An algorithmic method for remembering exceptions in the use of the Subjunctive in French

Iskandar Pierre Rabeendran, LLEA

Subjunctive is one of the most complex structures of the French language.

     The categories of expressions in a main clause that may trigger the use of the Subjunctive in the subordinate clause are well documented (they include expressions of doubt, opinion/judgment, will/wishes, emotion, obligation/necessity, preference, thought), although not strictly heterogeneous (for ex. “il est nécessaire” could belong to either will or opinion).

     Moreover, when combined with some of those expressions, some particular sentence structures require the use of a mood different from the Subjunctive, such as:

-                the Indicative for expressions that imply a certain degree of “certainty” on the part of the speaker.

-                the Infinitive, when the subject is the same in both clauses

Each one of these rules is taking precedence over the prior one.

    In light of this, we aim to offer the intermediate student of French a simple, 3-steps, algorithm-like method for determining which mood to use.

    In one of those steps, we also try to create a “unified” model for determining which expressions are to fall under the category of “certainty”, thus triggering the Indicative exception rule; this model make use of the concept of “estimated probability of occurrence”. Its driving principle is also to minimize the burden on the student’s memorization need by providing a simple mnemonic template.