Advanced French Subjunctive Tenses

• Advanced strategies to elevate French comprehension, precision, and expressiveness are outlined.

Strengthening Grammatical Mastery

• Focus is put on mastering nuance in grammar, going beyond basic knowledge.
• Mastery of past and future subjective forms is crucial for advanced proficiency.

Subjunctive Tenses

• Past Subjunctive (Subjonctif passé): Use in sentences expressing doubt or necessity in the past.
  • Example: Je doute qu’il ait compris (I doubt that he understood).
  • Example: Il fallait que tu sois venu plus tôt (You should have come earlier).
• Imperfect Subjunctive (Subjonctif imparfait): Rare but adds prestige in literary/formal writing.
  • Example: Il fallait que nous finissions avant la nuit (We had to finish before night).
  • Example: Il aurait été souhaitable qu’il sût cela (It would have been desirable for him to know that).
• Future Subjunctive (Subjonctif futur): Mostly theoretical but demonstrates deep understanding.
  • Example: Quand vous aurez fini, vous pourrez partir (When you have finished, you may leave).

Subtleties of "Y" and "En"

• Advanced level requires fluid mastery.
  • Example: Il s’en est sorti (He got through it).
  • Example: J’y suis pour rien (It’s not my fault).
  • Example: Il en va autrement (It’s a different matter).
• Practice rewriting paragraphs using "y" and "en" to replace repeated nouns.

Expanding Expressiveness: Higher-Register Phrases

• Incorporate idiomatic, literary, and nuanced phrasing to surpass standard fluency.

Understated agreement & disagreement

- Je n’irais pas jusque-là (I wouldn’t go that far).
- Ce n’est pas dénué de sens (That’s not entirely meaningless).
- Autant dire que… (Suffice it to say…).

Expressing complexity elegantly

- C’est une question épineuse (That’s a thorny issue).
- Son raisonnement est spécieux (His reasoning is specious).
- Il a fait preuve d’une lucidité implacable (He demonstrated relentless lucidity).

Literary or philosophical expressions

- À l’instar de (In the manner of / Like).
- À bien des égards (In many respects).
- Il va sans dire que (It goes without saying).

• Write essays using these expressions, substituting simple phrases for elevated equivalents.

Refining Pronunciation & Rhythmic Flow

• Master liaison, elision, and rhythm to sound effortless.

Common Liaison & Elision Rules

- Ils ont étudié [il‿z‿õn etydje].
- Nous étions en retard [nu‿zetjõ ɑ̃ ʀətaʀ].
- Je ne sais pas [ʒə sə pa] (often contracted to "ch'pas" in fast speech).

• Shadow advanced speakers and record yourself to refine elision & liaison.

Expanding Beyond Everyday French

• Engage with high-level reading & writing for deep command of French.
  • Philosophy & Essays (Bergson, Camus, Derrida).
  • Formal Literary Analysis (Proust, Flaubert, Balzac).
  • High-level journalism & political writing (Le Monde Diplomatique, Marianne, Courrier International).
• Rewrite advanced text paragraphs in simpler French, then in more elevated forms.

Mastering the Art of Speaking Like an Intellectual

• Use "on" naturally instead of "nous" in casual speech.
• Transition seamlessly in arguments:
  • Cela étant (That being said).
  • Il convient de noter que (It should be noted that).
  • À supposer que (Assuming that).
  • Force est de constater que (It is undeniable that).
• Mimic interviews with intellectuals to absorb phrasing & cadence.

Personalizing Advanced French

• Develop a stylistic identity, integrating literary, philosophical, and spoken nuances.
• Practice arguing points, translating texts, and engaging in online debates in French.

Final Challenge

• Mastery involves subtle grammar, refined intonation, elite-level reading, complex phrases.
• Elite-level French speaker status can be achieved through consistent effort in these areas.