In the first course, we studied the present
subjunctive. In this lesson, we are going to continue with the
analysis of the form of the past subjunctive.
The past subjunctive is used in certain subordinate
sentences to express actions happened in the past.
This tense is formed:
Present
subjunctive (avoir / être) + past participle
The auxiliary "être"
is used when the main verb is a verb of movement or a reflexive verb.
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Je doute qu'il soit
arrivé |
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J'ai peur qu'il n'ait
pas étudié suffisant |
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Je ne suis pas sûr qu'il
se soit rasé |
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Je regrette qu'il n'ait
pas fait ses devoirs |
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Nous serons ici avant
qu'il ait finí |
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In latter lessons, we will examine the possibility
that in French in certain cases the subordinate verb in the sentence has
to go in the subjunctive mood. When the action took place in the past we
use the past subjunctive.