French · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 5 of 12
Society and the environment
La société et l'environnement
Discuss an environmental problem and its solutions, use every kind of si clause, including mixed ones, and express concern with je crains que.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about a problem and possible solutions
- Use every kind of si clause, including mixed ones
- Say “in case” and “otherwise” with au cas où and sinon
- Express concern with je crains que and ce qui m'inquiète
Listen
On a local radio phone-in in Perpignan, the presenter Sandrine Vidal talks to Jordi Puig, a winegrower, about the drought. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Sandrine
Bonjour et bienvenue dans notre émission. Aujourd'hui, on parle de la sécheresse. Jordi, vous êtes viticulteur près de Perpignan, c'est bien ça ?
Hello and welcome to the programme. Today we're talking about the drought. Jordi, you're a winegrower near Perpignan, is that right?
Jordi
Oui. Depuis trois ans, il ne pleut presque plus, et je crains que la situation ne s'aggrave encore.
Yes. For three years it has hardly rained at all, and I'm afraid the situation will get even worse.
Sandrine
Qu'est-ce qui a changé pour vous, concrètement ?
What has changed for you, in practical terms?
Jordi
Tout. Si la pluie ne revient pas cet hiver, je perdrai la moitié de ma récolte. Et si j'avais planté des vignes plus résistantes il y a dix ans, je n'en serais pas là aujourd'hui.
Everything. If the rain doesn't come back this winter, I'll lose half my harvest. And if I had planted hardier vines ten years ago, I wouldn't be in this situation today.
Sandrine
Certains auditeurs disent que les agriculteurs utilisent trop d'eau. Qu'est-ce que vous leur répondez ?
Some listeners say that farmers use too much water. What do you say to them?
Jordi
Je les comprends. Mais si on ne donnait plus du tout d'eau aux vignes, il n'y aurait plus de vin dans la région.
I understand them. But if we didn't give the vines any water at all, there would be no more wine in the region.
Sandrine
Et qu'est-ce qu'on pourrait faire, selon vous ?
And what could be done, in your view?
Jordi
On pourrait récupérer l'eau de pluie, par exemple. Si on l'avait fait plus tôt, on aurait moins de problèmes aujourd'hui.
We could collect rainwater, for example. If we'd done it earlier, we'd have fewer problems today.
Sandrine
Cet été, l'usage de l'eau a été limité dans tout le département. Vous pensez que c'est une bonne solution ?
This summer, water use was restricted across the whole département. Do you think that's a good solution?
Jordi
C'est un début. Mais au cas où la sécheresse continuerait, il faudra aller beaucoup plus loin. Et ce qui m'inquiète aussi, c'est que les jeunes ne veulent plus reprendre les vignes.
It's a start. But should the drought go on, we'll have to go much further. And what also worries me is that young people don't want to take over the vineyards any more.
Sandrine
Merci, Jordi. Un dernier mot pour nos auditeurs ?
Thank you, Jordi. A last word for our listeners?
Jordi
Oui : même en ville, si tout le monde faisait un petit effort, ça changerait beaucoup de choses.
Yes: even in town, if everyone made a small effort, it would make a big difference.
Understand
Every kind of si clause
You know the three main types from B1: real conditions, imagined situations now and an imagined past. Often, though, the condition and the result are at different times. A past condition can have a result now: (…I wouldn't be in this situation today).
Whatever the time, the future and the conditional never come straight after when it means “if”: , , .
| Situation | + … | Result |
|---|---|---|
| real | (present) | (future) |
| imagined now | (imparfait) | (conditional) |
| imagined past | (plus-que-parfait) | (conditionnel passé) |
| past condition, result now | (plus-que-parfait) | (conditional) |
| general condition, past result | (imparfait) | (conditionnel passé) |
In case, otherwise, even if
(in case) is followed by the conditional: means “otherwise, or else”:
can also introduce an imagined situation, with the imparfait: (Even if it rained tomorrow…).
- Je te laisse mon numéro, au cas où tu aurais besoin de moi.I'll leave you my number, in case you need me.
- Pars maintenant, sinon tu vas rater ton train.Leave now, otherwise you'll miss your train.
- Même si j'avais le temps, je n'irais pas.Even if I had the time, I wouldn't go.
Expressing concern
(to fear that) + subjunctive is a more formal way to say . In careful French you'll often hear an extra after it, with no negative meaning: (I'm afraid the situation will get worse).
… (what worries me is that…) is followed by the indicative:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| I'm afraid it may be too late. | |
| … | What worries me is that… |
| I'm worried about the future. | |
| We urgently need to act. |
More in the grammar: The conditional: je voudrais, si j'avais… · The subjunctive: que je sois, que tu fasses · Bien que, à condition que, à moins que: conjunctions and the subjunctive
New words
- bienvenuewelcome · : welcome to our programme
- l'émissionprogramme (on radio or TV) · feminine
- la sécheressedrought
- le viticulteur / la viticultricewinegrower
- craindreto fear, to be afraid · ; + subjunctive
- s'aggraverto get worse
- la moitiéhalf
- la récolteharvest
- la vignevine; vineyard · : vineyards
- en être làto be in this situation · : I wouldn't be in this situation
- l'auditeur / l'auditricelistener
- l'agriculteur / l'agricultricefarmer
- récupérerto collect, to get back · : rainwater
- reprendreto take over (a business); to take back · like
Practise
1.“If I had planted hardier vines, I wouldn't be in this situation today.” Which sentence is correct?
2.Complete with the right form of .
If everyone made a small effort, it would make a big difference.
3.Complete with . The condition is in the past, but the result is now.
If we'd done it earlier, we'd have fewer problems today.
4.Which sentence is correct?
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I'm afraid the situation will get worse.
6.Match the French with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Je crains que la situation ne s'aggrave.
I'm afraid the situation will get worse.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.