The example for dropping 'ne' explétif in speech

YuryB1Kwiziq community member

The example for dropping 'ne' explétif in speech

The example in the remark near the end of the lesson does not have a negation in the main verb, so it wouldn't need 'ne' explétif. In fact, it's exactly the same phrase that was used in the first example in this lesson: Il est venu sans que tu le saches.
Asked 8 years ago
LauraKwiziq team member
Bonjour Yury, The ne explétif is not necessarily related to negation in the main clause. There are certain verbs and expressions, like sans que, that call for the ne explétif. So the point is that you can say both Il est venu sans que tu ne le saches or Il est venu sans que tu le saches.
YuryB1Kwiziq community member
Bonjour Laura, Merci beaucoup pour votre explication. However, I am afraid that this point is missing in the explanation in the lesson on "sans que" (How to use ''sans que'' with or without 'ne' explétif + Subjonctif = 'without you doing'). The lesson says: " If the main verb is not used with negations, then you CANNOT use the 'ne' explétif." Please consider amending the lesson's text to cover all the possibilities. Thank you very much!
ChC1Kwiziq community member

I think the example you're referring to is gone or changed. Anyway, I was confused after this conversation and found this: http://www.academie-francaise.fr/sans-que

Mais, dans les propositions introduites par sans que, lorsqu’elles s’insèrent dans un contexte négatif, on peut utiliser le ne dit explétif, que n’exige pas la correction grammaticale, mais qui est recommandé dans la langue soutenue. Il vient sans qu’on l’en ait prié, Il ne vient jamais sans qu’on l’en ait prié ou sans qu’on ne l’en ait prié sont toutes des phrases correctes. Seule la phrase Il vient sans qu’on ne l’en ait prié serait fautive.

Being a heathen, I plan to never use it with "sans que", to be on the safe side :-)

The example for dropping 'ne' explétif in speech

The example in the remark near the end of the lesson does not have a negation in the main verb, so it wouldn't need 'ne' explétif. In fact, it's exactly the same phrase that was used in the first example in this lesson: Il est venu sans que tu le saches.

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
Thinking...