Regarding the 3 examples using "seulement"
- « Back to Q&A Forum
- « Previous questionNext question »
Judy V.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Regarding the 3 examples using "seulement"
Why isn't the translation for the "il mange seulement des pates le samedi, translated "He eats only" as in the first 2 examples since seulement is an adverb which is usually translated "He only eats:...
This question relates to:French lesson "Using restrictive ne … que to express only with simple tenses (French Negations)"
Asked 7 years ago
Ron T. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Note: You can also use seulement which means only in French, though it is not as elegant.
J'aime seulement les pommes.
I only like apples.I like only apples.
Tu lis seulement le soir.
You only read at night.You read only at night.
Il mange seulement des pâtes le samedi.
He eats only pasta on Saturdays.
Try looking at this example rephrased:
Le samedi il mange seulement des pâtes. this then becomes a statement of his habit on Saturday which is to eat pasta.
Hope this helps.
Judy V.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
So if I translate "Il mange seulement des pates le samedi" as "He only eats pasta on Saturdays" we will both be happy! :)
If you wanted to, you could change the example to translate: "He only eats pasta on Saturdays."
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Judy !
This is actually an interesting difference between French and English:
indeed, in English you would use intonation to stress which element of the sentence is being restricted by "only", whereas in French we move "seulement" or "que" directly in front of the restricted element. Here we tried to show this nuance by moving "only" accordingly:
"Il mange seulement des pâtes le samedi." (He only eats PASTA on Saturdays.)
"Il mange des pâtes seulement le samedi." (He only eats pasta ON SATURDAYS.)
I hope that helps!
À bientôt !
Judy V.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Merci for all your help. I didn't make myself clear on the question. I was asking about the english translation of the 3rd "seulement" example. Aurelie has now made it clear in the example she gives above-- "Il mange seulement des pâtes le samedi." (He only eats PASTA on Saturdays.)
"He only eats" is what I would expect after reading the first two english translations. Will you be changing it?
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Judy !
I've now changed the English in the 3rd example :)
Bonne journée !
Grossebebe L.Kwiziq community member
why using seulement is not elegant? I don't understand... How do you tell which one is and which one isn't?
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