"Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ?"

Mark P.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

"Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ?"

"Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ?"

Interesting, the answer is probably, "Is Lucie coming to the cinema" but, "Lucie.. is she coming to the cinema" might change the emphasis but would be perfectly correct in English...

Asked 2 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Mark,

Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ? Is Lucie coming to the cinema? -> no emphasis on 'Lucie'
Lucie, vient-elle au cinéma ? = Lucie, is she coming to the cinema? -> emphasis on 'Lucie'

We agreed that the English sentence could be misleading here. So we have changed it so as to avoid any ambiguity.

I hope this is helfpul.

Bonne journée !

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, in English it most certainly does. But in French, stating the name is the only way to make this into an inverted question. You cannot have "Vient-Lucie au cinéma".

Mark P.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

absolutely.. my query was that "Lucie.. is she coming to the cinema" is indicated as wrong in the English translation in the answers.. whilst, as you agree, it should be accepted as an entirely correct word order (if less usual) in English.. but never, never in French.

Mark P. asked:

"Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ?"

"Lucie vient-elle au cinéma ?"

Interesting, the answer is probably, "Is Lucie coming to the cinema" but, "Lucie.. is she coming to the cinema" might change the emphasis but would be perfectly correct in English...

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
Clever stuff happening!