Verb drill
Je suis content que: French emotion clauses with eight practice gaps
React with je suis content que, c’est dommage que and je regrette que. Compare subjects, check adjective agreement and practise eight subjunctive forms.
- B1
- 8 answers
- Checked all at once
- Accents count
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In short
Use the subjunctive after an emotional reaction such as je suis content que, c’est dommage que or je regrette que. Je suis contente que tu sois là expresses pleasure at your presence, even when you are standing right there.
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Why does je suis content que take the subjunctive?
| Speaker | French | What agrees with whom? |
|---|---|---|
| Claire | Je suis contente que Marc soit là. | Contente describes Claire; soit has Marc as its subject. |
| Marc | Je suis content que Claire soit là. | Content describes Marc; soit has Claire as its subject. |
| Claire and Inès | Nous sommes contentes que tu sois là. | Contentes describes both women; sois belongs with tu. |
The emotion adjective describes the person reacting. The verb after que belongs to the subject inside that clause. A feminine adjective does not give the following verb a feminine ending: Claire est heureuse que Paul soit là.
Which expressions of emotion take the subjunctive?
Je suis heureux que tu puisses participer.
I’m happy you can take part.
The male speaker uses heureux. Puisses is present subjunctive pouvoir with tu.
C’est dommage que nous partions si tôt.
It’s a pity we’re leaving so early.
Here partions is present subjunctive. Its spelling is also used in the imparfait, but the reaction frame identifies the mood.
Je regrette que vous ne soyez pas disponibles.
I’m sorry you aren’t available.
Here vous addresses several people. Ne… pas surrounds the subjunctive verb.
J’ai peur qu’il oublie notre rendez-vous.
I’m afraid he’ll forget our appointment.
This fear concerns a possible future event. The French verb is present subjunctive.
When do you use an infinitive instead of que?
Je suis contente de participer.I’m glad to take part.
Focus: The speaker is both glad and taking part.
être contente de + infinitif
Claire est contente de venir.
Claire is glad to come.
Je suis contente que tu participes.I’m glad you’re taking part.
Focus: The speaker is glad; someone else takes part.
être contente que + sujet + subjonctif
Claire est contente que Marc vienne.
Claire is glad that Marc is coming.
How do you react to something that already happened?
Je suis contente que tu aies terminé.
I’m glad you’ve finished.
Aies terminé is past subjunctive: the finishing is already complete.
Je regrette qu’elle soit partie si tôt.
I’m sorry she left so early.
Soit partie is past subjunctive with être. Partie agrees with elle.
In the gaps below, use the present subjunctive of the verb in brackets. Each sentence gives you the reaction first and the subject of the missing verb second. Keep any following infinitive unchanged.
1 · Eight reactions: complete the present subjunctive
- Je suis contente que tu avec nous. (être)
- Marc est heureux que Léa disponible. (être)
- Nous sommes contents que vous participer. (pouvoir)
- C’est dommage que nous déjà. (partir)
- Je suis heureux que vous demain. (venir)
- Je regrette que vous n’ pas le temps. (avoir)
- Claire est contente que Paul la réponse. (savoir)
- Nous sommes heureux que les élèves la consigne. (comprendre)