French language Q&A Forum

Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert French teachers

14,077 questions • 30,485 answers • 887,515 learners

Kwizbot, a friendly bot

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level

Farid M.C1Kwiziq community member

Are these are examples of ne explétif Hello, I have started reading L'etranger by Albert Camus recently. I see the following two sentences with the use of ne and no other negative words (like "pas" or "rien", etc). Are they examples of Ne Explétif", or is there another explanation? 1. "Puis il m’a serré la main qu’il a gardée si long- temps que je ne savais trop comment la retirer." 2. "Vous ne pouviez subvenir à ses besoins." Merci beaucoup en avance!

Asked 8 years ago

Leah V.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

why isn't it "Premiere erreur de ne pas faire" but is "Premieur erreur a ne pas faire"?

Asked 8 years ago

sue c.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

not really a question but a requestcould you include an impersonal in your examples such as the gas leak one becaue the il n'y ait threw me , not having given it due consideration. many thanks

Asked 8 years ago

K. R.C1Kwiziq community member

I just completed the A2 weekend practice.I just completed the A2 weekend practice. The statement is" And on Sunday, we didn't leave our room." The translation is " Et le dimanche, on n'a pas quitté notre chambre." It seems like this is a specific Sunday so, based on the rule above, "You will NOT use le when talking about weekdays in a specific context (on Monday )"; why is the article used? Thank you, Kate

Asked 8 years ago

Bruce C.A1Kwiziq community member

What about negative sentences referring to body parts?Which is correct and what references can you provide to convince my teacher? Elles n'ont pas les yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas des yeux verts? Elles n'ont pas d'yeux verts?

Asked 8 years ago

Susan R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Reviewing this, I find I'm confused anew. From the earlier lesson:Tu aimes mon pull ? -Oui, il est très beau. But above: À qui sont ces livres? Ce sont mes livres. Since the books under discussion are specific, why would one not say, Ils sont mes livres?

Asked 8 years ago

Susan R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Re La fleur est jolie. Elle est jolie: could one also sayC'est jolie?

Asked 8 years ago

steven l.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

A bit off topic, but...In the third example, "Il est important qu'il apprenne ses lecons", how come it's not "c'est important"?

Asked 8 years ago

Garry B.A1Kwiziq community member

article ici ? (un)Il etait ivrogne

Asked 8 years ago

Jeziel G.A0Kwiziq community member

J'habite à Los Angeles, aux États-Unis.

Asked 8 years ago

Kwizbot, a friendly bot

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level

Let me take a look at that...