Sentence formulations

Pooja C.A2Kwiziq community member

Sentence formulations

In the example, "Elle n'est pas stupide du tout!", "stupide" is used as an adjective.

However, the formulation given above says: ne + conjugated verb + pas du tout + (infinitive)

Can someone clarify this please. 

Asked 3 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Ne..pas du tout works just like an ordinary negation to which "du tout" has been added for emphasis. Therefore, it works pretty much with anything:

Elle n'aime pas du tout courir -- She doesn't like running at all (with infinitive).
Elle n'aime pas du tout le chocolat. -- She doesn't like chocolate at all (with noun).
Elle n'est pas du tout stupide. -- She isn't stupid at all (with adjective).

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

You can use both versions:

Elle n'est pas stupide du tout! Or: Elle n'est pas du tout stupide.

Pooja C.A2Kwiziq community member

Thanks Chris for the response. However, my query was with regards to meaning of "infinitive" here. I understand that it is the infinitive form of the verb. However, there are examples where adjectives have been used and there is no infinitive. 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Pooja,

Further to Chris's post  --  You will see that the infinitive is bracketed indicating an option, so were it to be that an infinitive was appropriate it would appear as suggested in the lesson.

Hope this clarifies your point / query.

Jim

Pooja C.A2Kwiziq community member

Thanks Chris and Jim. This gives a lot of clarity :)

Pooja C. asked:

Sentence formulations

In the example, "Elle n'est pas stupide du tout!", "stupide" is used as an adjective.

However, the formulation given above says: ne + conjugated verb + pas du tout + (infinitive)

Can someone clarify this please. 

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
Getting that for you now...