Vouliez vs. veuilliez

Janice D.C1Kwiziq community member

Vouliez vs. veuilliez

When I read signs etc. that seem to use the subjunctive they use "que vous veuilliez" What am I missing? :-)
Asked 7 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer
Bonjour Janice !

The form that you see on signs (veuillez, not veuilliez) - and that indeed looks similar to Le Subjonctif Présent -
is actually L'Impératif Présent, used to express commands and advice.
The difference is that with L'Impératif you don't express the verb's subject ([vous] Veuillez), and of course that Le Subjonctif Présent form with "vous" would be "vous vouliez".
In French, you'll use "Veuillez + infinitif" as a formal polite way to ask someone to do something:
"Veuillez ouvrir votre cahier." (Please open your notebook.)
"Veuillez m'excuser" (Please do excuse me)

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Janice D.C1Kwiziq community member
Hello, yes that is great thank you Aurélie. I was definitely confused by that difference on signs! What also confused me though was when I tried to look vouloir up on the Figaro conjugasion site there seemed to be two forms of conjugasions?! What are the 1ere and 2eme forme of a verb? Not all of the forms of vouloir change... http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/conjugaison/verbe/vouloir.html Thank you :-)
Michael S.C1Kwiziq community member

So, what mode is "veuillez" if not le subjonctif? As in: "Veuillez me donner de l'eau" 

Vouliez vs. veuilliez

When I read signs etc. that seem to use the subjunctive they use "que vous veuilliez" What am I missing? :-)

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