inverted subject and verb in the second clause?

Laura G.C1Kwiziq community member

inverted subject and verb in the second clause?

In the second clause of this sentence:


Les jambes, elles, étaient vêtues de collants de danseuse, blancs scintillants, que chaussaient de délicats talons hauts, noirs et fins. 

...are the high heels the subject and chaussaient the verb and they're inverted?  And the "que" that precedes them is referring back to "les jambes?"



Asked 9 months ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

That's a very interesting question Laura, and it got me thinking.

The subject of 'chausser' is the 'talons' but I did wonder how it would be translated into English as normally the verb is 'to put on footwear' or to say your shoe size.

Je chausse du 36 = My shoe size is a 3

I would tend to use a passive as "the legs are clothed in tights..." and maybe say "were adorned by fine black stilettos".

Open for discussion as usual ...

 

Laura G. asked:

inverted subject and verb in the second clause?

In the second clause of this sentence:


Les jambes, elles, étaient vêtues de collants de danseuse, blancs scintillants, que chaussaient de délicats talons hauts, noirs et fins. 

...are the high heels the subject and chaussaient the verb and they're inverted?  And the "que" that precedes them is referring back to "les jambes?"



Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
I'll be right with you...