Français III – Leçon 6B Structures The subjunctive (part 2) Comparatives and superlatives of nouns

Some verbs have irregular subjunctive forms. avoir être faire que je/j’ que tu qu’il/elle que nous que vous qu’ils/elles aie sois fasse aies sois fasses ait soit fasse ayons soyons fassions ayez soyez fassiez aient soient fassent

The subjunctive (Part 2) Will and emotion Use the subjunctive with verbs and expressions of will and emotion. Verbs and expressions of will are often used when someone wants to influence the actions of other people. Verbs and expressions of emotion express someone’s feelings or attitude.

When the main clause contains an expressions of will or emotion and the subordinate clause has a different subject, the subjunctive is required. MAIN CLAUSE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE VERB OF WILL CONNECTOR SUBJUNCTIVE Mes parents exigent que je dorme huit heures. (My parents demand that I sleep eight hours.) Tu es triste que Sophie ne vienne pas avec nous. (You are sad that Sophie isn’t coming with us.)

Verbs and expressions of will commonly followed by the subjunctive: demander que… désirer que… préférer que… exiger que…

proposer que… recommander que… souhaiter que… suggérer que… vouloir que…

Verbs and expressions of emotion followed by the subjunctive: avoir peur que… aimer que… être content(e) que… être désole(e) que…/

être furieux / furieuse que… être heureux / heureuse que… être surpris(e) que… être triste que…

In English, the word that introducing the subordinate clause may be omitted. In French, never omit que between the two clauses. If the subject doesn’t change, use the infinitive with expressions of will and emotion. In the case of avoir peur, regretter, and expressions with être, add de before the infinitive. Examples: Tu souhaites faire un pique-nique? Nous sommes tristes d’entendre la mauvaise nouvelle. (Do you wish to have a picnic?) (We’re sad to hear the bad news.)

Comparatives and superlatives of nouns

Comparatives and superlatives of nouns Earlier you learned how to compare nouns and verbs by using comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs. Examples: Paul est plus vite que moi. Je suis moins vite que Paul. Je suis aussi vite que Sophie. Paul est le plus vite. Paul court le mieux.

You will now learn how to compare nouns when talking abut quantities. To compare the amount of something, use the following expressions: plus de + [noun] more moins de + [noun] less; fewer autant de [noun] as much; as many +

Elle fait plus d’heures que sa sœur. (She works more hours than her sister [does].) Il y a moins d’arbres dans le jardin que dans la forêt. (There are less trees in the garden than in the forest.) Vous recevez autant de courrier que vos amis. (You receive as much mail as your friends [do].) Il n’y a pas autant d’animaux dans la ville que dans la jungle. (There aren’t as many animals in the city as (there are) in the jungle

To express the superlative quantity of a noun (the most, the least/fewest), add the definite article le: le plus de, le moins de. Ce sont les forêts tropicales qui ont le plus de plantes. (Tropical rainforests have the most plants.) Ce sont les pays pauvres qui ont le moins d’argent. (Poor countries have the least money.)