Why is this correct and the other not?

Kari F.B2Kwiziq community member

Why is this correct and the other not?

Why is je mets mes chaussures où d'habitude? correct but when you invert the verb and keep the rest the same it is incorrect? Per the quiz "mets-je mes chaussures où d'habitude? is incorrect. I didn't choose either of them as it seemed strange to have the où in the middle like that but was surprised to see one of them was in fact correct. Please explain. Thanks.
Asked 7 years ago
Nicholas D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
You can only invert certain verbs. dis-je, suis-je, ai-je for example but it iform and custom not something you can do with all verbs, that would be far too simple!
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/inversion/
Bonjour Kari,
This is a lesson written by Laura that explains the inversion a little more. Perhaps this will aid you somewhat.
Ron
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonsoir Kari, Actually any verb can be used in inversion to form a question. If you read French literature, this is very common. In fact, inversion is considered by some to be a more formal structure. From the lesson: Simple Yes/No Questions The forms je peux, je vais, je suis, j'ai can be inverted but these forms are rarely used nowadays, as they're considered very formal and old-fashioned: Puis-je avoir le pain, s'il-vous-plaît? May I have the bread, please? Suis-je à la bonne adresse? Am I at the right address? Ai-je assez d'argent? Do I have enough money? Vais-je dans la bonne direction? Am I going the right way? Notice that je peux becomes irregular in the inverted form puis-je, probably to ease pronunciation. This structure is very formal as we stated before, so would only be used in polite contexts: the nearest English equivalent would be May I? Note also that although it's rare to invert Je + verb to make a question, it does happen with some verbs. I believe what Nicholas is referencing, if I may, is the inversion of first person, singular verbs using «Je», please see above. For the most part, most of the inversion verbs in literature that I run across do not use the first person, singular inversion. J'espère que cela vous aidera. Bonne chance, Ron
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
"Mets-je mes chaussures où d'habitude?" is incorrect because the "où" is in the wrong spot. You could say, "Où mets-je mes chaussures d'habitude?" and that would be just fine. When forming a question by inversion you put the interrogative pronoun in front of the sentence. Here are the three ways to ask this question for comparison: "Je mets mes chaussures où d'habitude?" "Où est-ce que je mets mes chaussures d'habitude?" "Où mets-je mes chaussures d'habitude?" Felitations amicales, -- Chris.
Kari F. asked:

Why is this correct and the other not?

Why is je mets mes chaussures où d'habitude? correct but when you invert the verb and keep the rest the same it is incorrect? Per the quiz "mets-je mes chaussures où d'habitude? is incorrect. I didn't choose either of them as it seemed strange to have the où in the middle like that but was surprised to see one of them was in fact correct. Please explain. Thanks.

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