Pratique Écrite (Written Practice)

Learning ObjectivesForm and use the past subjunctive.Express emotions and doubts about past events.Tell the difference between the past subjunctive and other past tenses.Oh no! 😱 I completely forgot about the history exam yesterday! I'm so sorry that I n'aie pas mieux étudié (didn't study better) [nay pah myuh ay-too-dee-AY] last week. My teacher will be disappointed that I n'aie pas remis (didn't turn in) [nay pah ruh-MEE] my work.Real-Life ApplicationsExpressing regret (I'm sorry that you sois parti (left) [swah par-TEE]).Sharing joy or surprise (I'm happy that you aies réussi (succeeded) [ay ray-oo-SEE]!).Expressing doubt about a past event (I doubt that he ait dit (told) [ay dee] the truth).

The past subjunctive is often triggered by the same verbs and expressions as the present subjunctive. The difference is that the action in the second part of the sentence happened in the past.Expression + queWhat it MeansExample with the Past Subjunctiveêtre content(e) que (to be happy that) [EHT-ruh kohn-TAHN(T) kuh]To express joyJe suis content que tu sois venu(e) à ma fête. (I'm happy that you came to my party.) [zhuh swee kohn-TAHN kuh too swah vuh-NOO ah mah fet] 🎉regretter que (to regret that) [ruh-gret-TAY kuh]To express regretElle regrette qu'il ait fait une erreur. (She regrets that he made a mistake.) [el ruh-GRET keel ay fay oon eh-RUHR]douter que (to doubt that) [doo-TAY kuh]To express doubtNous doutons qu'ils aient fini leur projet. (We doubt that they finished their project....

Rule 1: How to Form the Past SubjunctiveThe past subjunctive is a compound tense, meaning it has two parts. You form it with the helping verb avoir (to have) [ah-VWAR] or être (to be) [EHT-ruh] in the present subjunctive, followed by the past participle of the main verb.Formula: que (that) [kuh] + subject + (ne) + [present subjunctive of avoir or être] + (pas) + past participle...Example with parler (to speak) [par-LAY]: que j'aie parlé (that I spoke) [kuh zhay par-LAY], que tu aies parlé (that you spoke) [kuh too ay par-LAY], qu'il ait parlé (that he spoke) [keel ay par-LAY]...Example with aller (to go) [ah-LAY]: que je sois allé(e) (that I went) [kuh zhuh swah zah-LAY], que tu sois allé(e) (that you went) [kuh too swah zah-LAY], qu'il soit allé (that he went) [keel swah tah-LAY]...Rule 2...