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Tas 3 A
Tas 3 A
The subjunctive is required after impersonal expressions of necessity and obligation. An impersonal expression is any
expression introduced by the impersonal pronoun il, usually translated into English by 'it'. One of the most frequent is il
faut que (it is necessary to). When the main clause uses il faut que, the verb of the dependent clause which follows must
be in the subjunctive. Note that there are always two different subjects in the two clauses.
Paw-Paw: Tex, il faut que tu choisisses le PawPaw: Tex, it is necessary that you
vin. choose the wine.
Note that the expression il faut que is stronger and more emphatic than the verb 'devoir' (which is followed by an
infinitive): Tex doit choisir le vin (Tex must / is supposed to choose the wine).
Below are other common impersonal expressions of obligation and necessity. Note that they are all followed by the
conjunction que which introduces a subordinate clause with a verb in the subjunctive:
Paw-Paw: Peut-être que ce ne sont pas Paw-Paw: Maybe, it's none of my business,
mes affaires, mais. . . j'ai remarqué que but ... I noticed that Tammy chose the
Tammy a choisi le vin à ta place. Ecoute, wine instead of you. Listen, my dear, it's
mon cher, il est préférable que les hommes better that men choose the wine and that
choississent le vin et que les femmes fassent women do the cooking.
la cuisine.
Tex: Merci pour les conseils, PawPaw, mais Tex: Thanks for the advice, PawPaw, but it
il est important que vous compreniez que les is important that you understand that times
temps changent. Aujourd'hui les femmes are changing. Now women do a lot of things
font beaucoup de choses qu'elles ne that they used to not be able to do.
pouvaient pas faire autrefois.
Paw-Paw: Ah, je comprends! C'est Tammy Paw-Paw: Oh, I understand. It's Tammy
qui porte la culotte et pas toi! Alors il faut who wears the pants, not you! Well now, I'll
que je t'achète un tablier, ma petite. have to buy you an apron, my little girl.
fill in the blanks
Complete each sentence with the present subjunctive of the verb in parentheses.
6. Tammy : Il est essentiel que mes étudiants ____________ tous les jours! (étudier)
9. Tammy : Il faut que nous ____________ plus souvent à Gregory Gym! (aller)
10. Edouard : Il est préférable que vous ____________ moins de ketchup! (manger)
11. Tex : Il est nécessaire que Tammy et moi _____________ des vacances en France! (passer)
12. Tex : Il vaut mieux que Tammy et Bette ____________ bien. (s'entendre)
© 2004 • department of french & italian • liberal arts ITS • university of texas at austin updated: 27 May 04