possessive pronouns

Le P.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

possessive pronouns

je vais mettre mes valises dans le compartiment. Et leurs valises à eux? Mettez les leurs dans le compartiment aussi.  

Why “à eux” at the end of second sentence please?

Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hello, again Le,

I agree with what your teacher and Jim said. 

You might want to study the following Kwiziq lesson -

Moi/toi/lui/elle/soi/nous/vous/eux/elles - advanced usages (French Stress Pronouns)

Bonne Continuation !

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Le,

Your query refers to "possessive pronouns" but actually what the text is about is possessive adjectives.

Without full context, it could be that the other suitcases were referred to as theirs (possessive adjective) but not necessarily owned by them. By inserting "à eux" (stressed pronoun)  then this confirms that "their" suitcases were in fact of their ownership and is a more colloquial usage.

I think that this inclusion of "à eux" simply adds clarity.

Bonne journée

Jim

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Where is this from Le? 

Le P.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Bonjour Cécile et merci pour votre intérêt.

It is from the textbook "Interaction" 9th ed p266.  The subject-matter of the grammar is Possessive Pronouns, although the issue in the extract that I reproduced is not strictly about that.

I managed to speak to a French teacher today and she told me that the "à eux" is not quite that which Jim identified (although I found his comments very useful).  She said that it was just an example of emphasis, somewhat as set out on p259 in the context of disjunctive pronouns (where it sets out that emphasis in French is not by way of speaking loudly, but using repetition); that maybe it would be said with a pointed finger etc.

I would welcome anything further that you could add.  Thank you very much.

Le

possessive pronouns

je vais mettre mes valises dans le compartiment. Et leurs valises à eux? Mettez les leurs dans le compartiment aussi.  

Why “à eux” at the end of second sentence please?

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
Let me take a look at that...