1. Dont, from de and unde, is employed in Old French like unde in Latin, both as a relative adverb of place and as an interrogative adverb of place. Le naïfs (le serf natif) qui departet de la terre dunt il est (Lois de Guillaume, 11th cent.) nez. Dont venez-vous ? (Berte, 13th cent.) On lui demanda dont elle venait. (FROISSART, 15th cent.) Je le renvoyrois bien dond il est venu. Mais, dy je, dond venez ? ou allez ? 2. Dont has lost (RABELAIS, 16th cent.) (ID.) (a) In great measure its natural use as a relative adverb of place, it is replaced by d'où. But abundant examples in this sense occur in the 17th and 18th centuries. Rentre dans le néant dont je t'ai fait sortir. (RACINE.) Abîmes redoutés dont Ninus est sorti. (b) Its use as an interrogative. (VOLTAIRE.) 3. It is now mainly employed as a substitute for de qui in respect to persons, and as a substitute for duquel, de laquelle, desquels, desquelles, in respect to things. It can scarcely be called an adverb: L'homme dont (de qui) vous parlez. La femme dont (de qui) j'entends la voix. Le Duché dont (duquel) vous avez la carte. La maison dont (de laquelle) elle prit son titre. Ces livres dont (desquels) ils ont déchiré les pages. Ces étoiles dont (desquelles) nous voyons les reflets, BB CHAPTER V.-ORDER OF WORDS. § 512. Introductory Remarks. French, like English, is an analytic language-the sense depends greatly upon the order of the words. Latin is synthetic, the sense is in great measure independent of the order (see § 23). In French as in English (a) The normal order is (1) Subject; (2) Predicate. (b) The inverted order is (1) Predicate; (2) Subject. (c) The more important adjuncts are placed before the less important, e.g., the Direct object is placed before the indirect, the Indirect Object is placed before the adverbial expressions, etc. In French, as in English, these rules of arrangement are not strictly observed, but vary according to the will of the writer, his desire to produce emphasis, harmonious periods, etc. The study of these variations belongs to Style or Rhetoric, and not to Grammar. But apart from any considerations of style, the order of words in French sentences needs some explanation, for in several details it always differs from that observed in English. § 513. Position of Conjunctive Personal Pronouns. A. Position in respect to verb. 1. A conjunctive personal pronoun as subject follows its verb: (a) In an interrogative sentence:* (b) Usually when introducing a quotation: "Ami,” répondit-il, vous avez raison." (c) Usually in optative sentences without 'que': Puissiez-vous réussir. May you succeed. (d) Usually after ainsi, encore, toujours, peut-être, en vain, au moins, à peine, etc.: Toujours est-il vrai que, etc. Anyhow it is true that, etc. * A frequent form is est-ce que je is it that I, etc., especially when the answer No is expected; such combinations as cours-je, romps-jc. mange-je, etc., are also avoided by the use of est-ce que je. 2. A Conjunctive Personal Pronoun in the Accusative, Dative, or Genitive is placed after its verb when that verb is in the Imperative mood and the sentence is affirmative, and only then : Vous le recevez recevez-le: ne le recevez pas. Vous me parlez: parlez-moi: ne me parlez pas. Vous en donnez: donnez-en: n'en donnez pas. B. Position in respect to each other: 1. When the pronouns are AFTER the verb (that is, in the Imperative affirmative), the Accusative always precedes the Dative, the Dative always precedes the Genitive.* Dites-le-lui Dites-le-moi Parlez-lui-en Tell it him Tell it me Speak to him of it But a second sentence in Imperative often has the pronoun in the favourite position: Polissez-le et le repolissez : Polish it and repolish it. (BOILEAU.) 2. When, however, the pronouns are BEFORE the verb-(a) A reflexive pronoun precedes a non-reflexive : Il se le promet Il se l'est promis He promises it to himself He has promised it to himself. (b) A dative first or second person precedes an accusative third person: person is stronger than case. Vous me l'avez dit Nous ne vous l'avons pas dit You told it me We did not tell it you Have you promised it me? * That is, the Accusative is 'preferred' to the Dative; the Dative to the Genitive. Compare the other rules: the masculine is 'preferred' to the feminine; the first person is 'preferred' to the second, the second to the third. § 514. Position of Adjectives. 1. Qualificative adjectives usually follow the substantive with which they are in attribution: 3. Many adjectives, including some of those given in 2, change their meaning according to their position. But for the most part it is only with certain substantives, especially homme and femme, that the meaning changes. (See § 516.) The following are among the most important: Examples of their use: un affreux homme un homme affreux un bonhomme un homme bon un brave homme un homme brave un cruel homme un homme cruel un plaisant homme un homme plaisant un homme petit une dame grande a bad, terrible man an ugly man a weak, simple man a good, kind man an honest man a brave man a disagreeable, tiresome man a cruel man a fine fellow a proud man an honest man a ladies' man a nobleman, etc. an agreeable man a great man a tall man an upright man a polite man a young man a youthful man a dishonourable man a rude man a helpless, insignificant man a poor man an odd man a jolly, pleasant man a short man a mean fellow a disagreeable, unpleasant man an ugly man a strong woman a strong-minded woman a tall lady |