When stealth is your goal, you often need to do something without someone else noticing. In French, when an action happens without another person doing something, you use the conjunction sans que (without).
Two Different Subjects
Use sans que when a sentence has two different subjects (for example, the spy acts without the guard noticing).
Because the action following sans que is prevented or doesn't actually happen, this conjunction always requires the subjunctive mood.
| He infiltrates the headquarters without the guard noticing him. | Il infiltre le quartier général sans que le gardien le remarque. |
| He opens the safe without the guard hearing him. | Il ouvre le coffre-fort sans que le gardien l'entende. |
Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
Many essential verbs for espionage are irregular in the subjunctive. Pay close attention to forms like voie (from voir, to see), sache (from savoir, to know), and puisse (from pouvoir, to be able to).
| The discreet spy steals the document without the guard seeing him. | L'espion discret vole le document sans que le gardien le voie. |
| We enter the headquarters without the spy knowing it. | Nous entrons dans le quartier général sans que l'espion le sache. |
| The thief escapes without the guard being able to react. | Le voleur s'échappe sans que le gardien puisse réagir. |
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