"Of them"

Question

One of the Kwizzes had "Achètes-en deux ou trois." for which the answer was "buy two or three of them". I think very often one would omit "of them" in English and wonder if that was a second correct answer, as it was a single-choice question ?

Jim Jones · Accepted Answer

Hi Anne,
If you are querying "Why not simply - achètes deux ou trois?"  Then this immediately raises the question "deux ou trois" of what?
The context may help in English but in French, we need to be unambiguous. This is why "en" pronoun is important grammar to make it clear what the purchase actually entails.
Does this help?  I hope so.
Jim

Adrian Boutel · Answer

I had the same question—I believe Jim is right that the 'en' is mandatory in French, but the 'of them' is optional in English, so both English answers are fair translations of the French.

Max Kime · Answer

I just returned to Progress with Lawless French and have raised the same question. No question "en" is required in French. The issue is whether the English translation requires the redundant "of them". I think not. If anything "Buy two or three of them" is simply not Strunk & White....max