The subjunctive after expressions of desire. — The

subjunctive is generally required after verbs and expressions denoting desire, wish, will, etc.

aimer mieux, to prefer préférer, to prefer

désirer, to desire prendre garde, to take care (lest) x

éviter, to avoid 1 souhaiter, to wish, hope

il me tarde, / long vouloir, to will, wish 2

Nous voulons qu'il vienne. We wish him to come.

Il me tarde qu'il s'en aille. 7" long for him to go away.

Prenez garde qu'il ne vous morde.1 Take care lest he bite you.

1 See note i, page 173.

2 Observe that these verbs are not always followed by the subjunctive. The infinitive construction is required when the subject of the dependent verb is the same as for the principal verb : Il veut le faire, He wishes to do it; J'évite de le faire, I avoid doing it; J'aime mieux le manger, I prefer to eat it.

99. Irregular verbs. — Study the irregular verbs traire, to milk; distraire, to distract; craindre, to fear; and with this verb as a model, plaindre, to pity; se plaindre, to complain; éteindre, to extinguish, put out; peindre, to paint.

EXERCISE

(a) 1. I am surprised that Mary goes to school every day. 2. He longs for his father to come. 3. I want you to get up early to-morrow morning. 4. Take care lest you hurt yourself. 5. He always consents to my going there when I ask his permission. 6. It is a pity that the merchant sold the sugar when it was so dear. 7. He must be silent if he wants to remain here. 8. I regret very much that he is going away. 9. I pitied her when she broke her arm. 10. Music always distracts him from his studies.

(b) 11. It is astonishing that he does not come, for it is already noon. 12. He was painting a landscape this afternoon when I saw him. 13. John ought to have his hair cut; it is too long. 14. He was milking the cows when the visitors arrived in the automobile. 15. She is delighted that her brother is right this time, because he is generally wrong. 16. I beg that you be back before your father returns. 17. Mary is learning to paint at school. 18. It is strange that we don't see her any more. 19. He ought not to read so much, for his eyes are sore. 20. I wish him to do what his father said this morning.

(c) 21. Are you sorry that he hurt himself when he fell? 22. Take care lest he break the windows. 23. Why don't you permit John to go to the theater if he wishes ? 24. It is a pity that he is not here now. 25. Let us put out the rire; it is warm now. 26. I ordered that the man go out of the house immediately. 27. His mother prefers that he should not skate on the lake to-day. 28. We are astonished that you permit

that when she is here. 29. Let us not be afraid that she will die. 30. Is he glad that there are no more classes this year? (d) 31. That man is complaining that the boys steal his apples. 32. We are glad that she didn't buy any. 33. I must read this letter to her immediately. 34. Let us avoid their seeing us when we go out. 35. Permit Mary to invite her friends this afternoon. 36. My mother forbids John going out when it is cold. 37. I am ashamed that he does not go to church. 38. She fears that he will finish it before Mary. 39. Prevent him from doing it, please. 40. We wish them to go into the yard while we are speaking.