Que tu m'élimines ! Ce choix est scandaleux !
That you would eliminate me! This choice is scandalous!
Breakdown of Que tu m'élimines ! Ce choix est scandaleux !
être
to be
tu
you (informal singular)
ce
this (before a noun)
le choix
the choice
me
me, myself (object pronoun)
que
let / may (third-person command)
éliminer
to eliminate
scandaleux
scandalous
Questions & Answers about Que tu m'élimines ! Ce choix est scandaleux !
Why does the first sentence start with Que without a main clause before it?
This is a classic example of the indignant independent subjunctive. By starting directly with Que and dropping a main clause like Je suis choqué que... (I am shocked that...), the sentence becomes much more emphatic. It expresses pure disbelief or outrage without needing to state the emotion outright.
How can I tell if élimines is in the subjunctive here, since it looks exactly like the present indicative?
You're right that for regular -er verbs, the tu form in the present subjunctive (que tu élimines) is identical to the present indicative (tu élimines). We know it is the subjunctive here because the exclamatory Que standing alone at the beginning of a sentence specifically triggers the subjunctive mood to express strong emotion.
Why is the English translation "That you would eliminate me" instead of just "That you eliminate me"?
In English, we often use "would" or "should" to convey disbelief, shock, or indignation in exclamations (for example, "To think that you would do this!"). French captures this exact same shocked nuance purely through the independent subjunctive with Que.
Can I use this independent Que structure to express things other than anger or indignation?
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