Question error or...?

Diego M.C1Kwiziq community member

Question error or...?

''Mathilde a rentré la voiture avant qu'il ne pleuve.'''means:
Why is it "...qu'il ne pleuve." as opposed to "qu'il pleuve."?Mathilde put the car away before it rained.
Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Ryan is correct: the ne explétif is a stylistic element which doesn't function as a negation (note that there is no matching pas). It is required with some phrases such as avant que. You'll encounter several dedicated lessons to this topic in due course.

Avant que + ne explétif + Le Subjonctif = Before I do

Ryan M.B2Kwiziq community member

C'est le « ne explétif » - ce n'est pas utilisé pas pour rendre une phrase négatif, mais pour souligner ce qui le précède. C'est d'habitude utilisé au subjonctif.

Diego M. asked:

Question error or...?

''Mathilde a rentré la voiture avant qu'il ne pleuve.'''means:
Why is it "...qu'il ne pleuve." as opposed to "qu'il pleuve."?Mathilde put the car away before it rained.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
I'll be right with you...