LA LIAISON INTERDITE
By now, we should be used to "Salut chers amis" already. Alright! It means Hello dear friends.
We are still on the matter of la Liaison Française. I hope the lesson has been profitable for all. If you are joining us for the first time, this is French Grammar for Beginners on Ma Petite France and you are welcome.
From the part I & II of this lesson, we've learnt what the French liaison is all about, types of liaison and as well seen the compulsory liaison -la liaison obligatoire. I hope you didn't miss any of that.
Today, we are going to see another type of liaison called la liaison interdite - Forbidden Liaison.
Forbidden liaisons are those which cannot be pronounced no matter what register of French is being spoken. Forbidden liaisons sometimes occur when their pronunciation would otherwise cause confusion due to a similarity with another expression.
Liaison is forbidden in the following grammatical situations:
1. AFTER SINGULAR/ SOME PLURAL NOUNS
L'étudiant est prêt - the student is ready.
Un garçon intelligent - an intelligent boy
Les enfants ont mangé. The children have eaten.
2. AFTER NAMES
Thomas étudie le français - Thomas is studying french.
Albert a une copine - Albert has girlfriend.
3. AFTER "ET(and)"
Il est un frère et un ami- he is a brother and friend.
un garçon et une fille - a boy and a girl
4. BEFORE THE ASPIRATED H (H aspiré)
Les héros - the heroes
Je mange des haricots - i'm eating beans.
5. BEFORE "ONZE" and "OUI"
Les onze élèves - the eleven pupils
Je dis oui - i say yes.
6. AFTER INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS (Combien- how much /Comment- how) and TOUJOURS- always/still
Combien en avez-vous? - How many of them do you have?
Comment est-il ?- How is it?
Je suis toujours ici - i'm always/still here.
7. AFTER INVERSION OF SUBJECT-VERB
French liaisons are forbidden after "on", "ils" and "elles" within an inversion, when followed by past participles or infinitives; as in:
Ont-ils eu? - Have they had?
Sont-ils arrivés? - Have they arrived?
Vont-elles assister? Are they going to attend?
A-t-on étudié ? Have we/has one studied?
Enjoy the rest of the day as you expect to see the 3rd type of liaison, the optional liaison- la liaison facultative. Until then, don't stop moving. Keep learning and keep growing. Questions and comments are welcome.
-Awodirepo Bayo
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