Breakdown of Je voudrais qu'il ait une attitude positive.
un
a / an (masculine)
il
he
avoir
to have
je voudrais
I would like
Questions & Answers about Je voudrais qu'il ait une attitude positive.
Why is ait used here instead of the regular present tense a?
ait is the subjunctive form of the verb avoir (to have). French requires the subjunctive mood here because the first part of the sentence, Je voudrais que (I would like that), expresses a will or desire. When you express a wish for someone else to do or be something, the following verb must be in the subjunctive.
The English translation says "him to have", but the French uses qu'il ait. Why can't I just use the infinitive avoir?
In English, we commonly use the structure "I want [person] to [do something]". French grammar does not allow this. When the subject who wants something (je) is different from the person performing the action (il), you must use que plus a conjugated verb. You are literally saying "I would like that he has a positive attitude."
Does the polite conditional je voudrais trigger the subjunctive exactly like the direct je veux?
Yes, exactly. Whether you use the direct present tense je veux que (I want) or the softer, more polite conditional je voudrais que (I would like), both express a desire. Both phrases are expressions of will, so both force the following clause into the subjunctive.
How do I pronounce the subjunctive form ait?