Qu’ or Que

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Qu’ or Que

I don’t know why my answer wouldn’t be qu’ in this instance, rather than the unshortened que. I’d appreciate guidance.

Asked 1 year ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Richard,

Thank you for your reply!

If the word placed ahead of "que" starts with a consonnant, "que" doesn't change. 

Il n'a mangé qu'un seul croissant = He ate only one croissant

Il n'a payé que mille euros (1000 €) = He paid only one thousand euros (€1000).

 

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

CélineNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Richard,

Could you post the test question you are referring to please? It would make it easier to answer your query. ;-)

Merci et bonne journée !

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Sorry I should have included it in my question. I can't remember the whole text but it included, at the end, a Euros symbol followed by some numerals - something like $ 1000 but, obviously, Euros, not dollars, immediately preceded by the aforementioned 'que'. Or 'qu' '. ;-)

Richard M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks, Céline, for responding. Sorry to be pedantic but...

You said:

Il n'a mangé qu'un seul croissant = He ate only one croissant

Il n'a payé que mille euros (1000 €) = He paid only one thousand euros (€1000).

. . . . . . .

Understood.  But the question specifically mentioned the amount as '€1000' (i.e. 1000 € ). Should I assume that the amount will always be typed out in full, as in your example? Or would it sometimes appear as in my reply? If so, what then?

CélineNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Bonjour Richard,

The number doesn't have to be typed in full as in my example, especially as it is not in the test question. The only reason I wrote it in full was to show the consonnant "m" in "mille" (to explain why you will use "que" in this instance).

Il n'a payé que mille euros. = He paid only one thousand euros.

Il n'a payé que 1000 € He paid only €1000.

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Rose Y.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Je n'avais que deux chats  ou je n'ai eu que deux chats....   wouldnt the imparfait be used here???????      

Rose Y.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Je n'avais que deux chats  ou je n'ai eu que deux chats....   wouldnt the imparfait be used here???????      

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Rose - your question seems misplaced on an unrelated thread. 

Suggest reposting separately and including the context if clarification still needed.

Qu’ or Que

I don’t know why my answer wouldn’t be qu’ in this instance, rather than the unshortened que. I’d appreciate guidance.

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