"Nous sommes rentrés, les vêtements tout sales et les cheveux en bataille." Is 'tout' an adverb?

Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"Nous sommes rentrés, les vêtements tout sales et les cheveux en bataille." Is 'tout' an adverb?

Why don't we need to put 'être' in front of the word 'sale' and 'en bataille'?

Asked 5 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Joan, 

As Chris said 'tout' is an adverb in this case and modifies the adjective 'sale' which means 'dirty' or in this case 'all dirty'.

The expression 'en bataille' means 'in disarray' and as in English, you wouldn't need the verb 'to be' either.

Hope this helps!

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, tout is an adverb in this context: "the clothes completely soiled" would be a possible translation.

You don't need an être in before tout or en bataille. I am sure there is a proper Grammatical term for that bit, which eludes me at the moment. I just point to the English language version which you can use as a crutch in this case: it doesn't require "being" either.

Joan C.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you Cécile and Chris

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

You're welcome, Joan! :)

"Nous sommes rentrés, les vêtements tout sales et les cheveux en bataille." Is 'tout' an adverb?

Why don't we need to put 'être' in front of the word 'sale' and 'en bataille'?

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