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Rising intonation in French: question, check or continuation?

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A rise can ask for information, check a surprising detail or keep a turn open. Read four exchanges, then choose what the speaker is doing in eight questions.

In short

A rise in French pitch can ask a question, check a detail or show that more is coming. Use the words and the surrounding exchange to decide which job it is doing. The same upward direction can support several purposes.

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Two friends talk at a small French café table, one mildly surprised and listening to the other, wide scene with relaxed natural gestures.
An unexpected date prompts demain ?. Illustration: Atelier

The arrows below are cues for possible spoken readings. ↗ suggests an upward movement; ↘ suggests a fall. Read each exchange as a whole, then use the quiz to identify the speaker’s purpose.

1 · Asking for new information
  1. Nora

    Tu viens demain ?

    Are you coming tomorrow?

  2. Amine

    Oui, vers dix heures.

    Yes, around ten.

Tu viens demain ?

Are you coming tomorrow?

Possible final rise ↗: Nora wants to learn whether Amine is coming.

2 · Checking a detail against an expectation
  1. Amine

    Le rendez-vous est demain.

    The appointment is tomorrow.

  2. Nora

    Demain ? Je croyais que c’était vendredi.

    Tomorrow? I thought it was Friday.

An echo such as demain ? can rise as the listener checks an unexpected detail. The following sentence tells you why Nora is checking: her earlier information was different.

3 · Keeping the sentence open
  1. Nora

    Si tu es libre demain, on peut se voir.

    If you’re free tomorrow, we can meet.

  2. Amine

    D’accord, je te confirme ce soir.

    All right, I’ll confirm this evening.

Si tu es libre demain / on peut se voir.

If you’re free tomorrow / we can meet.

A possible reading rises ↗ at the first group ending, then falls ↘ at the end. The first group sets a condition and leads into the suggestion.

4 · Leaving another possibility open
  1. Amine

    On peut se voir mardi, mercredi…

    We can meet on Tuesday, Wednesday…

  2. Nora

    Ou jeudi, si tu préfères.

    Or Thursday, if you prefer.

A continuing rise on the days can leave room for another option. A completed list can instead close with a fall on its last item. The speaker’s next words and the other person’s response help show whether the list is still open.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    In exchange 1, what does Nora want?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    To learn whether Amine is coming.. Nora asks about attendance before Amine has answered; his reply supplies the information.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    In exchange 2, why does Nora repeat the day?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    To check it against her earlier expectation.. Her next sentence says she expected Friday, which explains the echo question.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    What job does the first group do here?Si tu es libre demain, on peut se voir.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    It introduces a condition.. The si clause sets the condition for the suggestion that follows.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    In exchange 4, what shows that another day can be added?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The list is left open, and Nora adds Thursday.. The unfinished list invites an addition; Nora supplies another option.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    What is the customer checking?Dix heures trente, c’est bien ça ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The appointment time.. The repeated time and c’est bien ça ? ask the receptionist to confirm the detail.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    A group ends with a rise in this reading. Must it be a question?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    No, a rise can signal continuation.. The conditional example shows how a rise can keep a sentence open for the next group.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Which reply directly confirms Tu viens demain ??

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Oui, je serai là.. Oui, je serai là confirms attendance; the other options correct a day or begin a list.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    What helps interpret an upward movement?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The words, previous turn and following response.. The full exchange distinguishes an information question, an echo check and continuation.

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