Ainsi · sens et inversion
1 · Look back for the method
After a description of steps, ainsi points back to how something is done.
Elle compare les dates, puis les noms. Ainsi procède-t-elle pour chaque dossier.She compares the dates, then the names. This is how she proceeds for each file.
2 · Look back for the reason
When a previous fact supports the next statement, ainsi can mean “thus” or “therefore”.
Les deux versions sont disponibles. Ainsi pouvons-nous les comparer.Both versions are available. We can therefore compare them.
3 · With a pronoun, invert verb and subject
Join the finite verb to its subject pronoun with a hyphen. Add -t- between a verb ending in a vowel and il, elle or on where required.
Ainsi procède-t-elle.This is how she proceeds.
Ainsi pouvons-nous avancer.We can thus move forward.
4 · With a noun, add its matching pronoun
Keep the named subject before the verb and resume it afterwards: Nora … elle, les collègues … ils.
Ainsi Nora organise-t-elle son travail.This is how Nora organises her work.
Ainsi les collègues peuvent-ils comparer leurs résultats.The colleagues can thus compare their results.
5 · With a compound tense, invert the auxiliary
The past participle stays after the auxiliary–pronoun group. A-t-elle organisé keeps organisé after elle.
Ainsi Nora a-t-elle organisé son travail.This is how Nora organised her work.
6 · Recognise a noun after the verb too
Some statements place the noun subject directly after the verb. Read the whole pattern rather than adding a pronoun to it.
Ainsi se termine notre discussion.This is how our discussion ends.