1

I saw this written as:

J'espère que vous appréciez.

But I was under the impression that this is the subjonctif and thus should be:

J'espère que vous appréciiez.

It seems to be written so often as the former though.

Improve this question
7
  • "appréciiez" can be imparfait too... and is so correct.
    – lemon
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 16:40
  • Appréciiez is correct as it is here because it is the subjonctif form? I was confused more by appréciez which is not the subjonctif form and is what was used in the sentence I came across.
    – Hasen
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 17:54
  • espérer takes the subjunctive in the negative and interrogative. Not in the declararative. The same is true for penser.
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 22:12
  • So is this sentence a mistake or not: "Faire en sorte que l'apprentissage de la langue soit un hobby soit quelque chose que vous aimez faire, et que vous appréciez sans stress." Should it be 'appréciez' here or in fact 'appréciiez'?
    – Hasen
    Commented Sep 24, 2017 at 2:54
  • @Hasen, in your last comment "soit" is already a subjunctive, so what is to be (soit) here can be present here (aimez, appréciez). The subjunctive can be used too (aimiez, appréciiez), but I think that will reinforce the subjunctive aspect (used twice) and this is probably useless.
    – lemon
    Commented Sep 24, 2017 at 6:25

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

J'espère que est le plus souvent suivi de l'indicatif dans une phrase affirmative au présent.

J'espère que tu te rends compte de ton erreur.

Les subtilités de l'emploi du subjonctif sont parfois (très) complexes. Dans une phrase négative ou à un autre temps, le subjonctif serait généralement attendu.

Si seulement nous avions le temps, j'espérerais que tu te rendes compte de ton erreur.

Il y a aussi d'autres constructions comme :

Pour que j'espère que tu te rendes compte de ton erreur…

Mais le choix du mode dans des cas compliqués comme ça, c'est je crois une autre question, qui n'a malheureusement pas de réponse simple (voire pas de réponse tout court).

Dans le cas donné en exemple, il est exact qu'appréciiez serait la forme conjuguée à la deuxième personne du pluriel pour le verbe apprécier au présent du subjonctif (ainsi qu'à l'imparfait de l'indicatif). Mais, comme nous venons de voir, sans contexte, c'est le présent de l'indicatif qui est attendu dans cette phrase. La phrase était donc correcte.

In a present-tense affirmative sentence, J'espère que is most often followed by a verb in its indicative form. For example:

J'espère que tu te rends compte de ton erreur.
I hope that you realize your mistake.

The subtleties that underlie the use of the subjunctive can be (very) complex at times. In a negative sentence, or if the sentence were in a different tense, a verb in its subjunctive form would normally be expected.

Si seulement nous avions le temps, j'espérerais que tu te rendes compte de ton erreur.
If only we had the time, I would hope (expect) that you realize your mistake.

We can also think of different constructions such as:

Pour que j'espère que tu te rendes compte de ton erreur…
(lit.) In order for me to hope that you realize your mistake…

Choosing the right mood in difficult cases like these is, I think, beyond the scope of this question. There is no easy answer to that (quite possibly no answer at all).

In the example you provided, you rightfully point out that appréciiez would be the correct second-person plural subjunctive form of apprécier (and it is also the imperfect indicative form). However, as mentioned above, without further context, the present indicative form is the one expected. It means that the original sentence was correct.

Improve this answer
6
  • Ah, I just noticed I answered in French while the question was asked in English. I'll try to come up with a translation.
    – Stéphane Gimenez
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 16:20
  • The full sentence was rather long but this is it: "Faire en sorte que l'apprentissage de la langue soit un hobby soit quelque chose que vous aimez faire, et que vous appréciez sans stress."
    – Hasen
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 17:53
  • oui : Pour que j'espère que vous appréciiez, il faudrait que je connaisse vous goûts. * Et dans la phrase longue *appréciiez sans stress.
    – jcm69
    Commented Sep 23, 2017 at 18:12
  • So it should be appréciiez and not appréciez in the sentence I gave? So it is in fact mistake?
    – Hasen
    Commented Sep 24, 2017 at 2:53
  • @Hasen: No it's more likely at the same level as aimer (even though the comma might be misleading). In which case it should be indicative as well. There's no reason to think there's a mistake beside the spurious use of the comma. (One is also missing after hobby)
    – Stéphane Gimenez
    Commented Sep 24, 2017 at 3:09

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.