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Difference between 'tout en + gérondif' and 'en + gérondif'

Rike A.C1Kwiziq community member

Difference between 'tout en + gérondif' and 'en + gérondif'

If tout en + gérondif is used when two actions are being done at the same time why is the translation of "She's revising while having her breakfast" Elle révise en prenant son petit-déjeuner instead of Elle révise tout en prenant son petit-déjeuner?

This question relates to:French lesson "En + "-ant" = While/by + "-ing" in French (Gerund/Le Gérondif)"
Asked 3 years ago
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Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The 'tout' is an emphatic qualifier, just as we use 'all' in similar circumstances in English - "she did (all) this while doing (all) that" or "she did this (all) while doing that". 

As in English with or without the qualifier is grammatically correct, it depends on context - just how 'amazing/admirable/unbelievable' is it that both things were done simultaneously ?

 

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Rike A. asked:

Difference between 'tout en + gérondif' and 'en + gérondif'

If tout en + gérondif is used when two actions are being done at the same time why is the translation of "She's revising while having her breakfast" Elle révise en prenant son petit-déjeuner instead of Elle révise tout en prenant son petit-déjeuner?

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