Lock in our old prices!
Your last chance to upgrade at these rates »

Why no subjunctive

Lori K.C1Kwiziq community member

Why no subjunctive

Vous ________ le bus arrive. You're waiting for the bus to arrive.attendez queattendez

Why is the correct answer in indicative vs subjunctive mode?
Asked 2 months ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Lori,

the present tense and subjunctive form conjugations of regular er verbs are identical for the grammatical singular person forms - je, tu, il - and the 3rd person plural - ils. 

Only with the nous and vous forms  is there a difference between present and subjunctive, and in these 2 cases, the verb conjugations are identical in subjunctive and  imparfait.

Here it is ‘ le bus ‘ that is the subject of arriver, and ‘ arrive ‘ is in the subjunctive form (3rd person singular), indistinguishable in writing or speech from the present tense form.  It is only identifiable as the subjunctive because we know the rule that in a relative clause following attendre que the verb is in the subjunctive form! Vous is the subject of attendre - attendre needs to be in indicative form, as it is.

One of the wins in learning French - when using these present tense forms of er verbs, the subjunctive holds no significant ‘ fears ‘ at all ! 

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/verb-conjugations/arriver/

 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/verb-conjugations/attendre/

Alka s.Kwiziq community member

Lori,

Vous arrivez le bus arrive 

Why no subjunctive

Vous ________ le bus arrive. You're waiting for the bus to arrive.attendez queattendez

Why is the correct answer in indicative vs subjunctive mode?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Clever stuff happening!