Quantités et restrictions · garder la bonne portée
1 · Some: keep the exact total open
Certains establishes some cases. It leaves the exact count open; it gives you no basis for an “everyone” answer.
Certains participants ont déjà répondu.Some participants have already replied.
2 · All: identify the complete group
Read beyond tous. A following phrase or relative clause can narrow the group covered.
Tous les participants inscrits ont reçu le programme.All registered participants received the programme.
3 · Not all: at least one exception
Pas tous rules out complete coverage. It leaves the exact number of replies open; to establish “none”, look for an explicit statement such as aucun.
Les participants n’ont pas tous répondu.Not all the participants have replied.
Aucun participant n’a répondu.No participant has replied.
4 · Only: a necessary condition can have company
Membership is necessary in this example. The rest of the sentence adds a reservation requirement. Keep both conditions.
Seuls les membres inscrits peuvent participer, à condition de réserver leur place.Only registered members can take part, provided they reserve their place.
5 · Minimum, maximum and approximation
A bound gives a range; an approximation gives an estimate. Preserve that relationship to the number.
| au moins dix réponses | ten or more replies |
| au maximum dix réponses | no more than ten replies |
| environ dix réponses | about ten replies |
Il faut au moins dix inscriptions pour organiser l’atelier.At least ten registrations are needed to run the workshop.
6 · Only what? Locate the restricted part
The same restricting word can limit time, method or quantity.
| seulement le matin | only in the morning |
| seulement par courriel | only by email |
| seulement trois réponses | only three replies |