Breakdown of La fête sera un succès pour peu qu'il ne soit pas méfiant.
être
to be
un
a / an (masculine)
il
he
ne
not (used before the verb)
pas
not (used after the verb)
la fête
the party
le succès
the success
pour peu que
provided that (even a little)
méfiant
suspicious
Questions & Answers about La fête sera un succès pour peu qu'il ne soit pas méfiant.
Why is "soit" in the subjunctive here instead of the present indicative "est"?
The phrase pour peu que always triggers the subjunctive. It introduces a condition or hypothesis that isn't a guaranteed fact, so French requires the subjunctive mood for the verb that follows it.
How is "pour peu que" different from just saying "si" (if)?
While si just states a neutral condition, pour peu que emphasizes that the condition is minimal. It translates best to "if only" or "provided that," implying that his lack of suspicion is the only small thing needed for the party to be a success. Note that si takes the indicative, while pour peu que requires the subjunctive.
The main clause uses the future tense "sera". Why is the subjunctive verb "soit" in the present tense?
French does not have a future subjunctive tense. When you have a future action in the main clause that depends on a subjunctive condition, the condition itself is simply written in the present subjunctive.
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