Autre chose / quelque chose d'autre = Something else (indefinite pronouns) : French language revision

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)

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Pronom indéfini

Examples and resources

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?

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?

Q&A

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

13 December 2018

13/12/18

no problem

Truc Thanh

Kwiziq community member

5 December 2018

1 reply

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.

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

13 December 2018

13/12/18

answered

Truc Thanh

Kwiziq community member

5 December 2018

1 reply

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

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

13 December 2018

13/12/18

Hi Truc Thanh,

If you query relates to a quiz can you re-post it using the 'Report It' button in your Correction Board as it will link directly to the specific quiz you're referring to and will make it easier for us to answer you.

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.