Can someone check my letter? We had to write it even though not all students got their letters for some reason, so it is kind of short. Also, can someone tell me some ways to add the future tense and the subjunctive a little more? I want to show what I have learned since the last letter but can't really figure out how. Merci beaucoup! (Wo do have English, half French so we both get practice in the languages we are learning, so please ignore the English)

Question

Je suis désolée de ne pas pouvoir répondre ta letter puisque je ne la reçois jamais. Peut-etre elle se perd parce que quand nous avons reçu l’enveloppe, c’était ouverte. En tout cas, J’espère que les fêtes etaient bien passés. Est-ce que il y a beaucoup de neige au Havre? Il y avait trop de neige ici pendant les fêtes. Je me suis prise dans la maison puisque nous ne nous sommes pas sortis la neige! Mais c’etait bon de ne pas avoir d’école. Maintenant, beaucoup de la neige a fondu. Je veux qu’il n’y aura pas plus!
Since it is February, I wanted to tell you about Valentine’s day in America. It’s a big deal here! Everyone celebrates it, not just adults. Children usually give little cards and candy to their classmates. Adults give chocolates or flowers, and friends often give presents to other friends too. How do you celebrate it in France?

Answer 1

Now I'm not sure if I leave the English or not? You said to ignore it, so I will!

répondre ta letter = répondre à ta lettre (I don't think you meant English here?)

je ne la reçois jamais = rather than Present Tense, Passé Composé is much better = I never DID receive it = je ne l'ai jamais reçue.

Peut-etre = Peut-être (accents)
elle se perd = is getting lost vs did get lost = elle s'est perdue

les fêtes etaient = j'espère requires subjonctif = aient été

Est-ce que il y a = Est-ce qu'il y a

ne nous sommes pas sortis la neige! = We didn't go out in the snow? = dans la neige!

beaucoup de la neige = beaucoup de neige

Je veux qu’il n’y aura = This is your wish or desire, and that requires the Subjunctive = qu'il n'y ait

You can use the future for anything that will happen. Just in case you need a review for the Subjunctive, here it is:

(if the copy & paste doesn't work, I'll find the post I did a few days ago for someone)

I like to call the Subjunctive the "thinking person's tense" because you need to be aware of certain things! Now you will be making decisions between the Indicative, Infinitive and/or the Subjunctive. If you are looking for a QUICK answer, there is none!

1. First you will learn how to form it. There are one-root verbs and two-root verbs. One-root verbs use the 3rd person plural stem and two-root verbs use the 1st & 2nd person plural stem for the lst & 2nd personl plural forms. There are regular and irregular (avoir/être). There is a Present and a Past Subjunctive, where you'll need to know the verbs that use the auxiliary être and those that use avoir. Look for 2 different subjects usually.

2. There are circumstances when the Subjunctive is mandatory, or optional or even forbidden. Usually if will be in the dependent clause after que (qu') because it is dependent upon the verb or expression in the independent clause. For example: I WANT (verb of wishing) you TO GO. The "to go" is not the Infinitive but the Subjunctive because I do not have a crystal ball and therefore I can not know for a certainty that you WILL go! What is deceptive is that in English it might sound like an infinitive (as in this case), the Present, Future, etc.

3. The Subjunctive relates to the MOOD of a verb. You will be looking at the main verb to classify it. If it is a verb of order, command, desire, wish or emotion, feeling, or opinion or perception you will require the Subjunctive. It conveys the attitude of the speaker. (These are the mandatory uses.)

4. It is optional after superlatives, in certain relative clauses, with certain verbs and adjectives in the interrogative. The affirmative uses the Indicative while negative uses the Subjunctive and Interrogative depends upon the attitude of the speaker!

5. It is forbidden or NEVER used with certainity, fact unless those statements are negative or interrogative. An easy rule is "no emotion, will or restriction = no Subjunctive."

Sra (aka Mme)

Answer 2

Could I add a question here please?
If "j'espère" requires the subjunctive then would I need to say:
"J'espère que tu SOIS bien" rather than
"j'espère que tu es bien"???