Les expressions impersonnelles (Il est important que…) pour les apprenants du français

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Learning French involves understanding not only vocabulary and grammar but also the way the language structures thoughts. One important aspect of French is the use of expressions impersonnelles. These expressions are crucial because they allow you to convey ideas in a more formal or general way, and they are commonly used in both spoken and written French.

At the B1 level, it’s time to dive deeper into these expressions, especially those with the structure “il est important que…” (it is important that…). In this post, we’ll explore when and how to use these expressions, and we’ll compare them to similar structures in Hindi to make understanding easier for Hindi-speaking learners. Let’s dive in!

What are Impersonal Expressions?

In French, expressions impersonnelles refer to sentences where the subject is not a specific person or thing but is simply represented by the pronoun il (it). This creates a more general or neutral statement. These expressions are often used to give advice, make recommendations, or state opinions without focusing on a particular person.

For example:

• Il est important que tu étudies. (It is important that you study.)

Here, il doesn’t refer to anything specific—it’s just used to introduce the phrase. The important thing here is the idea that studying is important, not who is doing it.

When to Use “Il est important que” and Similar Expressions

Impersonal expressions with “il est important que” are used in French to express the necessity, importance, or urgency of an action. These expressions are typically followed by a subjunctive verb, which can be tricky for learners. Let’s break it down:

1. Il est important que + subjunctive – This structure is used when you are talking about something that is important but also uncertain or subjective, often in situations that require advice or recommendations. Example:
   • Il est important que tu prennes des notes. (It is important that you take notes.)
   • Word-by-word translation: It is important that you take notes.
   • Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel eh ahn-por-tahnt keh too prah-nuh day noht.

Tenses and Subjunctive: Understanding the Grammar

Now, let’s talk about the grammar you’ll encounter when using expressions like “Il est important que…”

The key is to remember that these expressions are often followed by the subjunctive mood, not the indicative. The subjunctive mood is used in French to express uncertainty, necessity, desire, or a subjective perspective. So, after il est important que, the verb will appear in the subjunctive form.

The Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive is used after impersonal expressions like “Il est important que” because the action being discussed is not seen as a fact but as something that should happen.

Example:

• Il est nécessaire que nous finissions notre travail.
  • It is necessary that we finish our work.
  • Word-by-word translation: It is necessary that we finish our work.
  • Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel eh neh-seh-sair keh noo fee-nee-ssyon noh-truh trah-vye.

In the example above, the verb finir (to finish) changes to finissions, which is the subjunctive form of the verb.

Comparisons with Hindi Grammar

In Hindi, there are certain structures that convey similar meanings. Let’s look at a couple of key comparisons to help Hindi speakers understand these French expressions better.

1. Usage of “क्या” (Kya) to Express Questions or Importance:
   • In Hindi, we often use क्या (kya) to ask about something that is important or necessary, especially when followed by an action.
   • Hindi: क्या तुम पढ़ोगे? (Will you study?)
   • French: Il est important que tu étudies. (It is important that you study.)
   In both languages, the structure introduces a general action (study) as important or necessary. In French, however, the use of the subjunctive is key, while in Hindi, we typically use the future tense with kya.
2. Past Subjunctive and “Complete” Actions in Hindi:
   • In Hindi, we often use the past tense to describe something that has already been completed or something that was important in the past. This can sometimes match the French subjunctive past (for example, Il est dommage que tu n’aies pas étudié – It is a shame that you didn’t study).
   • Hindi: तुमने पढ़ाई क्यों नहीं की? (Why didn’t you study?)
   • French: Il est dommage que tu n’aies pas étudié. (It is a shame that you didn’t study.)
   While both languages use the past tense in these contexts, French uses the subjunctive past when the action is considered subjective or uncertain.

Key Rules to Remember

1. Always use the subjunctive after expressions of necessity, importance, and urgency.
2. The subjunctive is formed differently depending on the verb. For regular verbs, it’s based on the third-person plural form of the present tense, with the following endings:
   • -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent
3. The expression “Il est important que…” can be followed by other verbs, such as “Il est essentiel que” (it is essential that), “Il est nécessaire que” (it is necessary that), etc., all requiring the subjunctive.
4. In Hindi, you may not find a direct equivalent of the subjunctive mood, but focus on the importance of actions being expressed in a neutral, non-specific way.

Examples for Practice

Let’s go over a few examples so you can practice. Try to understand the meaning, the translation, and the pronunciation.

1. Il est important que tu arrives à l’heure.
   • It is important that you arrive on time.
   • Word-by-word translation: It is important that you arrive on time.
   • Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel eh ahn-por-tahnt keh too ah-reev ah lohr.
2. Il est nécessaire que vous finissiez vos devoirs.
   • It is necessary that you finish your homework.
   • Word-by-word translation: It is necessary that you finish your homework.
   • Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel eh neh-seh-sair keh voo fee-nee-see-ay voh duh-vwar.
3. Il est dommage que nous ne puissions pas partir plus tôt.
   • It is a shame that we cannot leave earlier.
   • Word-by-word translation: It is a shame that we cannot leave earlier.
   • Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel eh doh-mahzh keh noo nuh pwee-syon pah par-teer plew toh.

Conclusion

Mastering impersonal expressions like “Il est important que…” is a powerful tool for expressing necessity, urgency, and importance in French. By understanding the subjunctive mood and its use after such expressions, you can improve both your written and spoken French. If you are a Hindi speaker, think of the ways you express importance or necessity in your language, and apply those structures in French with the added challenge of the subjunctive.

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• Mastering the Imperative Mood in Spanish: A Complete Guide to Giving Commands
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