Breakdown of Il est peu probable que le glacier fonde avant l'hiver.
être
to be
il
it (impersonal subject)
peu
little, few
que
that (introducing a clause)
l'hiver
the winter (m)
avant
before
probable
probable
le glacier
the glacier
fondre
to melt
Questions & Answers about Il est peu probable que le glacier fonde avant l'hiver.
Why does this sentence use the subjunctive (fonde) when we are talking about a probability?
The phrase il est probable que (it is probable that) takes the indicative because it expresses a high likelihood. However, adding peu changes it to il est peu probable que (it is unlikely that). This shifts the meaning to express doubt or improbability, which triggers the subjunctive.
The English translation says 'will melt' (future), so why is the French verb fonde in the present tense?
Fonde looks like a regular -er verb in the present tense. Is it?
No, fonde here is the subjunctive form of the -re verb fondre (to melt). The present indicative for 'it melts' would be il fond (ending in a 'd' with no 'e'). In the subjunctive, -re verbs take endings that look exactly like regular -er present tense verbs for singular subjects.
Could I say il est improbable que instead of il est peu probable que?
Yes, il est improbable que means exactly the same thing and also triggers the subjunctive. Both are correct, but il est peu probable que is a very natural and common way to express this idea in everyday spoken and written French.
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