There are phrases that express an evaluation of probability of the speaker. One could think that these phrases would require the
. However, most of these phrases use the
only in negated sentences as you can see in the following examples. And, if you think about it - affirmative phrases are usually closer to reality, meaning that the indicatif-mood is to be used; negated clauses reduce probability, meaning that these events are closer to irreality and the
is to be used.
| Examples |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il est évident = it is obvious |
 |
Il est évident qu' il a perdu son argent. |
| |
It is obvious that he has lost his money. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il n' est pas évident qu' il ait perdu son argent. |
| |
It is not obvious that he had lost his money. |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il est probable = it is likely |
|
Il est probable qu' il le lui a dit. |
| |
It is likely that he has told it to him. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il n' est pas vraisemblable qu' il l' ait tué. |
| |
It is not likely that he has killed him. |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il est inévitable = it is inevitable |
|
Il est inévitable qu' on lui dit la vérité. |
| |
It is inevitable that one has to tell him the truth. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il n' est pas inévitable qu' on lui dise la vérité. |
| |
It is not inevitable that one has to tell him the truth. |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il est sûr = it is sure |
|
Il est sûr qu' il me voit. |
| |
It is sure that he sees me. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il n' est pas sûr qu' il me voie. |
| |
It is not sure that he sees me. |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il est vrai = it is true
|
|
Il est vrai qu' il n' est jamais là, si on a besoin de lui. |
| |
It is true that he is never there, when one needs him. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il n' est pas vrai qu' il ne soit jamais là, si on a besoin de lui. |
| |
It is not true that he is never there, when one needs him. |
| affirmative without subjonctif => Il me semble = it seems to me |
|
Il me semble qu' il est malade. |
| |
It seems to me that he is ill. |
| negated with subjonctif |
|
Il ne me semble pas qu' il soit malade. |
| |
It does not seem to me that he is ill. |
