Could you use a subjunctive if one said, 'Je ne sais pas si ....'

Terry W.C1Kwiziq community member

Could you use a subjunctive if one said, 'Je ne sais pas si ....'

Guessing that 'Je ne sais pas si ...' is acceptable ?  If so, does the same rule apply to use a subjunctive as you would when 'Je ne sais pas que ...' is used ?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Terry,

No, you wouldn't use the subjunctive after the verb 'savoir'.

Savez-vous si elle est venue ? = Do you know if she came?

Savez-vous que je travaille chez Renault ? = Do you know that I work at Renault ?

Je ne savais pas qu'elle était mariée = I didnt' know she was married

Hope this helps!

 

John C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Cécile,

I don't understand part of your answer to Terry's question. The lesson says that savoir + que in the negative requires the subjunctive in the subordinate clause, but your response uses the indicative "était mariée."  

 Je ne savais pas qu'elle était mariée = I didnt' know she was married. 

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi John, 

As with a lot of the subjunctive cases it depends on the degree of doubt  implied, so if you say,

I didn't know she was married

it means that you now know that she is married eliminating the degree of doubt.

Bonne Continuation!

Could you use a subjunctive if one said, 'Je ne sais pas si ....'

Guessing that 'Je ne sais pas si ...' is acceptable ?  If so, does the same rule apply to use a subjunctive as you would when 'Je ne sais pas que ...' is used ?

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