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A statement can be made with more or less certainty. French marks the degree with impersonal verbs (il semble que, il se peut que, il paraît que), with adverbs (sans doute, peut-être, probablement) and, in the news, with the conditionnel, which reports a fact without vouching for it. Each expression is followed by its own mood.
Modalising: il semble que, il se peut que, sans doute#
To modalise a statement is to show how sure the speaker is of it. The expressions of certainty and of probability are followed by the indicative; those of possibility and of doubt by the subjunctive.
Use
- Il me semble que gives a personal impression and is followed by the indicative: il me semble que la rue est plus calme.
- Il semble que is usually followed by the subjunctive: il semble qu’il y ait un problème; the indicative presents the fact as observed, and both are correct.
- Il se peut que and il est possible que (it may be that) are followed by the subjunctive: il se peut qu’il parte.
- Il paraît que reports what people say (“apparently”, “I hear that”) and is followed by the indicative: il paraît qu’elle va déménager.
- Il est probable que is followed by the indicative; il est peu probable que by the subjunctive.
- Sembler and paraître are also followed by an infinitive; an earlier action is in the infinitif passé: il semble avoir oublié, elle paraît avoir compris.
| Degree | Expression | Mood | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| certain | il est certain que, sans aucun doute | indicative | Il est certain qu’il viendra. |
| probable | il est probable que, sans doute, probablement | indicative | Il est probable qu’il pleuvra. |
| an impression | il me semble que | indicative | Il me semble que tu as maigri. |
| what is said | il paraît que | indicative | Il paraît que le film est bon. |
| what appears | il semble que | subjunctive (or indicative) | Il semble qu’elle soit malade. |
| possible | il se peut que, il est possible que, peut-être | subjunctive (peut-être: indicative) | Il se peut qu’elle ait raison. |
| unlikely | il est peu probable que | subjunctive | Il est peu probable qu’il gagne. |
Sans doute and peut-être. Sans doute means “probably”, not “without doubt”; certainty is expressed with sans aucun doute or sans nul doute. Peut-être que is followed by the indicative: peut-être qu’il sait. At the start of a sentence, in careful French, sans doute and peut-être without que are followed by the inversion of the subject pronoun: Sans doute a-t-il raison. Peut-être viendra-t-elle.
News not confirmed. The press uses the conditionnel to report a fact without vouching for it: the conditionnel présent for the present (le ministre serait malade), the conditionnel passé for the past (le voleur aurait pris la fuite). A verb conjugated with être keeps it, and its participle agrees: elle serait partie. The source is named with selon, d’après or, more formally, aux dires de. This conditionnel corresponds to English “reportedly”, “allegedly” or “is said to”.
- Il me semble que nous avons déjà vu ce film.I have a feeling we have already seen this film.
- Il semble que la réunion ait été annulée.It seems that the meeting has been cancelled.
- Il se peut que le musée soit fermé le lundi.The museum may be closed on Mondays.
- Il paraît que tu connais le nouveau directeur.Apparently you know the new director.
- Il est peu probable que le magasin soit ouvert dimanche.The shop is unlikely to be open on Sunday.
- Le chat semble avoir oublié son ancienne maison.The cat seems to have forgotten its old home.
- Sans doute a-t-il manqué son bus.He probably missed his bus.
- Selon la radio, l’incendie aurait commencé dans un garage.According to the radio, the fire apparently started in a garage.
Common mistakes
Il se peut qu’il vient.→ Il se peut qu’il vienne.Il se peut que is followed by the subjunctive.Il me semble qu’il soit malade.→ Il me semble qu’il est malade.Il me semble que, a personal impression, is followed by the indicative.Il paraît qu’elle soit partie.→ Il paraît qu’elle est partie.Il paraît que reports what is said, in the indicative.
Difference from English
English “no doubt” and French sans doute look alike but differ: sans doute means “probably”, and “without any doubt” is sans aucun doute. English “apparently” is il paraît que + indicative, or an adverb, apparemment. The conditionnel of the news has no “would” in English: le président serait malade is “the president is reportedly ill”.
→ See also: Reporting unconfirmed news: the conditionnel (would), often with selon (B1)
→ See also: Subjunctive or indicative: impersonal expressions, doubt, conjunctions, relative clauses (B2)
In short
| Expression | Meaning | Followed by |
|---|---|---|
| il me semble que | I think, I have a feeling | indicative |
| il semble que | it seems that | subjunctive, or indicative |
| il se peut que, il est possible que | it may be that | subjunctive |
| il paraît que | apparently, I hear | indicative |
| il est probable que | it is likely that | indicative |
| il est peu probable que | it is unlikely that | subjunctive |
| sembler, paraître + infinitive | to seem to | infinitif passé for an earlier action |
| sans doute | probably | inversion at the start (careful French) |
| selon, d’après + conditionnel | reportedly | conditionnel présent or passé |
Practise
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