Autre chose / quelque chose d'autre = Something else (indefinite pronouns)

In: Level A2, Pronouns, Pronom indéfini
Questions: 9

Look at these sentences:

Je voudrais autre chose.  
Je voudrais quelque chose d'autre.
I would like something else.

Il veut autre chose. 
Il veut quelque chose d'autre.
He wants something else.

Elle a choisi autre chose.  
Elle a choisi quelque chose d'autre.
She chose something else.


Note that in French, there are two ways to say "something else": autre chose and quelque chose d'autre. 

Now look at these questions:

Vous voulez boire quelque chose d'autre ?
Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Vous voulez boire autre chose ?
Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Ont-ils apporté autre chose ?  
Ont-ils apporté quelque chose d'autre ?
Have they brought something else?

Note that you also use autre chose / quelque chose d'autre in questions, where they can also mean "anything else".

ATTENTION: in the case of questions, you won't use n'importe quoi, which literally means any thing (doesn't matter what).
See N'importe quoi = Nonsense, anything (indefinite pronouns)

 

See also the related lesson: Quelqu'un, Quelqu'un d'autre = Someone, Someone else (indefinite pronouns)

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Pronom indéfini

Examples and resources

Vous voulez boire quelque chose d'autre ?
Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Je voudrais autre chose.  
Je voudrais quelque chose d'autre.
I would like something else.

Elle a choisi autre chose.  
Elle a choisi quelque chose d'autre.
She chose something else.

Ont-ils apporté autre chose ?  
Ont-ils apporté quelque chose d'autre ?
Have they brought something else?

Il veut autre chose. 
Il veut quelque chose d'autre.
He wants something else.

Vous voulez boire autre chose ?
Do you want to drink something else?
Do you want to drink anything else?

Q&A

Truc Thanh

Kwiziq community member

5 December 2018

0 replies

I’m sorry . I don’t know I unintendedly submitted the same question 2 times.

Truc Thanh

Kwiziq community member

5 December 2018

0 replies

About “ autre chose et quelque chose d’autre”

Bonjour Aurélie et Cécile,

I have 2 questions.

1/ As your explanation, we have 2 different ways of saying the same thing. Thus, why is it just nearly correct when I say:” Ils ont besoin d’occuper leurs jours à autre chose? The right answer in the test is” Ils .... à quelque chose d’autre”.

2/ How about to say autre chose/ quelque chose d’autre in plural?E.g.: I’d like to choose the other things.

Merci beaucoup.

Truc Thanh

Kwiziq community member

5 December 2018

0 replies

About “ autre chose and quelque chose d’autre”

Bonjour Aurélie et Cécile,

I have 2 questions.

1/ As your explanation, we have 2 different ways to say about a same thing: something else.Thus , why is it just nearly correct when I say” ils ont besoin d’occuper leurs jours à autre chose.”The right answer in the test is” ils... à quelque chose d’autre.”

It is diffidult for me to unsderstand.

2/ How about to say “autre chose “ in plural? E.g.: I’d like to choose the other things?

Merci beaucoup,

Truc Thanh

F

Kwiziq community member

21 September 2018

2 replies

How do you decide which version to use?

Chris

Kwiziq community member

21 September 2018

21/09/18

It really is your free choice. As far as I can tell there's no difference.

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

22 September 2018

22/09/18

Hi F,

Just two different ways of saying the same thing...

Melody

Kwiziq community member

25 October 2016

2 replies

Can I ask you another thing ?

vs. test Q: Can I ask you something else ? (Puis-je vous demander autre chose ? ) Re: the question, as stated, it's hard to imagine a situation where someone (A) wouldn't have already asked the person (B) one or more questions. Okay- a stretch: the person (B) says- "So you want to ask me about a,b,c." The questioner (A) says- "(No) can I ask you something else (instead)?" In English, "Can I ask you something else?" = yet another question, not a different question. Thus, "Can I ask you another thing ?" So, "Puis-je vous demander une autre chose ?" I'm confused, obviously! ;) Melody

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

2 November 2016

2/11/16

Bonjour Melody ! That was quite a confusingly long question :) I completely agree with the nuances of meaning you pointed out between "Can I ask you something else?" and "Can I ask you another thing?", and all I can say is that this nuance doesn't really translate in French! The reason is that you won't say "Puis-je vous demander UNE autre chose ?" in French, it sounds wrong, you would use "autre chose" or indeed "quelque chose d'autre". I hope that answers your question! À bientôt !

Melody

Kwiziq community member

2 November 2016

2/11/16

Aurélie- After I submitted the question, I realized how confusing it might be. Alas, I couldn't delete the question. Thank you for sorting out my long question, understanding it correctly, and giving an excellent answer.

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