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In French, to express "without doing [something]", you use "sans que" + Mode subjonctif. Sometimes, you also use Ne explétif.
How to use "sans que" with the ne explétif and with Mode subjonctif in French
Look at these sentences:
To express without <someone's> + -ing verb (= without you doing) in French, you use:
ATTENTION:
With sans que, the use of the ne explétif is quite tricky, so look at these guidelines:
- If the main verb is NOT used with negations, then you CANNOT use the ne explétif.
- If the main verb is used with a negation, you can use the ne explétif, but it is considered optional:
When to use Le Subjonctif Présent or Le Subjonctif Passé ?
When the main clause is in Le Présent (Indicatif) and the action after sans que takes place before it, you will use Le Subjonctif Passé.
When the main clause is itself in a past tense, then the question is whether the action after sans que is over at the time of the main clause or not:
* If it's still ongoing at the same time as the main clause, you'll use Le Subjonctif Présent
* If it's over before the action of the main clause, you'll use Le Subjonctif Passé
-> literally "He came without you having known."
See What is the ne explétif and when to use it in French
as well as other similar subordinating conjunctions:
Sans que (+ ne explétif) + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = Without doing in French
À moins que + ne explétif + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = Unless you do in French
Avant que + ne explétif + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = Before I do in French
De peur que + ne explétif + the subjunctive mood (Le Subjonctif) = for fear that in French
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