French language Q&A Forum

Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert French teachers

3 questions • 31,613 answers • 952,799 learners

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Johnny L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Mathilde a rentré la voiture avant qu'il ne pleuveI feel like I have learned this lesson before but for the life of me I can't remember why "ne" doesn't have a negative meaning here. Is there a lesson associated with it? Thank you.

Asked 9 years ago

Like0Answer1

H. A.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"... bien que je ne sois pas d'accord" vs "... bien que je n'étais pas d'accord"My question follows Janine's.

In English there may be a difference in meaning between "You went out even though I wasn't ok with it" and "You went out even though I'm not ok with it"; I might have changed my mind in the interim: "You went out even though I wasn't ok with it [, but now I am ok with it]." Wouldn't this second sense require the imperfect rather than the subjunctive in modern French: "... bien que je n'étais pas d'accord"?

Asked 4 years ago

Like1Answer9

Natasha R.B2Kwiziq community member

Why Subjunctive

Hello,

I am very confused why this is the subjunctive and not the conditional. I am still having some trouble between the two at times.

J’achèterai la voiture à condition qu’elle soit en bon état.
I’ll buy the car provided that it’s in good condition.

This seems like it should be conditional because it is saying that *if* a condition is met, something will ensue. Why is it not the conditional?

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer6

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level