What's the difference here?

Gilberts I.B2Kwiziq community member

What's the difference here?

For the question "Je suis resté cinq jours à Mykonos, mais ________ à Paris", I was marked incorrect for answering "je ne suis que resté trois jours". The accepted answer was "je ne suis resté que trois jours". How does placing "que" before or after "resté" change the emphasis or meaning of this statement? "But I stayed only three days in Paris" vs "But I only stayed three days in Paris". I cannot see the distinction that makes one form wrong and the other right. 

Asked 2 years ago
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi Gilberts,

So what is being restricted?   The verb rester or the noun jours?

The lesson explains the restriction is on the word immediately preceded by "que" and the point to be emphasised is that the number of days is being restricted not the verb in this case.

It is very tricky, I agree  --  we stayed only or we only stayed (we could have stayed longer but chose not to)

What is desired is to point out is that we stayed only...... therefore "resté que trois jours"

Hope this helps.

Bonne Journée

Jim

 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

You can’t see the difference in English, but that is not the point from which to judge French sentences. As Jim notes, in French it is the duration - ‘only 3 days’ that is clearly expressed;  and it does not mean ‘only stayed’ (and did nothing apart from staying) in Paris. English nowadays doesn’t adhere as strictly to these “rules” of placement of ‘only’.

gillian m.B2Kwiziq community member

I agree. So much more I could be learning. I can't tell the difference in english!

What's the difference here?

For the question "Je suis resté cinq jours à Mykonos, mais ________ à Paris", I was marked incorrect for answering "je ne suis que resté trois jours". The accepted answer was "je ne suis resté que trois jours". How does placing "que" before or after "resté" change the emphasis or meaning of this statement? "But I stayed only three days in Paris" vs "But I only stayed three days in Paris". I cannot see the distinction that makes one form wrong and the other right. 

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