Breakdown of Si haute que soit l'altitude, l'alpiniste atteint le sommet.
être
to be
que
that (introducing a clause)
haut
high, tall
le sommet
the summit
si
so (before an adjective/adverb)
l'alpiniste
the mountaineer (m)
atteindre
to reach
l'altitude
the altitude (f)
Questions & Answers about Si haute que soit l'altitude, l'alpiniste atteint le sommet.
How does si mean 'however' in this sentence instead of 'if' or 'so'?
When si is followed by an adjective, the word que, and a verb in the subjunctive mood, it forms a structure expressing concession. In this sentence, si haute que soit translates to 'however high it may be'. It is a set grammar pattern where si loses its usual meaning.
Why is the verb soit placed before the subject l'altitude?
In the si + adjective + que construction, it is standard and much more elegant to invert the subject and the verb when the subject is a noun. While you could technically say si haute que l'altitude soit, the inverted word order of soit l'altitude flows better in French and is the preferred written form.
Why does the adjective haute take a feminine ending here?
The adjective in this concession structure must agree in gender and number with the subject of the subjunctive verb. Since l'altitude is a feminine singular noun, the adjective takes the feminine form haute, even though it sits at the very beginning of the clause.
Why is soit in the subjunctive mood here?
The structure si + adjective + que always requires the subjunctive mood because it expresses a hypothetical or conceding idea (a 'however' or 'no matter how' statement), rather than stating a concrete fact. Therefore, we use soit, the subjunctive form of être.
Is atteint functioning as a past participle in this sentence?
No, here atteint is the present tense form of the verb atteindre meaning to reach, conjugated for the third-person singular subject l'alpiniste. The past participle of atteindre is exactly the same word, which makes it easy to mix them up, but the context here indicates a simple present action.
Learn Si haute que soit l'altitude, l'alpiniste atteint le sommet and more in French
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free