Breakdown of Nous sommes émerveillés qu'elle ait décroché une mention.
être
to be
une
a / an (feminine)
elle
she
nous
we / us (object pronoun)
Questions & Answers about Nous sommes émerveillés qu'elle ait décroché une mention.
Why do we use the past subjunctive (ait décroché) here instead of the present subjunctive?
The main clause (Nous sommes émerveillés) expresses an emotion, which triggers the subjunctive. Because she got the distinction before the current feeling of amazement, we need to show that the dependent action happened in the past. To express this anteriority (a past action) within a subjunctive clause, we use the subjonctif passé. It is formed using the auxiliary avoir or être in the present subjunctive, followed by the past participle.
Does être émerveillé always trigger the subjunctive?
Yes, when it is followed by que. Expressions of strong emotion—whether happiness, sadness, fear, or amazement—are classic subjunctive triggers. They frame the dependent clause through a subjective emotional lens rather than simply stating an objective fact.
Doesn't décrocher mean to pick up the phone? How does it mean got here?
Literally, décrocher means to unhook. While it is commonly used for picking up a landline phone, it is also widely used figuratively in everyday French to mean to land, to secure, or to obtain something that requires effort. You will frequently hear about someone trying to décrocher un emploi (land a job) or décrocher un contrat (secure a contract).
What exactly is une mention in this context?