Subjunctive with negation of penser and co | French Q & A

Averill G.C1Kwiziq community member

Subjunctive with negation of penser and conditional past

I came across ‘je ne pense pas qu’ils auraient reussi à s’arracher à lui s’il était revenu.’ (Harry Potter translation). Although penser when negated takes the subjunctive is the subjunctive not used when a conditional tense is needed? I guess I’m not sure whether tenses change the use of the subjunctive. I read the future changes to the present to us the subjunctive.

This question relates to:French lesson ""Penser/trouver/savoir/croire/prétendre que" are followed with the indicative mood (L'Indicatif) in affirmative sentences BUT with the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) in negative ones"

Asked 1 day ago

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Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The past conditional -- auraient réussi -- overrides the subjunctive. It expresses a stronger doubt than the subjunctive would.

Like018 hours ago

Averill G. asked:

Subjunctive with negation of penser and conditional past

I came across ‘je ne pense pas qu’ils auraient reussi à s’arracher à lui s’il était revenu.’ (Harry Potter translation). Although penser when negated takes the subjunctive is the subjunctive not used when a conditional tense is needed? I guess I’m not sure whether tenses change the use of the subjunctive. I read the future changes to the present to us the subjunctive.

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