George's question is interesting! Very often, in English, you may hear the following. "The front door, was it locked?". Also similarly, "Cécile, isn't she exceptional?". The screeching-brakes urgency of the first and the wonderment accolade of the second is relayed in the format. And yet the corresponding translation is rejected in the answers. How can you repeat the effect in French if not as follows. La porte d'entrée, etait-elle verouillée?/Cécile, n'est-elle pas exceptionnelle?
Nouns and inversion.
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Nouns and inversion.
This question relates to:French lesson "Inverted questions in the present tense (Le Présent) in French - with names/things/emphasis"
Asked 4 years ago
Hi Jameson,
Although this is not included in the lesson you can have a negative version of a question using an inversion such as the ones you mention, to express a doubt or a confirmation of something like for instance -
Lucien, n'est-il pas déjà en Belgique ? = isn't Lucien already in Belgium?
N'y a-t-il pas des grèves en France aujourd'hui ? = Aren't there strikes in France today?
Hope this helps!
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