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N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Attendre que vs. S'attendre a ce que

I, too, have a question concerning "s'attendre a ce que..." vs. "attendre que..."

The Kwiz gave this sentence:  "Alain expected the situation to resolve itself."

Two of the translations were simply incorrect and could be immediately ruled out. Of the remaining two:

"Alain s'attendait à ce que cette situation se résolve d'elle-même" was in the end the correct answer, but I ruled that out too, since the lesson states that this is used with a situation where the expectation is negative.

 There is nothing negative about, "Alain expected the situation to resolve itself." If anything, it is a hopeful statement.

"Alain attendait  que cette situation se résolve d'elle-même" was then, the only choice that fits the given phrase. Especially since the lesson states concerning "Attendre que + subjunctive clause":

"This structure is used when you wait for [someone/something else] to do something. Here the waiting is neutral, carrying no connotation of dread or expectation.

It is Certain that Alain is waiting "for [someone/something else] to do something. " And his waiting carries no connotation of dread or expectation.  If anything, his waiting is Positive.

Why then, was the answer the one using "s'attendre a ce que + subjunctive clause" ?

I have read the other question about this very same sentence, but I am still not clear about this lesson.

I agree with everyone that the lesson desperately needs to be rewritten or split up into more than one lesson. I found the first part explaining the difference between, "attendre..." and "s'attendre a..." to be very easily understood. After that, things just kept getting more and more confusing.

Thank you for your help.

Merci beaucoup


Asked 2 years ago
Carl C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
année vs an

Why cette année instead of cet an?  

Asked 2 years ago

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