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J. L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

separation of dont and the possession

The lesson seems to indicate that this separation is 'allowed' but 'irregular'.

However it seems frequent and intrinsic enough in some translations to deserve identifying and defining as a rule of syntax.

If the 'possession' is the 'object' of the verb in the following clause then it is separated from dont and put after the verb in that clause. 'Dont' here is like a relative pronoun joining two clauses. All the examples support this observation.

Tu as jeté la chaussure dont le talon est cassé.You threw away the shoe with the broken heel [lit. whose heel is broken]

BUT???Tu as jeté la chaussure chère dont j'ai cassé le talon.

Les enfants, dont je connais la maman, sont bien élevés.
François, dont j'ai rencontré la femme le mois dernier

Asked 5 years ago

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Caroline M.A2Kwiziq community member

Multiple Choice answers in English, not French

I just tried twice to complete a test on lui & leur. All the alternatives in the drop-down list appeared in English, not French. What's going on? The corrections were all in French!!

Asked 5 years ago

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Ann H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

In the first sentence, "Avant que tu ne sois née, je ne pensais pas....why the imparfait? To me that is a fact started and ended in the past.

Asked 6 years ago

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Danielle R.B2Kwiziq community member

le beau-père

How can you differentiate between Stepfather and Father in law? Is it just context?

Asked 3 years ago

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emre can c.A2Kwiziq community member

"Il faisait froid hier soir"

Just wondered if we can say "Il faisait froid tout hier soir" to emphasize "all night long"(though it doesn't seems correct to me).

Asked 4 years ago

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Carol W.Kwiziq community member

What is the proper order of Subject pronoun if asking an inverted question in the passé composé?

Is "T'ai-je déjà envoyé cet article" correct? Wouldn't hurt to be sure the adverb is also usually before the non-declined part of the verb ; ).

Asked 6 years ago

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G B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

B2 Fill-in-the-blanks Kwiz - Subjonctif Présent

À la bibliothèque

I answered.......... à moins que ce NE SOIT un peu trop long?

The correct response was....... à moins que ce SOIT un peu trop long?

I thought "à moins que" was followed by the ne explétif?

Asked 5 years ago

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Taonga T.A2Kwiziq community member

Bonne journée

Hello.

Could you also say

"Je vous souhaite une belle/bonne journée"?

Asked 5 years ago

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Haley N.A0Kwiziq community member

Question about "J'adore"

My french teacher once told me that J'adore was too strong. That you would never say it to someone you know in a romantic way. She said it was so strong in fact that it was kind of stalkery. She said it should be used for inanimate objects or like a celebrity that you're a fan of. Is she correct?

Asked 4 years ago

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Zainab N.C1Kwiziq community member

go to bed

I thought so too, only to see the correction suggesting that i should have written that he "goes to go to bed"!

Asked 5 years ago

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