard, il faut l’attendre avant de manger. | He may be late, we have to wait for him before eating. |
2) Polite and/or literary imperative: without que
The subjunctive can be used without que for polite and/or literary commands, wishes, etc., but only for a few verbs:
Usage | |||
être | Soit un triangle ABC. | Let ABC be a triangle. Let’s consider the triangle ABC. |
science, math |
pouvoir | Puissiez-vous dire vrai ! | Let’s hope you’re right! | literary |
savoir | Je ne sache pas que cela existe. | I’m not aware that that exists. | formal |
Pas autant que je sache. | Not that I know of. | literary | |
venir | Vienne l’aube, les oiseaux chantent. | Come dawn, the birds sing. | poetic, literary |
vivre | Vive la France ! | Long live France! | third person command |
vouloir | Veuillez m’excuser. | Please excuse me. | very polite command |
3) Fixed expressions
Ainsi soit-il | So be it | |
Advienne que pourra | Come what may | |
autant que je sache | to the best of my knowledge | |
coûte que coûte | at all costs | |
Dieu soit loué ! | Thank goodness! | |
Dieu vous protège. | May God protect you. | |
Grand bien vous fasse ! | You’re welcome to it! May it serve you well! (sarcastic) | |
n’en déplaise à… | with all due respect to… | |
pas que je sache | not to my knowledge | |
Plaise à Dieu que … | God grant that … | |
Qu’à cela ne tienne. | Never mind that, That doesn’t matter. | |
Sauve qui peut ! | Save yourselves (if you can)! |
(Je veux) Que Dieu vous bénisse.
(Nous souhaitons que) Grand bien vous fasse !
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