Usage of Qu'est-ce que

Updesh K.B1Kwiziq community member

Usage of Qu'est-ce que

In one of the tests I took, I answered this question wrong:"Qu'est-ce que c'est que la Sorbonne?" means__

My answer was "What is it that is the Sorbonne."

Now I know the correct answer is "What is the Sorbonne?"

My question is why the original question should not have been "Qu'est-ce que c'est la Sorbonne?"

What is the need for a second que after c'est?


Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Updesh,

Please take a look at the Kwiziq lesson and the Q& A as similar questions have been asked and it will show you all the different ways of asking 

What is something ? in French 

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/use-qu-est-ce-que-cest-and-qu-est-ce-que-cest-que-ca-cela-to-say-what-is-whats-that

Hope this helps!

Updesh K.B1Kwiziq community member

Thank you, Cécile. I will have a look and hopefully understand the correct usage.

Usage of Qu'est-ce que

In one of the tests I took, I answered this question wrong:"Qu'est-ce que c'est que la Sorbonne?" means__

My answer was "What is it that is the Sorbonne."

Now I know the correct answer is "What is the Sorbonne?"

My question is why the original question should not have been "Qu'est-ce que c'est la Sorbonne?"

What is the need for a second que after c'est?


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