Use of trouviez (imperfect tense).

Stewart H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Use of trouviez (imperfect tense).

"J'ai vraiment besoin que vous trouviez la raison pour laquelle il ne marche plus," ... this is the translation for: 

"I really need you to find out the reason why it's not working anymore,"

Regarding the above please explain why the imperfect tense is used for the verb trouver (trouviez), I would have thought that either the present tense (trouvez) ... "you find out"

or the future tense (trouverez) ... "you will find out"

would correctly translate from the English text? 

Thank you.

Asked 3 years ago
Stephanie S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributorCorrect answer

 I believe that trouver is being used here in the present subjunctive, not the imperfect tense.

Conjugate regular verbs in Le Subjonctif Présent (subjunctive mood)

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Absolutely. This is the subjunctive, which looks just like the imperfect.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Agree. Avoir besoin que “needs” the subjunctive:

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/subjunctivisor/avoir-besoin/

Use of trouviez (imperfect tense).

"J'ai vraiment besoin que vous trouviez la raison pour laquelle il ne marche plus," ... this is the translation for: 

"I really need you to find out the reason why it's not working anymore,"

Regarding the above please explain why the imperfect tense is used for the verb trouver (trouviez), I would have thought that either the present tense (trouvez) ... "you find out"

or the future tense (trouverez) ... "you will find out"

would correctly translate from the English text? 

Thank you.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...