Are these sentences grammatically correct??? I request that he arrive at 6pm. I request that she be in her seat when the bell rings. Final Answer? YES! It’s called the subjunctive tense!
Le Subjonctif
In English…the subjunctive tense exists! Usually, we use it after the word that when the first clause implies some doubt or wishing. I wish that she were here right now. Notice she were instead of she was. Sometimes, in day-to-day speech, some people might say "I wish that she was here." However, this is not good English. She requests that he come to the meeting tomorrow.
Time to learn how to form it! You take the “ils” form of the verb in present tense: (dormir) Ils (finir) Ils (attendre) Ils (écrabouiller) Ils dorment finissent attendent écrabouillent
Take off that “ent” ending Ils dorm Ils finiss Ils attend Ils écrabouill ent
What you’re left with is your ROOT or STEM dorm finiss attend écrabouill
Now for the endings- (je) -e (tu) -es (il) -e (elle) -e (nous)-ions (vous)-iez (ils)-ent (elles)-ent
And now it’s time for a song! (to the tune of “John Jacob…”) E, ES, E, IONS IEZ, ENT When the WEIRDOS all go out, The people always shout, The words: E, ES, E, IONS IEZ, ENT…
Let’s put it together! Use dormir STEM: dorm Je dorme Tu dormes Il dorme Elle dorme Nous dormions Vous dormiez Ils dorment Elles dorment
You try it with “attendre” (hint: stem= attend) J’attende Tu attendes Il attende Elle attende Nous attendions Vous attendiez Ils attendent Elles attendent
s
So when do we use this tense? wishing (Je souhaite que, Je désire que) emotion (Je suis content que, Je suis triste que) impersonal expressions (Il est essentiel que, Il est important que) requests (Je demande que, Je veux que) doubt (Je doute que, Je ne crois pas que) order/command (Il faut que, Il est necessaire que) superlatives (Voilà la plus belle femme que j'aie jamais vue.) W- E - I - R - D - O - S -
What do all the phrases in black have in common??? W-wishing (Je souhaite que, Je désire que) E -emotion (Je suis content que, Je suis triste que) I -impersonal expressions (Il est essentiel que, Il est important que) R -requests (Je demande que, Je veux que) D -doubt (Je doute que, Je ne crois pas que) O -order/command (Il faut que, Il est necessaire que) S -superlatives (Voilà la plus belle femme que j'aie jamais vue.)
Voilà! C’est tout!