Posted by Aurélie Drouard

In: Level C1, Negative Words & Constructions, Forme négative

Questions: 12

These sentences use the negative expression ne... guère (hardly):

Note that the negation ne... guère means not much / not very or hardly depending on context.

It is quite an old-fashioned expression, rarely used nowadays, but you could find it in older novels or articles.

As with other negative expressions, the verb is placed between ne and guère.

ATTENTION:
Guère can never be used on its own to express hardly.
Instead, you would use the expression à peine:

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DonaldC1

Je ne pense guère

N'aurait-on pas besoin d'utiliser le mot <en> avec cette phrase?  Sinon, la phrase n'a pas de sens.  Je n'en pense guère ou j'en pense à peine.  J'ai à peine le temps de le faire... I hardly have time to do it.  Merci, Don

Asked 1 year ago

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CécileKwiziq language super starCorrect answer

Hi Donald,

As the verb penser is followed by 'à' , it would be,

'Je n'y pense guère' or 'je n'y pense à peine'...

Hope this answers your question...

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DonaldC1

Parfait.  Merci 

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Donald asked:View original

Je ne pense guère

N'aurait-on pas besoin d'utiliser le mot <en> avec cette phrase?  Sinon, la phrase n'a pas de sens.  Je n'en pense guère ou j'en pense à peine.  J'ai à peine le temps de le faire... I hardly have time to do it.  Merci, Don

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CrystalMaidenC1

I heard about ne guère de monde, what's the distinction there?

Asked 1 year ago

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CécileKwiziq language super starCorrect answer

Hi CrystalMaiden,

Do you mean: 

"Il n'y a guère de monde" ="There's hardly anyone here". ?

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CécileKwiziq language super starCorrect answer

You would use 'guère' in an answer (without the ne).

e.g.

Aimez-vous l' art moderne? - Guère (meaning not really).

But it does sound a bit stilted...

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CrystalMaidenC1

Yes, what makes it different from guère, since it can be used in the same situations?

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CrystalMaiden asked:View original

I heard about ne guère de monde, what's the distinction there?

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SueC1

"Hardly" eg can you swim? answer "hardly"

English can respond to a question by saying hardly can it be used in the same way in french. thank you

Asked 2 years ago

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AurélieKwiziq language super star

Bonjour Sue ! This is an interesting question: in this case "guère" can never be used on its own. If you wanted to express "hardly" in the mentioned context, you would use the expression "à peine": "Sais-tu nager ? - À peine." I've now added a note to the lesson. Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !

Like02 years ago

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Sue asked:View original

"Hardly" eg can you swim? answer "hardly"

English can respond to a question by saying hardly can it be used in the same way in french. thank you

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MikeB2

So if it is an old fashion expression, how do you express this in modern French?

Asked 3 years ago

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LauraKwiziq language super star

Bonjour Mike, There are a few different ways. Il n'y avait guère de nourriture > Il n'y avait pas beaucoup de nourriture, Il y avait très peu de nourriture. Je n'ai guère le temps > J'ai à peine le temps, j'ai à peine assez de temps. Nous ne nous en soucions guère > Nous nous en soucions très peu, Nous ne nous en soucions presque pas.

Like13 years ago

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JohnnyC1

What is the difference in usage between à peine and peu or pas beaucoup? Can you use à peine in all three of your examples above? Thanks.

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Mike asked:View original

So if it is an old fashion expression, how do you express this in modern French?

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