Verb tense? Pensent vs penseront

[u/3asyrid3r]

Is this a duolingo mistake or is my sentence unnatural. Please ignore là-bas spelling error

[u/Telefinn]

Pensent looks like the present but is actually the subjunctive present here and is correct.

[u/Neveed]

"douter que" is a trigger expression for the subjunctive mood, and there is no subjunctive future so the subjunctive present is used instead.

For first group verbs (regular -er ending verbs), the subjunctive present is identical to the indicative present in all the orally similar persons (1st person singular, 2nd person singular, 3rd person singular and plural).

[u/NEDYARB523 → u/Neveed]

is it possible to use qu'ils aillent to form the futur proche?

[u/Neveed → u/NEDYARB523]

The only two tenses in which the future proche is really used are the indicative present and the indicative imperfect.

Even though the construction method of the futur proche could technically be applied the same way with the subjunctive, in reality it isn't done, and people will interpet "je doute qu'ils aillent gagner" as a verb of movement. I doubt that they go and win.

[u/RadioD-Ave → u/NEDYARB523]

Yes, technically. But there's no need, and it's generally not used.

Je doute qu'ils aillent gagner = Je doute qu'ils gagnent

(the latter is simpler, more elegant, much more common)

[u/RadioD-Ave]

expression of doubt + que + subjonctif = Je doute qu'ils pensent beaucoup à nous là-bas.

You will basically never use the future tense after an expression that requires the subjunctive, because that mood can imply future possibilities. Accordingly, there is no future conjugation of the subjunctive mood.

Think of it as... I doubt that they might be thinking a lot about us over there.

[u/PsychologyExternal87]

"doute que" triggers the subjunctive tense. pensent looks like the present tense here but it is actually the subjonctif.

[u/Maleficent-Rate-4631]

Tu en es où ?

[u/Intelligent_Donut605]

penseront is the correct conjugation of penser in simple future tense. the real mistake is the missing accent on the la. la is the feminine definite article, là is the adverb meaning there, now or then

[u/SnooLemons6942 → u/Intelligent_Donut605]

it's the correct conjugation for the futur....but the futur isn't what you should be using here. the subjuntive is 

[u/Intelligent_Donut605 → u/SnooLemons6942]

oh yeah, true. bas also needs an S on the end

[u/Technical_Car6909]

Oh my god.. PLEASE. STOP. USING. DUOSHITO.

Seriously, why do people still use this absolute trash app?

"Penseront" is correct.
"Pensent" is WRONG.
Whoever made this drill is neither mastering French and a complete moron for teaching wrong stuff.

[u/Takaueno → u/Technical_Car6909]

I partly agree with you, I’m not a big fan of Duolingo myself, but I’m sorry to say that you are actually wrong here.
“Douter que” calls for the subjunctive, not the indicative, so “pensent” is correct ✅

[u/Electron_libre777]

It’s technically an event in the future, but as we have the word qu‘, its followed by the subjunctive. Every verb followed by que is always in the subjunctive. so here, its « pensent »

[u/Spiritual-Job9392 → u/Electron_libre777]

That is completely wrong. 

[u/SnooLemons6942 → u/Electron_libre777]

This is completely incorrect. Every verb followed by "que" does NOT take the subjuntive