why does french have 2 words tha mean the same thing?
2007-12-12 19:44:11 · 4 answers · asked by Mili 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Well, I don't find they mean the same thing, but every language has its own unique combination of meaningful units. Some will have say, more words for colours, or different words for different kinds of cousins (boy/girl; maternal/paternal, for example). Do those "mean the same thing"?
Some meanings of "what" are covered by "que" and some by "quoi", but "que" is also "than" (I think all uses of "than") and some uses of "that". "Quoi" can also mean more or less "eh?" or "right?" or "sort of" or "obviously" as a tag-on to a sentence.
2007-12-12 20:00:35 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not quite the same thing. "Que" is a conjunction (mostly) and "quoi" is a pronoun (mostly).
When you get to second or third year French, the subjunctive will become part of your toolbox. That's when you'll run into "quoique" but by then you'll be much better with "que" and "quoi."
A bientot ...
2007-12-12 20:00:52 · answer #2 · answered by going_for_baroque 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Il n'import quoi qu'il soit !=no matter which one
Quoi is sort of like moi, it is emphatic and separate, like a certain sense which is undescribed---"..je ne sais quoi..."
Que is more general, has many meanings:what, that (if--+ subjuntive)
Quel enigma n'est-ce pas ?
2007-12-12 20:04:32 · answer #3 · answered by klby 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
quoi means what
que means that/which (forgot which one)
2007-12-12 19:58:34 · answer #4 · answered by swtgirl988 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋