Question 1

Why is the verb fassiez used here instead of faites?

Accepted Answer

The phrase avant que (before) is a conjunction that always triggers the subjunctive mood. Because the verb faire (to do/make) is irregular, its vous form in the subjunctive is fassiez, rather than the present indicative faites.

Question 2

Could I just use avant de instead of avant que in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Not here, because the two verbs have different subjects (je and vous). You only use avant de followed by an infinitive when the subject is the same for both actions, like in Je prépare la levure avant de faire le dessert (I prepare the baking powder before I make the dessert).

Question 3

How do I form the rest of the subjunctive for faire?

Accepted Answer

faire has a completely irregular subjunctive stem: fass-. You add the standard subjunctive endings to this stem to get: que je fasse, que tu fasses, qu'il/elle fasse, que nous fassions, que vous fassiez, qu'ils/elles fassent.

Question 4

I thought la levure meant "yeast". Why is it translated as "baking powder"?

Accepted Answer

In French, la levure is a general term for any raising agent. Baker's yeast is specifically la levure de boulanger, while baking powder is la levure chimique. When baking at home, French speakers often just shorten it to la levure.

Je prépare la levure avant que vous fassiez le dessert.

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