French language Q&A Forum

Hi Chris,

WOW! I never knew there was an option when using vous. Figured since the vous (subject pronoun) imposed the plural second person it would ALSO impose the plural past participle. Is it grammatically wrong to use 'retournes' in this case... even though you are only using the vous form for politeness. In other words wouldn't you be allowed a pass based on grammar.

"De" and "des" has puzzled me for years.  I interpret this as "dolphin show" or "show of dolphins" which would be the grammatical equivalent of "la mère de Paul."  But, the right answer is "des."  That would seem to be "I would like to see the show some dolphins" in my mind.  Can somebody help me with the grammar that applies here?

What would be the easiest way to remember how to use the inversion with the verb first and the Qu'est ce que etc?

Thank you in advance

I don't have the best ears but I don't really hear the first syllable of 'Sinon'.  I just hear the second syllable, i.e. 'non'.  If I were a little more experienced, I could have guessed 'Sinon' because 'non' makes no sense.  Anyone else with the same issue?

What is the difference between "soi" and "soi-même"? Can't they be interchangeable?

​Example: "On peut toujours trouver plus fort que soi/soi-même."

I speak French daily with educated people including medical doctors and professors of French. I never ever EVER hear anyone actually use sentences with elaborate subordinate clauses and tricky coordinated futures - especially not these dances of the futures. In fact, the French, based on my observations, will do anything they can to avoid subordinate clauses and the more treacherous irregular verbs. And as often as not they screw it up. I've heard some real botched sentences on France 2, where a brave C2 tries to deal with the ne expletive. If a French politician can't navigate this stuff.......... Sometimes I throw in a fancy sentence like the ones in this lesson: And as often as not my interlocuteur will ask if I read that in Balzac. Not that the budding francophone ought therefore ignore this stuff. You do see this in some written material but in my opinion ever more so rarely. I'd be interested in the comments of older C2s....max