B2 Grammar: Relative Pronoun Dont

John M.C1Kwiziq community member

B2 Grammar: Relative Pronoun Dont

In the sentence:

You threw away the shoe with the broken heel

Would the following be an acceptable translation, instead of using as in the example?

Tu as jeté la chaussure avec le talon cassé .


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

 

"Tu as jeté la chaussure dont le talon est cassé."--> You threw away the shoe with the broken heel.  Your proposal could give a sense of ambiguity - is there one item or two being expressed?

"avec" is a preposition  but the lesson is on the subject of the relative pronoun "dont"

The grammar using the preposition "avec" creates the possibility that a shoe and a broken heel were thrown away but not necessarily related ie. there were two items being disposed of.

I recommend holding to the translation using "dont" only. "The shoes whose heel ...."   this construction is unambiguous.

Bonne continuation

 

Jim




 

 

John M. asked:

B2 Grammar: Relative Pronoun Dont

In the sentence:

You threw away the shoe with the broken heel

Would the following be an acceptable translation, instead of using as in the example?

Tu as jeté la chaussure avec le talon cassé .


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