Question 1

Why is the subjunctive soit used here instead of the indicative est?

Accepted Answer

The phrase à supposer que (supposing that) introduces a hypothesis or an unverified condition. In French, this expression always requires the subjunctive mood because it sets up a hypothetical scenario rather than stating a known fact. That is why we use soit, the subjunctive of être.

Question 2

Could I use en admettant que in this sentence instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes! En admettant qu'il soit innocent means practically the same thing. Both expressions set up a hypothetical situation and both require the subjunctive. À supposer que focuses on the 'what if' aspect, while en admettant que sounds slightly more like temporarily conceding a point for the sake of argument.

Question 3

What verb is commis and how do I remember its past participle form?

Accepted Answer

Commis comes from the verb commettre (to commit). All French verbs ending in -mettre follow the exact same irregular pattern as mettre (to put). Since the past participle of mettre is mis, the past participle of commettre is commis.

Question 4

Why is there no subject pronoun after qui in the second half of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

In the clause qui a commis ce crime, the word qui (who) is an interrogative pronoun acting directly as the subject of the verb. Just like in English, when asking 'who' did something, the question word itself acts as the subject, so you do not add an extra pronoun like il before the verb.

À supposer qu'il soit innocent, qui a commis ce crime ?

Breakdown of À supposer qu'il soit innocent, qui a commis ce crime ?

Questions & Answers about À supposer qu'il soit innocent, qui a commis ce crime ?

Learn À supposer qu'il soit innocent, qui a commis ce crime and more in French