Breakdown of Je pense que la proposition est pertinente, mais je ne pense pas qu'elle soit parfaite.
je
I
être
to be
elle
she
mais
but
parfait
perfect
ne
not (used before the verb)
pas
not (used after the verb)
penser
to think
que
that (introducing a clause)
la proposition
the proposal
pertinent
relevant
Questions & Answers about Je pense que la proposition est pertinente, mais je ne pense pas qu'elle soit parfaite.
Why does the verb change from est to soit in the same sentence?
The first half uses Je pense que, which is an affirmative opinion and takes the indicative mood (est). The second half uses je ne pense pas que. Making the opinion negative introduces doubt, which triggers the subjunctive mood (soit). This sentence perfectly shows how the same verb changes based on the phrasing of the opinion!
Would I use the subjunctive if I asked this as a question, like 'Do you think the proposal is perfect?'
Is pertinente a false friend? Can I just say relevante?
Yes, this is a classic false friend. In French, the English concept of 'relevant' is translated as pertinent (or the feminine pertinente). The French word relevant exists, but it comes from the verb relever (to raise or to notice), so using it here would confuse people.
What if I used the verb douter (to doubt)? Would je ne doute pas que also take the subjunctive?
Interestingly, it works the exact opposite way! Douter que (to doubt that) expresses uncertainty, so it takes the subjunctive. But ne pas douter que (to NOT doubt) expresses certainty, so it takes the indicative. It is all about whether the phrase as a whole conveys doubt or certainty.
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