Inserting a seemingly unneccessary definit | French Q & A

melissa F.B1Kwiziq community member

Inserting a seemingly unneccessary definite article

In a similar vein to my question below ( I don't know where to find the relevant grammar topic ), there are many places in french where it seems one must insert a definite article where it would be omitted in English-- here are a couple of examples: "Il y a même des alcools spéciaux en France qui sont synonymes de l'apéritif comme le Pineau, le Muscadet que l’on sert avec une liqueur de fruit. " "Vous serrez la main que l'on vous tend." Why can't you say "qu'on sert"," qu'on vous tend" ?

This question relates to:French lesson "Describing things in French with c'est = it is"

Asked 7 years ago

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LauraNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Melissa,

You can say on or l'on in these cases; l'on is a euphonic technique:
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/on-vs-lon/

Like17 years ago

melissa F. asked:

Inserting a seemingly unneccessary definite article

In a similar vein to my question below ( I don't know where to find the relevant grammar topic ), there are many places in french where it seems one must insert a definite article where it would be omitted in English-- here are a couple of examples: "Il y a même des alcools spéciaux en France qui sont synonymes de l'apéritif comme le Pineau, le Muscadet que l’on sert avec une liqueur de fruit. " "Vous serrez la main que l'on vous tend." Why can't you say "qu'on sert"," qu'on vous tend" ?

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