La Concordance Des Temps

Question 1

What is ‘la concordance des temps’?

Answer 1

In a complex sentence (i.e. with more than one verb/clause), it allows you to establish the chronological sequence of events.

Question 2

What are the types of verbs called in a complex sentence?

Answer 2

Main verb - ‘la principle’

Second verb - ‘la subordonnée’

Question 3

How can the ‘subordonée’ be used?

Answer 3

Indicative
Subjunctive - may be triggered by the ‘principale’ (e.g. ‘je doute que…’) or by expressions such as ‘avant que…’, which always require the subjunctive

Question 4

What is ‘antériorité’?

Answer 4

The ‘subordonnée’ expresses an event or action that happens before that expressed by the ‘principale’.

Question 5

What is ‘simultanéité’?

Answer 5

The events/actions expressed by the ‘principale’ and ‘subordonnée’ happen at the same time.

Question 6

What is ‘postériorité’?

Answer 6

The ‘subordonnée’ expresses an event or action that happens after that expressed by the ‘principale’.

Question 7

What is the time relationship for ‘je suis étonnée qu’il ait fini ses devoirs’?

Answer 7

Antériorité

‘I’m surprised that he finished his homework’

Question 8

What is the time relationship for ‘ils disent qu’ils iront manger en ville ce soir’?

Answer 8

Postériorité

‘They say they will eat in town tonight’

Question 9

What is the time relationship for ‘nous espérons que tu en es content’?

Answer 9

Simultanéité

‘We hope you are happy’

Question 10

If the ‘principale’ is in the present tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create an ‘antériorité’?

Answer 10

Imperfect
Perfect
Past historic
Pluperfect
e.g. Elle croit qu’il est parti

Question 11

If the ‘principale’ is in the present tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create a ‘simultanéité’?

Answer 11

Present (can also indicate the immediate future)

e.g. Elle croit qu’il est heureux

Question 12

If the ‘principale’ is in the present tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create a ‘postériorité’?

Answer 12

Future (simple)

e.g. Elle croit qu’il reviendra

Question 13

If the ‘principale’ is in a past tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create an ‘antériorité’?

Answer 13

Pluperfect

e.g. il savait qu’elle avait acheté des fleurs

Question 14

If the ‘principale’ is in a past tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create a ‘simultanéité’?

Answer 14

Imperfect

e.g. Elle a expliqué qu’elle s’occupait des enfants

Question 15

If the ‘principale’ is in a past tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create a ‘postériorité’?

Answer 15

Conditional (present)

e.g. Elle a dit qu’elle reviendrait

Question 16

If the ‘principale’ is in a future tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create an ‘antériorité’?

Answer 16

Future anterior/perfect

e.g. je te dirai ce que j’aurai vu - I’ll tell you what I have seen

Question 17

If the ‘principale’ is in a future tense, what tenses could the ‘subordonnée’ be in to create a ‘simultanéité’ and ‘postériorité’?

Answer 17

Future simple

e.g. Elle te dira ce qu’elle verra - she will tell you what she sees

Question 18

Which subjunctive tense is used if the ‘subordonnée’ happens at the same time or after the action/event expressed by the ‘principale’ (i.e. ‘simultanéité’ or ‘postériorité’)?

Answer 18

Present subjunctive

Question 19

Which subjunctive tense is used if the ‘subordonnée’ happens before the action/event expressed by the ‘principale’ (i.e. ‘antériorité’)?

Answer 19

Past subjunctive