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Course: French English Spanish Greek
Explanations in: Greek English Spanish French
C2

Style: ellipsis, nominal sentences and reference

How French writers and journalists write: phrases nominales, ellipsis, anaphoric reference.

Nominal sentences

Sentences without a verb, very common in headlines, descriptions and literature:

  • Grève générale demain dans les transports.
    General transport strike tomorrow.
  • Silence. Puis un cri.
    Silence. Then a scream.
  • Quelle chaleur !
    What heat! / It's so hot!

Ellipsis

  • Paul aime le thé ; Marie, le café.
    Paul likes tea; Marie, coffee.
  • Plus on lit, plus on apprend.
    The more you read, the more you learn.
  • À chacun son métier.
    Let everyone stick to what they know.

Reference without repetition

French texts avoid repeating the same word. They use synonyms, broader terms or paraphrases instead:

  • Victor Hugo… L'auteur des Misérables… Le poète… Celui-ci…
    Victor Hugo… The author of Les Misérables… The poet… He…
  • Paris… la capitale… la Ville lumière…
    Paris… the capital… the City of Light…

Useful reference tools: celui-ci / celle-ci (the latter), ce dernier / cette dernière (the latter), le premier… le second (the former… the latter), ledit / ladite (the said, legal style).

Test yourself

  1. Translate: «The more I work, the less I sleep.»
    Show answer
    Plus je travaille, moins je dors.
  2. Make a nominal sentence: Le Premier ministre démissionne.
    Show answer
    Démission du Premier ministre.
  3. Fill in (the latter): Marie a parlé à sa sœur ; ___ semblait triste.
    Show answer
    cette dernière / celle-ci
  4. Rewrite with ellipsis: Pierre habite à Lyon et Anne habite à Nice.
    Show answer
    Pierre habite à Lyon ; Anne, à Nice.