Subjunctive and the conditional

Catherine R.C1Kwiziq community member

Subjunctive and the conditional

Please can you explain whether this still applicable when you are using conditional phrasing.  Instead of:

Je ne prétends pas que ce soit comme ça partout.

I don't claim it's like that everywhere

How would you say:  I don't claim that it would be like that everywhere

Does that still use the subjunctive?

Thank you.


Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

I would use the subjunctive in both cases because it connotes the possibility and uncertainty aspect quite well.

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

But it loses the conditionality and the sense that it's in the future. I think it's similar to the example in this thread where the native speakers chose the conditional instead:

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/fr-ils-ne-croyaient-pas-que-conditionnel-subjonctif.3117642/

Subjunctive and the conditional

Please can you explain whether this still applicable when you are using conditional phrasing.  Instead of:

Je ne prétends pas que ce soit comme ça partout.

I don't claim it's like that everywhere

How would you say:  I don't claim that it would be like that everywhere

Does that still use the subjunctive?

Thank you.


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