Do they have the right to eat eggs?

DrewC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Do they have the right to eat eggs?

Oh la la! In the last phrase of this dictée, "Ils ont eu le droit de manger," it's hard to understand "ont eu." 

Was the speaker's mouth full of chocolate eggs? ;) 

But seriously, a liaison between "ont_eu" would've made it clearer. Nonetheless, it does seem rather "frenchy" that liaison's aren't necessarily obligatory, but rather subjective, yeah???

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Drew,

I agree with Aurélie’s rendition of ‘ils ont eu ...’ without liaising the -t and the -eu and that is how I would have pronounced it.

It is an optional liaison but by sounding it it becomes too elevated (langage soutenu) for the passage.

Hope this helps!

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It wouldn't be French if there existed a rule without exceptions....

Patrick C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Agree with Drew and Cecile: "Ils ont eu le droit de manger," was very difficult to hear. Had to play it several times to a native French speaker to try and figure it out.

Do they have the right to eat eggs?

Oh la la! In the last phrase of this dictée, "Ils ont eu le droit de manger," it's hard to understand "ont eu." 

Was the speaker's mouth full of chocolate eggs? ;) 

But seriously, a liaison between "ont_eu" would've made it clearer. Nonetheless, it does seem rather "frenchy" that liaison's aren't necessarily obligatory, but rather subjective, yeah???

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