Question 1

Why do we use si after Il demande?

Accepted Answer

This is an indirect yes/no question. The original direct question was likely 'Does the company require a resume?' When reporting a question that can be answered with yes or no, you connect the introductory verb (demande) to the reported question using si (if or whether).

Question 2

Why do we say pour laquelle instead of just translating 'the company you work for'?

Accepted Answer

In French, you can never end a clause with a preposition like pour. You must bring the preposition forward and combine it with a relative pronoun. Since entreprise is a feminine singular noun, we use laquelle. It translates literally to 'the company for which you work'.

Question 3

Since demande means 'asks', could the sentence end with demande un CV instead of exige un CV?

Accepted Answer

You could say demande un CV (asks for a resume), but exiger is a stronger verb that means 'to require' or 'to demand'. It is the standard verb to use when a company has a strict requirement for a job application.

Question 4

Do demander or exiger trigger the subjunctive mood in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

No, everything here is in the indicative mood. Indirect questions introduced by si never take the subjunctive. Also, while the verb exiger does trigger the subjunctive when followed by que and a new subject, here it is just followed by a direct object noun (un CV).

Il demande si l'entreprise pour laquelle vous travaillez exige un CV.

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