I earned only 1000euros

Carol W.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I earned only 1000euros

Lesson says says que go before what the only is related to 

. As he earned only 1000 I put que before 1000 but it is marked wrong. Please explain

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Carol,

the ne ... que goes around the verb gagner -

Je n'ai gagné que €1000

Bonne Continuation!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Carol,

It's the verb that needs to be restricted, so you need to write "ne verb que" to express only.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To me, this sentence follows exactly the pattern that que precedes that word which is the restrictive one. In this case it is 1000 Euro. So que precedes that. By chance, gagner is sandwiched between ne..que, but that is coincidental here.

Michael W.B2Kwiziq community member

I agree. If the verb is what is being limited, shouldn't it be "je n'ai que gagné - this would put the que in front of the verb and thereby restrict it.

I earned only 1000euros

Lesson says says que go before what the only is related to 

. As he earned only 1000 I put que before 1000 but it is marked wrong. Please explain

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