Breakdown of Quoi que vous fassiez, cet incident provoque un préjudice.
un
a / an (masculine)
vous
you (plural/formal)
ce
this (before a noun)
faire
to do, to make
provoquer
to cause
quoi que
whatever
l'incident
the incident (m)
le préjudice
the damage (harm, prejudice)
Questions & Answers about Quoi que vous fassiez, cet incident provoque un préjudice.
Is quoi que always written as two words?
Why do we use the subjunctive fassiez instead of the indicative faites here?
The expression quoi que always triggers the subjunctive. This is because it sets up a hypothetical or undetermined situation: you are referring to absolutely anything the person might do, rather than a specific, established fact.
Does préjudice mean "prejudice" in the sense of a bias or discrimination?
No, préjudice is a classic false friend. In French, un préjudice means "damage," "harm," or "loss" (often used in legal, professional, or formal contexts). If you want to say "a prejudice" (a bias), you should use the word un préjugé.
Why doesn't the subjunctive carry over to the verb provoque?
The subjunctive is only triggered inside the dependent clause introduced by quoi que. The main clause (cet incident provoque un préjudice) states an objective reality—the damage is a fact—so it remains in the normal present indicative.
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