What is the difference between "ma tête me fait mal" y
"la tête me fait mal". They seem the same to me.
Ma tête ou la tête ?
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William C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Ma tête ou la tête ?
This question relates to:French lesson "Special cases when you use mon/ma/mes/etc with parts of the body (French Possessive Adjectives)"
Asked 5 years ago
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Saying "la tête me fait mal" is more natural to a French speaker than "ma tête me fait mal". You'll use the second version only if there is a potential for confusion about which head you're talking.
William C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I understand but when I answered "la tête me fait mal", it was marked wrong.
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
I suspect this part of the lesson is relevant here:
when special emphasis on the body part is desiredAlan G. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
You use a possessive adjective when the body part is the subject of the verb. "Ma tête me fait mal" is actually given as an example in the lesson.
William C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
OK but why is "me" necessary if you use the possessive pronoun?
Said H.Kwiziq community member
When "tete" is an object, it is preceded by the french definite article and a preposition. This is a generality when you are talking about parts of the body.
J'ai mal à la tête = I have a headache.
Je suis blessé à la main = My hand is hurt.
William C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Chris
Surely "qqc" can mean both "la tête" and "ma tête" in your construction.
Chris W. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
This was to explain why to use "me", as per your question. The French "me" corresponds to the "à qqn" part.
William C. asked:
Ma tête ou la tête ?
What is the difference between "ma tête me fait mal" y
"la tête me fait mal". They seem the same to me.
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