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Could you please help me with my French?

Hi,
I have my French Controlled Assessment tomorrow and when revising I found the opportunity to add the subjunctive tense, but since I am writing in the past I am not sure how conjugate the verb.

This is the sentence:
Although I was tired, it was fantastic.

Would the 'I was' become:

-je sois
-je fusse
-j'aie été

Please help me!

Thank you!

Reply 1

Exephy

Technically, it should be: Bien que je fusse fatigué
But to be honest "bien que j'étais fatigué" is accepted in everyday spoken french. I would stick to using subjunctive in the present, and avoid the problem here by saying something like: meme si j'étais fatigué, malgré ma fatigue etc.
That said, you could say "Bien que fatigué" and get the best of both worlds. :smile:

p.s j'aie été is totally fine too

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 2

NanuNaru

Thank you so much! I used j'aie été, in the end!
:smile:

Reply 3

NanuNaru

Original post by Exephy

p.s j'aie été is totally fine too

Actually one more question: you said 'Bien que fatigué'- how does that work? Please could you explain, I'm actually really interested! :smile:

Reply 4

Exephy

Original post by Nandaja

Actually one more question: you said 'Bien que fatigué'- how does that work? Please could you explain, I'm actually really interested! :smile:

It's like saying "Although tired" In english, as in "although tired, I was still able to do my homework"
Bien que fatigué, j'ai encore pu faire mes devoirs. Hope this clears things up !

Reply 5

NanuNaru

Original post by Exephy

It's like saying "Although tired" In english, as in "although tired, I was still able to do my homework"
Bien que fatigué, j'ai encore pu faire mes devoirs. Hope this clears things up !

Thank you so much!

Reply 6

Exephy

Original post by Nandaja

Thank you so much!

No problem haha, good luck in your CA :smile:

Reply 7

beyknowles2

Original post by Nandaja

Bien que je fusse fatigué(e)

Original post by Exephy

It's like saying "Although tired" In english, as in "although tired, I was still able to do my homework"
Bien que fatigué, j'ai encore pu faire mes devoirs. Hope this clears things up !

I'm pretty certain that a subjunctive phrases must be followed by a subject and not just a past participle. Because the subjunctive mood is used so you can tell the difference from the indicative i.e. if you want to express doubt or will etc. That wouldn't be possible with a past participle. If Subjunctive phrase + past participle actually exists as you've suggested then I am doubting my French capabilities right now

Sorry, Exephy, it seems as though I'm frequently quoting you recently with doubt. Know that it's not personal and that I'm doubting my own French ability, not yours :P

Reply 8

NanuNaru

Original post by beyknowles2

Bien que je fusse fatigué(e)

I'm pretty certain that a subjunctive phrases must be followed by a subject and not just a past participle. Because the subjunctive mood is used so you can tell the difference from the indicative i.e. if you want to express doubt or will etc. That wouldn't be possible with a past participle. If Subjunctive phrase + past participle actually exists as you've suggested then I am doubting my French capabilities right now

Sorry, Exephy, it seems as though I'm frequently quoting you recently with doubt. Know that it's not personal and that I'm doubting my own French ability, not yours :P

Thank you for your reply, I think I will go with j'aie été because I was online and found that je fusse is apparently very old fashioned!

Reply 9

NanuNaru

Original post by Exephy

No problem haha, good luck in your CA :smile:

Thanks

Reply 10

beyknowles2

Original post by Nandaja

Thank you for your reply, I think I will go with j'aie été because I was online and found that je fusse is apparently very old fashioned!

Well I wouldn't say old fashioned, it's just that in everyday spoken language, the average French person wouldn't say "Bien que je fusse fatigué", they would perhaps say "J'étais fatigué mais je l'ai fait quand même" or something like that. Just like in English, it'd be weird to hear a teenager say "Our new French teacher advises (that) we be (subjunctive) two minutes early for lesson, lest we fail to find seats next to one other". It's much too formal for spoken language. However if you wrote in such a sophisticated manor in an English exam, it would sure be impressive!

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 11

NanuNaru

Original post by beyknowles2

Ok I understand, thanks! In your opinion do you believe that j'aie été also works?

Reply 12

beyknowles2

Original post by Nandaja

Ok I understand, thanks! In your opinion do you believe that j'aie été also works?

mais ouais definitivement !!

Reply 13

Exephy

Original post by beyknowles2

Haha, no problem :smile:

In this case I am pretty sure it can be used in this way, I've definitely heard it spoken/seen it written before. How common it is I don't know, but its definitely understandable. I have a feeling we're going to have to resort to agreeing to disagree on a lot of these issues, lol.