avoir besoin de vs que

[weary coral]

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avoir besoin de vs que

[blissful hemlock]

In French, when expressing the idea of needing something, the most common construction is "avoir besoin de." However, there are cases where "avoir besoin que" is used, and it typically involves a subordinate clause with the subjunctive mood.

Avoir besoin de:

This is the most common construction when expressing a general need for something.
Example: "J'ai besoin de ton aide." (I need your help.)
Avoir besoin que + Subjunctive:

This construction is used when the need is tied to a specific condition or circumstance, and it often involves a subordinate clause with the subjunctive mood.
Example: "J'ai besoin que tu viennes rapidement." (I need you to come quickly.)
In this example, the need is dependent on the condition that the person comes quickly.

[dreamy tendon]

"de" won't be followed by a subject pronoun

[lavish shuttle]

if there is a subject pronoun is it always in subjonctif or only sometimes?

[dreamy tendon]

avoir besoin que is always subjunctive

[lavish shuttle]

but is avoir besoin __ pronoun always subjunctive

well i guess so if de never is followed by a pronoun

[dreamy tendon]

it's always "que" before a pronoun/subject, so yes

[severe path]

It can be besoin de + noun phrase/infinitive clause, or besoin que + subjunctive clause.

Nearly all prepositional phrases work like this when used as conjunctions

Another example of the same syntax: avant de partir (before leaving) / avant que tu partes (before you leave)

[lavish shuttle]

oh wow so de does this a lot

that's super good to know

see because I was in my head trying to figure out how I'd go about saying "what do you need me to do" and I was like, would it be que?? so I guess I've heard of this rule somewhere before or just picked it up