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What does ne…que restrict? A French meaning quiz

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ten questions on French ne…que: distinguish only what, only to whom and only when, keep articles, and compare plus que with pas que.

In short

Ne…que means only. Find the complete phrase after que, including its preposition: Nora ne répond qu’à Samir limits the recipient, while Nora ne répond que le lundi limits the time.

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A woman presents one proposal folder to a colleague.
Nora presents seulement cette proposition. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: move the restriction, change the question
SentenceQuestion answeredParaphrase
Nora ne présente que cette proposition à Samir.What does she present?Nora présente seulement cette proposition à Samir.
Nora ne présente cette proposition qu’à Samir.To whom does she present it?Nora présente cette proposition seulement à Samir.
Nora ne présente cette proposition que le lundi.When does she present it?Nora présente cette proposition seulement le lundi.

All three sentences still present an action. The restriction selects one object, recipient or time from the alternatives under discussion. Keep the preposition attached: qu’à Samir restricts à Samir. The apostrophe changes the spelling of que, not the relationship.

What does ne… que restrict in French?

Il ne reste plus que deux jours.

Only two days remain.

There is still a remainder of two days.

Je n’ai pas que deux réponses.

I have more than just two answers.

Here pas que rejects the limit of only two.

A restriction keeps the noun phrase’s ordinary article: je ne lis que des essais. Compare je ne lis pas d’essais, which denies reading essays. The small word pas changes the message, so check it before you delete or add it.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    What is restricted?Nora ne répond qu’à Samir.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The recipient.. Qu’à Samir limits the recipient of Nora’s reply.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Which paraphrase keeps the same restriction?Nora ne présente que cette proposition à Samir.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Nora présente seulement cette proposition à Samir.. Que cette proposition restricts what Nora presents, so keep seulement with that object.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    What does this sentence say?Elle ne répond que le lundi.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    She replies only on Mondays.. Que le lundi restricts the days on which she replies; le lundi describes a recurring day.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Keep the ordinary article in the restriction.Je ne lis que ___ essais.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    des. Restriction keeps des essais. The change to d’essais belongs to the negative pas d’essais.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    What is still affirmed?Il ne reste plus que deux jours.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    There are two days left.. Ne…plus que presents a reduced remainder, here two days.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    What does the added pas do?Je n’ai pas que deux réponses.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    It rejects the limit of only two answers.. Pas que means not only. In this quantity context, the speaker has more than two.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Put the restriction on the reason for speaking.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Je ne parle que pour clarifier la décision.. Que pour clarifier la décision restricts the purpose of speaking.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Keep the subject and restrict the recipient.Samir répond seulement à Nora.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Samir ne répond qu’à Nora.. Samir remains the person replying and à Nora is the restricted recipient.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    What changes between the two versions?Je ne suis libre que mardi. Je ne suis libre que jeudi.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The restricted time.. Changing the day after que changes the restricted time. The person and present tense stay the same.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Which sentence restricts quantity without denying the action?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Je n’ai relu que deux propositions.. Que deux propositions restricts the number reread. Aucune proposition denies rereading any; pas relu deux propositions negates the stated quantity.

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