"belle" after of before noun?

AminB1Kwiziq community member

"belle" after of before noun?

Hi

I was taking a test and I saw the following statement:

"une fillette belle comme une fleur"

I tought it is wrong but it was marked as correct. Shouldn't "belle" come before "fillette"? like this sentecne?

"une belle fillette  comme une fleur"


Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Amin,

In this example, you have to place the adjective before 'comme' or you change the meaning of the sentence.

La fillette est belle comme une fleur = the little girl is as pretty as a flower

and not the pretty little girl is like a flower.

Il est grand comme son frère = He is as tall as his brother 

Hope this helps!

Mary AnneC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

There is a show in France called "Les Échappées Belles."  I don't understand why the "Belles" is after.  Is this poetic license?

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Mary Anne,

It is a play on words which comes from the idiomatic expression -

( l') échapper belle (à quelque chose) to have a lucky escape 

There is some etymology in the following link I found - 

http://www.linternaute.fr/expression/langue-francaise/878/echapper-belle/

Bonne Continuation!

 

"belle" after of before noun?

Hi

I was taking a test and I saw the following statement:

"une fillette belle comme une fleur"

I tought it is wrong but it was marked as correct. Shouldn't "belle" come before "fillette"? like this sentecne?

"une belle fillette  comme une fleur"


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