Editing Language/French/Grammar/Punctuation
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The French punctuation is not very different from English punctuation, Spanish or German. There are small differences explained in this article. | |||
[[File:punctuation.jpg|900px]] | |||
==One-part punctuation marks== | ==One-part punctuation marks== | ||
===Le point final (the period | ===Le point final (the end period)=== | ||
The period at the end of a sentence marks the right limit, the left limit being marked by the capital letter. | - The period at the end of a sentence marks the right limit, the left limit being marked by the capital letter. | ||
The period is placed directly after the last word. To begin another sentence, you need a space between the | The end period is placed directly after the last word. To begin another sentence, you need a space between the end point and the capital letter of the next sentence. | ||
*Le chat dort. Il est paisible. J'aimerais être comme lui | *Le chat dort. Il est paisible. J'aimerais être comme lui = The cat is sleeping. It's peaceful. I would like to be like him. | ||
===La virgule (the comma)=== | ===La virgule (the comma)=== | ||
The comma separates words or | The comma separates words or group of words. | ||
The comma is placed directly after the word and is followed by a space between it and the next word. | The comma is placed directly after the word and is followed by a space between it and the next word. | ||
*La Belgique, le Luxembourg, l'Allemagne, la Suisse, l'Italie et l'Espagne sont des pays voisins de la France. | *La Belgique, le Luxembourg, l'Allemagne, la Suisse, l'Italie et l'Espagne sont des pays voisins de la France. = Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain are the countries neighboring France. | ||
You can place a comma after a group of words placed at the | You can place a comma after a group of words placed at the begining of the sentense. | ||
Cette semaine, nous avons trois réunions. = This week we have three meetings. | |||
But we cannot put a comma between the verb and its subject ... | But we cannot put a comma between the verb and its subject ... | ||
"Magalie viendra ce soir." and not "Magalie, viendra ce soir." = Magalie will come tonight. | |||
Unless | Unless an additional information is between the two. | ||
Magalie, que tu connais, viendra ce soir. = Magalie, you know her, comes tonight. | |||
==Two-part punctuation marks== | ==Two-part punctuation marks== | ||
===La point virgule (the semicolon)=== | ===La point virgule (the semicolon)=== | ||
The semicolon can complete a sentence, but it never ends a text. | The semicolon can complete a sentence, but it never ends a text. | ||
When a sentence is | When a sentence is a close connection with the one before it, it is separated by a semicolon and not by a point. | ||
There is no capital letter starting the word that follows the semicolon, unless it is a name. | There is no capital letter starting the word that follows the semicolon, unless it is a name. | ||
It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space between it and the next word. | It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space between it and the next word. | ||
*Il s'était caché ; il pouvait ainsi les observer très attentivement. | *Il s'était caché ; il pouvait ainsi les observer très attentivement. = He was hidden; he could observe them very carefully. | ||
===Les deux-points (the colon)=== | ===Les deux-points (the colon)=== | ||
The colon is common in | The colon is common in Frenc. It may introduce direct speech; a citation; or the explanation, conclusion, summary, etc. of whatever precedes it. | ||
The colon is used to announce a quote with quotation marks. | The colon is used to announce a quote with quotation marks. | ||
It is separated from the preceding word by a space and | It is separated from the preceding word by a space and will be followed by a space. | ||
*Les pays voisins de la France sont : la Belgique, le Luxembourg, l'Allemagne, la Suisse, l'Italie et l'Espagne. | *Les pays voisins de la France sont : la Belgique, le Luxembourg, l'Allemagne, la Suisse, l'Italie et l'Espagne. = The neighboring countries of France are: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. | ||
*L'auteur affirme : « L'art n'est que rêve ». = The author says: "Art is only a dream." | |||
*L'auteur affirme : « L'art n'est que rêve ». | |||
The colon is also used to mark a logical link between the two proposals (cause, consequence...). | The colon is also used to mark a logical link between the two proposals (cause, consequence ...). | ||
*Il ne sera pas là : il n'a pas été prévenu. | *Il ne sera pas là : il n'a pas été prévenu. = He will not be there: he was not warned. | ||
===Le point d'exclamation (the exclamation | ===Le point d'exclamation (the exclamation point) === | ||
The exclamation | The exclamation point is placed: | ||
- At the end of an exclamatory sentence | - At the end of an exclamatory sentence | ||
Comme il est grand ! = How tall is he! | |||
- After interjections. When following | - After the interjections. When following interjection, it is often added also at the end of sentence. | ||
Zut ! j'ai oublié la réunion ! Heck! I forgot the meeting! | |||
It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space. | It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space. | ||
| Line 137: | Line 65: | ||
- If it is a continuation of the previous sentence, there is no capital letter: | - If it is a continuation of the previous sentence, there is no capital letter: | ||
*Tiens ! puisque tu es là, aide-moi ! | *Tiens ! puisque tu es là, aide-moi ! = Look! since you're here, help me! | ||
- If the sentence is a new sentence, it requires a capital letter: | - If the sentence is a new sentence, it requires a capital letter: | ||
*Comme tu es belle ! Je me souviens qu'à ton âge, j'étais comme toi. | *Comme tu es belle ! Je me souviens qu'à ton âge, j'étais comme toi. = How beautiful you are ! I remember I was like you at your age. | ||
===Le point d'interrogation (the question mark)=== | ===Le point d'interrogation (the question mark)=== | ||
The question mark ends any direct questioning. It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space. | The question mark ends any direct questioning. It is separated from the preceding word by a space and followed by a space. | ||
*Qui était présent la dernière fois ? | *Qui était présent la dernière fois ? = Who was there the last time? | ||
However, indirect questions never | However, indirect questions never ends with a question mark. | ||
Je ne sais pas qui était présent la dernière fois. = I do not know who was there last time. | |||
===Les points de suspension (the ellipsis)=== | ===Les points de suspension (the ellipsis)=== | ||
In French, an interruption or trailing off of speech can be indicated with | In French, an interruption or trailing off of speech can be indicated with ellipsis. | ||
They are not separated from the preceding word by a space but followed by a space between them and the next word. | |||
*Je ne vous raconte pas la fin... = I cannot tell you the end ... | |||
Don't hesitate to edit this page if you think you can improve it. This wiki is made for you! | |||
What differences have you found between the French punctuation and the one of your native language? | |||