SUBJUNCTIVE
PRESENT VS. PAST
INFINITIVE
PRESENT VS. PAST

I. In order to complete a complex sentence, one must make a series of choices in the following order:

1. Personal or impersonal subject?
2. Infinitive or "que" after the verb?
---a. If infinitive, present or past infinitive?
---b. If "que," subjunctive or indicative in dependent clause?
------1) If subjunctive, present or past subjunctive?
------2) If indicative, which tense?

A. SUJETS PERSONNELS (JE, TU, IL("HE"), ELLE, JEAN, ETC.)

B. SUJETS IMPERSONNELS (IL ("IT"/"ONE"))

C. CONJONCTION OU PREPOSITION?

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II. When using the subjunctive in a dependent clause, one must choose between the present and the past subjunctive tenses.

In the dependent clause:

1. choose the present subjunctive to signify an event that happens AT THE SAME TIME OR AFTER the time signified by the main clause.
Examples:
1. Elle a peur que tu sois mécontente.=He is afraid (now) that you are unhappy (now).
2. Il semble qu'il revienne.=It seems (now) that he will return (in the future).
3. Elle avait peur que tu sois mécontente.=He was afraid (then) that you were unhappy (at the same time that he was afraid).
4. Il semblait qu'il revienne.=It seemed (then) that he would come back (later).

2. choose the past subjunctive to signify an event that happens BEFORE the event signified in the main clause or BEFORE some other event.
Examples:
1. Je crains qu'il ne soit parti.=I fear (now) that he has left (already).
2. Je doutais qu'il ait écrit la lettre.=I doubted (then) that he had (already) written the letter.
3. Il fallait qu'il soit fini avant le couché du soleil.=It was necessary (then) for him to have (already) finished before nightfall.

NOTE 1: In example 2, the past subjunctive signifies an event (writing) that precedes the event signified in the main verb (my doubting).
In example 3, however, the past subjunctive signifies an event (finishing) that precedes an event that is not in the main clause (nightfall).

NOTE 2: English expresses the anteriority of the past subjunctive by means of the present perfect (has/have done) or the pluperfect (had done).

Exercises: Translate the English words: Click for vocabulary help
1. We want to arrive on time.

2. They were sad that he resented them.

3. It was regrettable that we had missed the train.

4. It was important for us to have eaten before the show (le spectacle)

5. He will leave unless you have apologized to him before three o'clock.

III. When using the infinitive after a verb or a preposition, one normally chooses between the present and past infinitive.

After a verb or preposition:
1. choose the present infinitive to signify an event that happens AT THE SAME TIME OR AFTER the time signified by the main clause.

Example:
1. Elle était désolé d'être malade.=She was sorry (then) to be sick (then).
2. Il pensait venir.=He thought (then) that he would come (later).

2. choose the past infinitive to signify an event that happens BEFORE the event signified in the main clause or BEFORE some other event.

Examples:
1. Il était content d'avoir fini son travail.=He was happy (then) to have (already) finished his work.
2. Il veut avoir fini son travail avant trois heures.=He wants (now) to have finished his work before three o'clock (before another event).

Exercise 2: Translate the English words: Click for vocabulary help
6. They prefered having showered before the guests arrived.

7. It's proper to arrive late.

8. She was happy that she had realized the truth.

9. We waited without being able to do anything.

10. He screamed out of fear that he had killed her.

Exercise 3:
1) Infinitive, Subjunctive, or Indicative?
2) Past or Present Infinitive? Past or Present Subjunctive? What tense of the Indicative?
Translate the English words: Click for vocabulary help
11. We were overjoyed to have learned of his success.

12. It was crucial to contact the governor.

13. We stayed, despite his telling us to leave.

14. We said that he had left.

15. They said for him to leave.

16.She wants him to have won all the prizes.

17. They followed us today provided that we would follow them tomorrow.

18. He was condemned for having committed the murder.

19. She thinks he is brilliant.

20. We will believe he has failed when it happens.

21. It is silly we did not think of the solution.

22. Is it possible you will not send the package?

23. I am sad I cannot come.

Vocabulary:
on time=à l'heure
to resent someone=en vouloir à qqn.
to miss an event=manquer qqch.
to apologize=demander pardon à qqn.
to shower=prendre une douche
to not do anything=ne...rien faire
to scream=s'écrier
out of fear that=de peur de/de peur que
to hear about=avoir des/les nouvelles de, entendre des/les nouvelles de
overjoyed=ravi
success=la réussite
despite=malgré/malgré que
to fail=échouer
provided that=pourvu que
package=le colis

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