Question 1

Why is the verb reteniez in the subjunctive here?

Accepted Answer

It is triggered by the superlative phrase le plus capable (the most capable). In French, using a superlative or an absolute term (like the best, the only, the most) often requires the subjunctive in the following clause. This shows that the statement is a subjective judgment or an opinion, rather than a hard, objective fact.

Question 2

Is reteniez the subjunctive or the imperfect tense? They look identical for vous!

Accepted Answer

You spotted a great pattern! For nous and vous, the present subjunctive forms of almost all verbs are exactly the same as their imperfect tense forms. Here, the structure le plus... que tells us it is the subjunctive being triggered, even though it looks just like the imperfect.

Question 3

Why does retenir translate to "selecting" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You might know retenir as "to hold back" or "to remember". However, in contexts like casting, hiring, or making a choice from a group of candidates, retenir means "to select" or "to keep" someone for a role.

Question 4

Why does the sentence start with C'est instead of Il est if it means "He is"?

Accepted Answer

In French, you must use c'est when the following noun is modified by an article or a possessive word (here, l'acteur). You would only use Il est if the noun stood completely alone to describe a profession, like Il est acteur (He is an actor).

C'est l'acteur le plus capable que vous reteniez.

Breakdown of C'est l'acteur le plus capable que vous reteniez.

Questions & Answers about C'est l'acteur le plus capable que vous reteniez.

Learn C'est l'acteur le plus capable que vous reteniez and more in French