Question 1

Why is sois in the subjunctive here?

Accepted Answer

The phrase non que (not that) is used to reject a potential reason. In French, expressions that deny a cause, like non que or ce n'est pas que, trigger the subjunctive because you are describing a scenario that is not the reality. That is why we use sois, the subjunctive of être, rather than the indicative suis.

Question 2

What exactly does un empêchement mean?

Accepted Answer

The noun un empêchement comes from the verb empêcher (to prevent). While it literally means a hindrance, it is the standard, everyday French term for a scheduling conflict, a prior engagement, or a last-minute hold-up that prevents you from being somewhere.

Question 3

Could I say ce n'est pas que instead of non que?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could say ce n'est pas que je sois fatigué. Both expressions refute a cause and both require the subjunctive. The main difference is register: non que is a bit more formal and elegant, whereas ce n'est pas que is standard and very common in everyday conversation.

Question 4

If I am a woman, how does this sentence change?

Accepted Answer

If the speaker is female, you must add an e to the adjective to make it fatiguée. The pronunciation remains exactly the same, but the written spelling must agree with the gender of the subject je.

J'ai un empêchement, non que je sois fatigué.

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