Why is the subject of the question repeated?

Danielle A.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Why is the subject of the question repeated?

I know this lesson is about making questions with inverted reflexive verbs but why is it necessary to have the extra "-t-il" in "Paul se brosse-t-il les dents?" The speaker already said Paul was the subject. Doesn't "Paul se brosse les dents?" work too?

This question relates to:French lesson "Inverted questions with reflexive verbs in the present tense (Le Présent) in French"
Asked 4 years ago
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Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Without that part it is not an inverted question. But, yes, it is very common in spoken French (pretty much the norm in informal speech) to use intonation at the end of the sentence rather than inverted verbs to ask questions nowadays.

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Danielle A. asked:View original

Why is the subject of the question repeated?

I know this lesson is about making questions with inverted reflexive verbs but why is it necessary to have the extra "-t-il" in "Paul se brosse-t-il les dents?" The speaker already said Paul was the subject. Doesn't "Paul se brosse les dents?" work too?

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