5 COMPLEX INVERSION

When the subject of a verb is a noun, simple inversion is not possible. The construction known as

‘complex inversion’ replaces it and entails

subject noun + verb + pronoun corresponding to the subject

e.g. son comportement était-il (text 2, line 13); cet incident eut-il un rebondissement (text 2, lines 34–5 comment cela se traduisit-il (text 2, line 21).

In the last example a demonstrative pronoun replaces the subject noun.

The use of complex inversion is characteristic of more formal written French. In text 2, however, it is used in direct speech for stylistic purposes, the author seeking to give the impression that the speaker is a pretentious person using affected language. This would not occur in normal

conversation.

French Grammar in Context 50

Other points to note in the text

• Past historic: in text 1 the past historic is used as a narrative tense, e.g. demandèrent (line 1);

proposa (line 35) (see Chapter 5)

In text 2 the past historic is used widely in spoken language which is not common, particularly in the vous form, and is used here for stylistic reasons (see above, final paragraph of ‘complex inversion’) e.g. qu’y remarquâtes-vous (line 8); où et quand le revîtes-vous (line 40)

• Imperfect: there are numerous examples of the imperfect, both in text 1 and text 2 (see Chapter 3)

• Tenses after ‘si’: si tu avais (text 1, line 7); si j’avais (text 1, line 11); si j’avais eu . . . ç’aurait été (text 1, lines 44–5) (see Chapter 7)

• Pluperfect: je ne me l’étais pas posée (text 1, line 16); avaient réussi (text 1, line 41); j’avais eu (text 1, line 44) (see Chapter 4)

• Reflexive verbs: tu ne t’es jamais posé (text 1, line 14); je ne me l’étais pas posée (text 1, line 16); se termina (text 2, line 30) (see Chapter 20)

• Infinitives: on m’a fait enfiler . . . reconstituer . . . sortir . . . trouver (text 1, lines 20–24); fait faire (text 1, line 26); se faire suer (text 1, lines 39–40); il fallait se casser (text 1, line 38); s’avérer être (text 2, line 17) (see Chapter 22)

• Verbs with à and de + infinitive: commencait à s’énerver (text 1, line 34); avaient réussi à se dégotter (text 1, line 41); consistaient à aller . . . et y rester (text 1, lines 42–3) (see Chapter 23)

• Demonstratives: ce (text 2, lines 1, 28, 37); cet (text 2, lines 34, 38); cela (text 2, line 21) (see Chapter 14)

• Word order:

a compound tense + negative e.g. je ne me l’étais pas posée (text 1, line 16) b compound tense + question + negative e.g. tu ne t’es jamais posé (text 1, line 14) c inversion after direct speech e.g. dit la femme (text 1, line 5) (see Chapter 30).

D i s c o v e r m o re a b o u t i n t e r ro g a t i v e s

USAGE

a Interrogative sentences of the comment/où/quand type as seen in text 2 can also start with pourquoi and combien

e.g. Pourquoi as-tu fait ça? Combien faut-il payer?

b Note that ‘-t-’ must be introduced between a verb ending with a vowel and a subject pronoun also starting with a vowel (il, elle, on)

e.g. Combien le voyage va-t-il coûter?

c In formal style the simple inversion of subject pronoun and verb can be used to ask a question, e.g. Revenez-vous l’an prochain?

d The pronoun qui can be used to start an interrogative sentence in the same way as que and quoi.

e.g. Qui sera là demain?

Interrogatives 51

In spoken language the following less formal constructions can be used.

People Things

Subject Qui est-ce qui arrive? Qu’est-ce qui arrive?

Who is coming? What is happening?

Object Qui est-ce que vous avez vu? Qu’est-ce que vous avez vu?

Who(m) did you see? What did you see?

Note that the forms beginning with Qui refer to people and the forms beginning with Que refer to things. Note also that the relative pronoun, which comes after est-ce, marks the distinction between grammatical subject (qui) and object (que which elides to qu’ before a word beginning with a vowel).

Note also the common expression:

Qu’est-ce que c’est? = What’s that?

Note There is no inversion with these forms. Contrast Qu’a-t-il fait? and Qu’est-ce qu’il a fait?

e The interrogative pronoun lequel ( = which one) is used to start an interrogative sentence when a precise answer is required. Its various forms are: lequel (masc. sing.), laquelle (fem.

sing.), lesquels (masc. pl.) and lesquelles (fem. pl.).

Lequel always agrees with the noun it refers to.

e.g. Laquelle de ces photos préférez-vous? Lesquels de ces poèmes avez-vous lus?

Lequel in its various forms can be combined with à or de : à + lequel > auquel à + lesquels > auxquels à + laquelle no change à + lesquelles > auxquelles e.g. Auquel vous êtes-vous adressé?

de + lequel > duquel de + lesquels > desquels de + laquelle no change de + lesquelles > desquelles e.g. Desquelles avez-vous peur?

f There are a number of ways of asking informal questions in conversational French, such as the common forms Qui c’est qui, C’est qui qui, C’est combien/comment/quand/où?

e.g. Qui c’est qui m’a appelé? C’est qui qui m’a appelé? C’est où qu’on va?

See for further information: Coffman Crocker, pp. 232–41 Ferrar, pp. 232–9, 259–63 Hawkins and Towell, pp. 350–66 Judge and Healey, pp. 419–25 L’Huillier, pp. 636–57

Price, pp. 193–201, 304–7, 461–9 Turk and Vandaele, pp. 283–8 French Grammar in Context

52

EXERCISES

1 Complete the following questions with an appropriate interrogative word (qui, que, lequel, combien, comment, où, quand, etc.) and make the necessary changes.

a ________ est-ce que ça va coûter?

b ________ attendez-vous pour partir?

c ________ de ces deux cartes postales préfères-tu?

d ________ est-ce que tu viendras le chercher?

e ________ de ces employés allez-vous vous adresser?

f ________ n’a pas encore terminé son exercice?

g ________ de ces sacs est le plus grand?

h ________ faut-il que je prenne mon billet?

i ________ ferez-vous après ce stage?

j ________ faites-vous pour ne pas vous tromper?

2 Rewrite the following questions, using the more formal interrogative (single or complex inversion).

e.g. Est-ce que vous êtes prêts? > Êtes-vous prêts?

Est-ce que Renée a pris les billets? > Renée a-t-elle pris les billets?

a Est-ce qu’elle est revenue?

b Est-ce que la France est un pays surpeuplé?

c Est-ce qu’il faut envoyer cette lettre maintenant?

d Est-ce que cette décision est irrévocable?

e Est-ce que vous irez à l’opéra?

f Est-ce que cet enfant est en bonne santé?

3 Translate the following questions, using first the est-ce que form then the more formal inversion.

e.g. Have you finished your meal? > Est-ce que vous avez terminé votre repas? Avez-vous terminé votre repas?

a Are they going to build a block of flats?

b Will it rain this weekend?

c Does the party agree?

d Have they appointed a new president?

e What happens if you are wrong?

f Can you walk to the top of that hill?

g Where did you lose your passport?

h Where did she go after New York?

Interrogatives 53

4 Write questions which would result in the following answers.

e.g. Je suis allée à la pharmacie < Où es-tu allée?/Où est-ce que tu es allée?

a Elles sont parties hier matin.

b Je préfère celle-là.

c J’ai fait cela parce que ça me paraissait nécessaire.

d Il en a parlé à son docteur.

e C’est un diplôme de tourisme que je prépare.

f Au supermarché chercher de l’eau minérale.

5 Imagine that you are attending a job interview in French. Write eight questions you might be asked or which you might ask the interviewers.

French Grammar in Context 54