N'avait-t-il pas passé une partie de sa vie à Tahiti ?

Question

I’m wondering what the extra "t" is doing here? Avait-il is marked wrong. (It’s an interesting exercise!)

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour à tous,
You're absolutely correct! Maarten's link is excellent. In this particular context, the extra "t" is not necessary. The same applies to other verbs:
Connaissait-il ta mère ? = Did he know your mother?
Avait-il des amis ? = Did  he have friends?
 
This typo has now been amended thanks to all of you.
Merci de votre excellente contribution !
Bonne journée !

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Thank you Anne, we are delighted that you found this exercise interesting.
I see why you question the use of the extra -t in this sentence, as there would be a liaison between 'avait' and 'il' in the inversion.
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/glossary/pronunciation/euphonics
Bonne Continuation !

Alan Graham · Answer

I agree with Anne; this looks incorrect to me.https://www.projet-voltaire.fr/regles-orthographe/mentend-il-ou-mentend-t-il/https://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/conjugaison/verbe/avoir_question.html

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Agree with Anne and Alan and thought it would simply be acknowledged as a typo. https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/euphonic-inversion/

Cécile Janty-Davies · Answer

Hello folks,

I can only apologise for my error, but in my defense, my chemotherapy treatment is obviously playing with my brain, as I still don't see a great problem.

However, I did escalate the query to the author, who agreed it was a mistake that has now been corrected.

Je pense qu'il est peut-être temps que je rende mon tablier !!!

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Cécile,

it feels completely wrong to me to give your 2nd response a ‘ like ‘. However, it is much appreciated that you have added it.

Wishing you all the best with your treatment and your health - clearly much, much more important than any grammar in any language could ever be.