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French elliptical concession quiz: n’en déplaise and fût-ce

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Decode ten formal French concessions with n’en déplaise, fût-ce and ne fût-ce que, reconstructing their links to the main argument.

In short

N’en déplaise à X introduces a claim maintained despite X’s likely objection. Fût-ce means “even if it were” or “even at the cost of” in these fragments; ne fût-ce que narrows the concession to “even if only”, rather than denying the main action.

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A speaker explains a point to two committee members.
A committee should explain its choice, fût-ce brièvement. Illustration: Atelier

N’en déplaise aux opposants, la mesure reste utile.Whether its opponents like it or not, the measure remains useful.

Focus: anticipated disagreement

N’en déplaise à ses détracteurs, ce rapport apporte des éléments précis.
Whether its detractors like it or not, this report provides precise evidence.

Il faut expliquer ce choix, fût-ce brièvement.This choice must be explained, even if only briefly.

Focus: a concession about the limited form of the action

Le comité doit répondre, fût-ce en une phrase.
The committee must reply, even if only in one sentence.

Il faut se réunir, ne fût-ce que pour clarifier le calendrier.We must meet, if only to clarify the timetable.

Focus: a minimal sufficient reason

Relisez la note, ne fût-ce que pour vérifier les dates.
Reread the note, if only to check the dates.

Fût-ce retains its circumflex and hyphen in the concessive expression, including before a plural group. The [Canadian Translation Bureau’s guidance](https://nos-langues.canada.ca/fr/cles-de-la-redaction/fut-ce-ne-fut-ce-que-netait-que-neut-ete) confirms this fixed form. The [Usito entry for déplaire](https://usito.usherbrooke.ca/définitions/déplaire/lexies?v=ne+vous+%28en%29+déplaise) records n’en déplaise à. Its polite-looking formula can carry a pointed challenge in an argument.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Who is expected to object?N’en déplaise aux détracteurs du projet, le bilan reste positif.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The project’s detractors.. The complement after à, contracted here to aux, names the people whose likely disagreement is being brushed aside.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Which expansion preserves the argument?Il faut conserver une trace de l’échange, fût-ce en quelques lignes.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Il faut conserver une trace, même si elle ne tient qu’en quelques lignes.. The main obligation remains. The fragment concedes that the record can be brief.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    What does ne fût-ce que contribute?Rencontrons-nous, ne fût-ce que pour fixer une date.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    A minimal reason sufficient to justify meeting.. Setting a date is offered as a reason enough for the meeting. The expression does not negate the invitation.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Complete the fixed concessive fragment.Il faut agir, ___ au prix d’un retard.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    fût-ce. The concessive expression uses fût, the imperfect subjunctive of être, with a circumflex and a hyphen.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Which main clause fits the argumentative stance?N’en déplaise à ceux qui réclament son abandon, …

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    ce dispositif mérite d’être maintenu.. The formula anticipates opposition and maintains the contrary claim. Keeping the scheme supplies that contrast.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Choose the best reading of the cost conceded.Nous demanderons une vérification, fût-ce au risque de déplaire.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Even if asking risks displeasing people.. The speaker accepts a possible unwelcome consequence of seeking a check. Displeasure is neither the goal nor a condition to avoid.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Which form keeps the fixed expression before a plural group?Il faut des garanties, ___ des garanties limitées.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    fût-ce. In this fixed concessive turn, fût-ce remains singular even before a plural noun group. It means even if the guarantees are limited.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Choose the closest everyday paraphrase.Relisez ce passage, ne fût-ce que pour vérifier le nom.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Relisez-le, au moins pour vérifier le nom.. The fragment gives a minimal reason to reread. It neither forbids rereading nor makes an already incorrect name a condition.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Distinguish the fragment from a question about the past.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    *Fût-ce brièvement* concedes a limited manner; *Fut-ce une erreur ?* asks about a past event.. The circumflex distinguishes the concessive subjunctive from past historic fut. In the question, ce is the inverted subject of a past-tense verb.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Reconstruct the full relationship.N’en déplaise au comité, nous publierons une réponse, fût-ce sous une forme abrégée.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    We will publish despite the committee’s likely objection, accepting an abridged form if necessary.. The first fragment anticipates disagreement; the second concedes brevity. Neither cancels the stated intention to publish.

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