Could you use a subjunctive if one said, 'Je ne sais pas si ....'

Question

Guessing that 'Je ne sais pas si ...' is acceptable ?  If so, does the same rule apply to use a subjunctive as you would when 'Je ne sais pas que ...' is used ?

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Terry,
No, you wouldn't use the subjunctive after the verb 'savoir'.
Savez-vous si elle est venue ? = Do you know if she came?
Savez-vous que je travaille chez Renault ? = Do you know that I work at Renault ?
Je ne savais pas qu'elle était mariée = I didnt' know she was married
Hope this helps!

John Cooper · Answer

Cécile,I don't understand part of your answer to Terry's question. The lesson says that savoir + que in the negative requires the subjunctive in the subordinate clause, but your response uses the indicative "était mariée."   Je ne savais pas qu'elle était mariée = I didnt' know she was married.

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hi John, 
As with a lot of the subjunctive cases it depends on the degree of doubt  implied, so if you say,
I didn't know she was married
it means that you now know that she is married eliminating the degree of doubt.
Bonne Continuation!