Question 1

Why is est in the indicative here, given the current lesson on the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

Even though verbs like penser and croire can trigger the subjunctive, they only do so when expressing doubt or uncertainty. This usually happens in negative sentences (Je ne pense pas que...) or questions (Pensez-vous que...?). Because this sentence is an affirmative statement (Nos associés pensent que...), it states what they believe to be a fact, so we use the indicative est.

Question 2

Wait, doesn't délai mean delay?

Accepted Answer

It is a classic false friend! In French, un délai refers to a time limit, timeframe, or deadline. If you want to talk about a delay, as in being late, you would use the word un retard.

Question 3

Could I use partenaires instead of associés here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but they have slightly different business nuances. Un associé usually implies someone who shares ownership or is a partner within the same firm, like partners in a law firm. Un partenaire is more often an external business partner or a collaborator from another company.

Question 4

Is there a required pronunciation rule between Nos and associés?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a mandatory liaison. Because Nos is a plural determiner and associés starts with a vowel, you must pronounce the final s as a z sound, linking the two words together smoothly.

Nos associés pensent que le délai est irréaliste.

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