How French works
When the action of the verb in the subordinate clause is in the past, and this action would have taken place before the action of the verb in the main clause, the perfect subjunctive is used:
Je regrette qu'il ne soit pas venu plus tôt
I’m sorry that he didn’t come earlier
When the action of both verbs is simultaneous but the verb in the main clause is in the past, the verb in the subordinate clause will be in the present subjunctive:
J'étais content que tu sois là
This contrasts with English, which prefers two past tenses:
I was pleased that you were there
When the action of the verb in the subordinate clause is subsequent to that in the main clause , and the verb in the main clause is in the past, then the verb in the subordinate clause will be in the present subjunctive:
J'étais content qu'elle vienne le lendemain
This contrasts with English, which prefers two past tenses:
I was pleased that she was coming the next day
| Main verb | Sub / main verb relation | Sub verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Simultaneous | Present | Je suis content qu’il soit là |
| Past | Simultaneous | Present | J’étais content qu’il soit là |
| Present | After | Present | Je suis content qu’il arrive demain |
| Past | After | Present | J’étais content qu’il arrive le lendemain |
| Present | Before | Perfect | Je suis content qu’il ait gagné |
| Past | Before | Perfect | J’étais content qu’il ait gagné |
Il dit qu’il y a quelqu’un à la porte
He says that there is someone at the door [statement of fact]
Dites lui qu’il vienne plus tard
Tell him to come later [command]
Il admet qu’il n’y a aucune raison de se plaindre
He admits that there is no reason to complain [statement of fact]
Il n’admet pas qu’on lui fasse des critiques
He cannot accept people criticizing him [personal interpretation]
Vu la situation, je comprends qu’il ne pourra pas continuer
Given the situation, I understand that he will not be able to carry on [statement of fact]
Je comprends qu’il ne soit pas possible pour lui de continuer
I appreciate that it won’t be possible for him to carry on [personal interpretation]
Il a écrit / téléphoné qu’il ne pourrait pas venir
He wrote / telephoned to say that he wouldn’t be able to come [statement of fact]
Il a écrit / téléphoné que tu sois là à onze heures
He wrote / telephoned to say that you should come at eleven o’clock [command]
Je lui ai expliqué qu’elle était trop en tard
I explained to her that she was too late [statement of fact]
Cela explique qu’il ne soit pas venu
That accounts for why he didn’t come [personal interpretation]
Il se plaignait que ses voisins le dérangaient
He was complaining that his neighbours were disturbing him [fact]
Elle se plaint qu’on l’ait accusée injustement
She is complaining that she is being unjustly accused [opinion]
Je suppose qu’il est bien arrivé
I assume that he arrived safely [fact]
Supposons qu’il ne soit pas bien arrivé ?
Just suppose he hasn’t arrived safely ? [hypothesis]