Pensez-vous que

Mike H.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Pensez-vous que

One sentence for translation states: Do you think the problem is structural?  Of the possible translations: " Pensez-vous que ce soit" and another "Vous pensez que c'est".  One is in the subjunctive and the other is in the present.  Why use the present in the second?

Asked 5 days ago
CécileKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Thank you for the clarification, Mike.

You can say both using the present subjunctive or the present indicative after 'pensez-vous que ...?'

I see that Céline ( the author of this exercise) has already answered a similar question so I am pasting it below.

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/questions/view/use-of-subjunctive-in-interrogatives-after-verbs-like-penser

 

I hope it helps!

CécileKwiziq Native French Teacher

Hi Mike, 

Without the full context, it is difficult to answer accurately, normally it is because of the degree of doubt.

Where did you see this sentence ? 

Mike H.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Cecile:  It was in this B2 exercise:  Worrying cracks in a wall | French Writing exercise from Progress with Lawless French and Kwiziq

Mike H. asked:

Pensez-vous que

One sentence for translation states: Do you think the problem is structural?  Of the possible translations: " Pensez-vous que ce soit" and another "Vous pensez que c'est".  One is in the subjunctive and the other is in the present.  Why use the present in the second?

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