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"--if ever there was an unnecessary tense it was the French subjunctive."
having just now read this, and not having any desire to learn French per se, I wonder if someone could explain, in English, what this statement alludes to?
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This statement is just someone's. Someone who does not like the
subjunctive, but much in language is not per se necessary. It just gives a nuance to something said or written. Most often a indication a wish, a hope, a possibility.
Un bon repas avec un peu de musique et c'est noel. ... à moins qu' il me fasse un bon apéro....
A good meal with a bit of music and that's christmas. ... if at least he will make me a good apéro... ( apératif ) what is the English word for apératif?
A drink and some goodies before a meal?
Last edited by BranShea; 11/30/2010 7:07 PM.
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> Un bon repas avec un peu de musique et c'est noel. ... à moins qu' il me fasse un bon apéro.see, now this is precisely why I asked for English responses! 
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See translation please. I've been editing my head off. (smily smile)
Last edited by BranShea; 11/30/2010 7:08 PM.
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thanx. now, why do you suppose Kate Atkinson, a Scottish(?) novelist, chose to, parenthetically, opine thusly? edit: while I'm at it, here's a link to Atkinson link to Atkinson
Last edited by tsuwm; 11/30/2010 7:23 PM.
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She may be a Scottish kvetch. I don't see the relation between this opinion and the apparently all English books she writes. Looks like nice mystery books.
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"--if ever there was an unnecessary tense it was the French subjunctive."
Not to be pedantic, but the subjunctive is a mood, not a tense. Everybody's of the opinion that their language is the most efficacious and succinct when it comes to grammar. People opine thus when they are exposed to a new language and have to learn its idiosyncrasies.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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yes, this much is obvious, even to me. I was just wondering what the basis might be, if any, for picking on the French subjunctive, notwithstanding any misidentification.
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Maybe she is unable to figure out how it works and so has declared it pointless? (I did much the same thing but with the whole French language when I learnt it at school. To this day all I can say is Je suis morte and J'ai une grenouille which is not very helpful at all)
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
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pour moi: je ne sais pas.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Ooops! Sorry...the first one means I am dead and the second means I have a frog neither of which would come in useful. Ever.
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
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