Breakdown of Je crains que ce fusil ne tue mon client.
je
I
ce
this (before a noun)
mon
my (mon, ma, mes)
le client
the client / the customer
Questions & Answers about Je crains que ce fusil ne tue mon client.
Why is there a ne before tue if the sentence isn't negative?
This is the ne explétif, which is the focus of this lesson. After verbs of fear like craindre, French often inserts an extra ne in the following clause. It doesn't make the sentence negative; it just emphasizes the underlying negative fear (you hope the rifle doesn't kill the client).
Is tue in the subjunctive mood here?
Yes, it is. Verbs of emotion and fear like craindre que require the subjunctive. However, because tuer is a regular -er verb, its third-person singular form (tue) looks exactly the same in both the present indicative and the present subjunctive.
The English translation says 'might kill', but I don't see a French word for 'might'. How is this translated?
The feeling of 'might' is built into the subjunctive mood itself. By using craindre que (to fear that) plus the subjunctive, you are already expressing uncertainty and possibility, which 'might' captures perfectly in natural English.
Do I have to include the ne when I speak French, or can I drop it?
You can definitely drop it in everyday conversation. The ne explétif is considered formal and elegant. You will see it in writing and hear it in formal speeches, but native speakers usually skip it in casual speech, simply saying Je crains que ce fusil tue mon client.