French Advanced Grammar and Conversation Syllabus

Advanced Grammar and Conversation syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Advanced Grammar and Conversation in French, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Subjunctive Mood

   3 topics

   • Understand when to use the subjunctive
   • Practice conjugation of subjunctive verbs
   • Use subjunctive in complex sentences
2. 2

   Advanced Sentence Structures

   3 topics

   • Learn relative clauses
   • Use indirect speech
   • Practice with passive voice
3. 3

   Fluency in Conversation

   3 topics

   • Engage in debates and discussions
   • Practice storytelling in French
   • Improve listening skills with native content

Advanced Grammar and Conversation flashcards for French

19 of 49 cards from the Advanced Grammar and Conversation deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the subjunctive mood (le subjonctif) used to express in French?

   It expresses subjectivity: wishes, doubt, necessity, emotion, obligation, possibility, and opinions that are not stated as objective fact. It appears in a subordinate clause introduced by 'que'.

2. After which category of verbs/expressions of WILL or DESIRE is the subjunctive required?

   After verbs of wishing/wanting such as 'vouloir que', 'souhaiter que', 'désirer que', 'aimer que', 'préférer que', and 'exiger que'. Example: 'Je veux que tu viennes.'

3. Give three impersonal expressions of NECESSITY or JUDGMENT that trigger the subjunctive.

   'Il faut que', 'il est nécessaire que', 'il est important que' (also 'il vaut mieux que', 'il est possible que'). Example: 'Il faut que tu partes.'

4. Which conjunctions automatically require the subjunctive that follows them?

   'bien que', 'quoique', 'pour que', 'afin que', 'avant que', 'jusqu'à ce que', 'à condition que', 'à moins que', 'sans que', 'pourvu que'. Example: 'Bien qu'il pleuve, je sors.'

5. Do verbs of thinking/certainty like 'penser que' and 'croire que' take the subjunctive in the affirmative?

   No — in the affirmative they take the indicative ('Je pense qu'il vient'). But in the NEGATIVE or INTERROGATIVE they often take the subjunctive ('Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne').

6. How is the present subjunctive of regular verbs formed?

   Take the third-person plural (ils) present-indicative stem, drop '-ent', and add the endings -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. Example: 'ils parlent' → 'que je parle'.

7. Conjugate 'parler' in the present subjunctive (all six forms).

   que je parle, que tu parles, qu'il/elle parle, que nous parlions, que vous parliez, qu'ils/elles parlent.

8. Conjugate 'finir' in the present subjunctive (all six forms).

   que je finisse, que tu finisses, qu'il finisse, que nous finissions, que vous finissiez, qu'ils finissent.

9. Conjugate 'être' in the present subjunctive.

   que je sois, que tu sois, qu'il soit, que nous soyons, que vous soyez, qu'ils soient.

10. Conjugate 'avoir' in the present subjunctive.

    que j'aie, que tu aies, qu'il ait, que nous ayons, que vous ayez, qu'ils aient.

11. Conjugate 'aller' in the present subjunctive.

    que j'aille, que tu ailles, qu'il aille, que nous allions, que vous alliez, qu'ils aillent.

12. Conjugate 'faire' in the present subjunctive.

    que je fasse, que tu fasses, qu'il fasse, que nous fassions, que vous fassiez, qu'ils fassent.

13. Conjugate 'pouvoir' and give the subjunctive stem of 'savoir'.

    'pouvoir': que je puisse, ... qu'ils puissent. 'savoir': stem 'sach-' → que je sache, que nous sachions, qu'ils sachent.

14. Which two verbs have irregular 'nous/vous' subjunctive forms in addition to an irregular stem, illustrated by 'vouloir'?

    'vouloir' (que je veuille, que nous voulions, qu'ils veuillent) and 'valoir'/'falloir' patterns. 'vouloir' and 'aller' both change stem in nous/vous back toward the indicative ('voulions', 'allions').

15. How is the past subjunctive (subjonctif passé) formed?

    With the present subjunctive of the auxiliary 'avoir' or 'être' + the past participle. Example: 'Je suis content que tu sois venu.'

16. When do you use the past subjunctive instead of the present subjunctive?

    When the action of the subordinate clause happened BEFORE the action of the main clause. Present subjunctive = same time or later; past subjunctive = anterior.

17. Rewrite in the subjunctive: main clause 'Il est essentiel' + 'nous / prendre une décision'.

    'Il est essentiel que nous prenions une décision.' (subjunctive of 'prendre' = 'prenne / prenions').

18. In a complex sentence, what condition must be met for the subjunctive to appear rather than the infinitive?

    The main clause and the subordinate clause must have DIFFERENT subjects. If the subject is the same, French uses the infinitive: 'Je veux partir' vs. 'Je veux que tu partes.'

19. What is a relative clause (proposition relative) and what introduces it?

    A subordinate clause that modifies a noun (the antecedent), introduced by a relative pronoun: qui, que, dont, où, lequel, etc. Example: 'Le livre que je lis...'.

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