Learn French: J'ajoute beaucoup de levure pour que la pâte monte vite. - I add a lot of baking powder so that the dough rises quickly.

J'ajoute beaucoup de levure pour que la pâte monte vite.

I add a lot of baking powder so that the dough rises quickly.

Breakdown of J'ajoute beaucoup de levure pour que la pâte monte vite.

Questions & Answers about J'ajoute beaucoup de levure pour que la pâte monte vite.

Why is the subjunctive used in this sentence?

The phrase pour que (so that) is a conjunction of purpose, and it always requires the following verb to be in the subjunctive. Just like avant que from your current lesson, it introduces an action that is intended or anticipated but hasn't necessarily happened yet.

Wait, is monte actually in the subjunctive? It looks just like the normal present tense.

Yes, it is! For regular -er verbs like monter, the il/elle/on form in the subjunctive (qu'elle monte) is spelled exactly the same as in the present indicative. You just have to know from the pour que that it is grammatically subjunctive here.

Why is it beaucoup de levure instead of beaucoup de la levure?

In French, expressions of quantity like beaucoup (a lot), un peu (a little), and trop (too much) are almost always followed by just de (or d') without the definite article (le, la, or les).

Does levure mean yeast or baking powder?

It translates to both! To be specific, French speakers say levure chimique for baking powder and levure de boulanger for baker's yeast. If you just say levure, the context of what you are baking usually makes it clear.