Learn French: Notre produit est le plus exclusif, à moins que la concurrence ne change le prix. - Our product is the most exclusive, unless the competition changes the price.

Word

Notre produit est le plus exclusif, à moins que la concurrence ne change le prix.

Meaning

Our product is the most exclusive, unless the competition changes the price.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

French

Lesson

Unless (à moins que)

Breakdown of Notre produit est le plus exclusif, à moins que la concurrence ne change le prix.

être

to be

not (used before the verb)

notre

our (singular and plural forms: notre, nos)

le prix

the price

Questions & Answers about Notre produit est le plus exclusif, à moins que la concurrence ne change le prix.

Why is there a ne before change? Does it make the sentence negative?

This is known as the "ne explétif" (expletive ne). It does not make the sentence negative; it is just a formal stylistic choice required after certain expressions like à moins que (unless) or verbs expressing fear. If it were truly negative, you would see ne change pas.

Is the verb change in the subjunctive mood here?

Yes, it is! The conjunction à moins que always triggers the subjunctive. Because changer is a regular -er verb, its present subjunctive form for la concurrence (she/it) looks exactly like the present indicative, but grammatically, it is the subjunctive here.

Could I use sauf si instead of à moins que to say "unless"?

Yes, you can use sauf si (except if / unless), but the grammar changes. sauf si is followed by the normal indicative mood rather than the subjunctive, and it never takes the expletive ne. You would simply say sauf si la concurrence change le prix.

Why do we need le in le plus exclusif?