French Grammar in Context

• a clause introduced by que and with the following verb in the subjunctive, e.g. il a fallu que
  200 personnes... s’adonnent (lines 13–15) (see also Chapter 26).

b Il y a, meaning either ‘there is’ or ‘there are’, also exists only in the impersonal form. It is

followed by a noun or a series of nouns, e.g. il y a aussi une plage de sable et, même, une

machine à vagues (lines 38–40). The important thing to note is that, like other impersonal

verbs, it is always in the singular, even though it may translate the English ‘there are’ and be

followed by a plural noun, e.g. il y a des verres sur la table = there are some glasses on the table.

c Il s’agit de (line 3), again, is only ever used impersonally. It is difficult to give one single

English translation of it which will fit all contexts, but in general terms it means ‘it is a

question/a matter of ’, or ‘it is about’. English often uses a personal subject (i.e. one referring to

a specific noun) instead. So, for example, we might translate ‘Il s’agit du projet écologique.. .’

(lines 3–4) by ‘This (i.e. Biosphère II) is the most ambitious environmental project... ’.

English speakers must take particular care to avoid using s’agit de with a specific subject in this

way. See Discover more about impersonal verbs, 1c, below.

d Verbs which may and indeed which usually do take a specific personal subject can also

sometimes be used impersonally, e.g. il règne... un climat tropical (lines 41–2). This usage

corresponds here to the English ‘There reigns... ’.

2 FORM

a A number of verbs exist only in an impersonal form. They can only take as their subject the

singular pronoun il, used impersonally and not referring to any specific person or thing.

e.g. il s’agit (+ de) (line 3); il faut (line 31); il y a (line 38)

b Il y a (line 38) is formed from the infinitive (y) avoir, though it translates the English ‘there

is/are’ from the verb ‘to be’.

c These verbs can be used not just in the present tense, but in the full range of tenses, indicative

and subjunctive.

e.g. il a fallu (line 13)

Other points to note in the text

• Passive: sera donné (line 2); ait été entrepris (line 4); sera reconstituée (line 7); n’a pas été
  oublié (lines 37–8) (see Chapter 21)


• Subjunctive: ait été entrepris (line 4); s’adonnent (line 15); ait coûté (line 30); il règne (lines
  41–2) (see Chapter 26)


• Relative pronouns: qui (line 4); duquel (line 7); dont (line 14); dans laquelle (line 22); auxquelles
  (line 24); où (line 28) (see Chapter 11)


• Pronominal verbs: s’adonnent (line 15); s’adjoindre (line 25) (see Chapter 20)

164 French Grammar in Context