Indirect pronouns ending sentences...

J. L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Indirect pronouns ending sentences...

Advised by Cecile: "But the construction you suggest ending with a pronoun might be used by a very young French child but isn't correct French."

 I have never seen it so pointedly stated anywhere. Seems to me once you 'learn' that faux pas you are halfway through the struggles of using pronouns....where to put them.

I find this advice so clarifying. I may be making too much of a big deal abut it...but it hit me like a lightbulb.

Do you think, modified a little,  it is advisable to adopt as  rote? Would it hold up universally enough. 

Do not put your object pronouns at the end of a sentence (after the verb) UNLESS it is the STRESS VERSION OF THE PRONOUN. 

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Jameson,

I am afraid it is impossible to make such a rule as there will, of course, be exceptions.

In the context of the expression 'rappeler à quelqu'un ' and to my answer to Chris, what he was suggesting was indeed the strespronoun 'elles'.

What I meant by a young child might get away with this mistake, children make what is called 'logical mistakes' following unconscious patterns of grammar and often don't account for irregularities until they are corrected.

A typical one is 'vous faisez' instead of 'vous faites', 'j'ai prendu' instead of 'j'ai pris' etc.

If you are interested in how language is acquired and the role of grammar, I can recommend the excellent Steven Pinker book 'The language Instinct'.

Bonne Continuation!

J. L. asked:View original

Indirect pronouns ending sentences...

Advised by Cecile: "But the construction you suggest ending with a pronoun might be used by a very young French child but isn't correct French."

 I have never seen it so pointedly stated anywhere. Seems to me once you 'learn' that faux pas you are halfway through the struggles of using pronouns....where to put them.

I find this advice so clarifying. I may be making too much of a big deal abut it...but it hit me like a lightbulb.

Do you think, modified a little,  it is advisable to adopt as  rote? Would it hold up universally enough. 

Do not put your object pronouns at the end of a sentence (after the verb) UNLESS it is the STRESS VERSION OF THE PRONOUN. 

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