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Nov 30, 2017 - 10:40 AM
This: https://forum.wordreference.com/threa... What I get from the discussion is that the comma splice is more tolerated in french than it is in english.
Comma splices?
Edited for correction and clarity: I've noticed Fluenz French frequently joins two independent clauses with a comma. Because these are not actually written as sentences in Match the Phrases or Repeat the Phrases, they are not technically comma splices. However, after doing some research, I find many people stating that a comma splice is acceptable in French. Others strongly disagree. Could it actually be true that comma splices are acceptable in French? What is the definitive source for French grammar?
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Open Nov 26, 2017 - 02:04 PM
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Nov 26, 2017 - 10:31 PM
Do you have examples?
Nov 27, 2017 - 09:48 AM
Well, now that I am looking more carefully, I see these are not actual sentences. The clauses in both English and French are joined by a comma. There is no period at the end. So it is not technically a comma splice. (I will edit my original question to reflect this.) But it is still interesting that my research led me to really different opinions about comma splicing in French. And I'd still like to know what is considered the definitive source(s) for French grammar. :-)
Level 1/Session 06: Match the phrases
Je ne suis pas à l'hôtel, je suis ici I am not at the hotel, I am here
Il va très bien, il est à la maison He is very well, he is at home
If I find some actual sentences that appear to be comma splices, I will post them. I can't remember if there were other sections besides Matching that I noticed them.
Level 1/Session 06: Match the phrases
Je ne suis pas à l'hôtel, je suis ici I am not at the hotel, I am here
Il va très bien, il est à la maison He is very well, he is at home
If I find some actual sentences that appear to be comma splices, I will post them. I can't remember if there were other sections besides Matching that I noticed them.
Nov 27, 2017 - 10:44 AM
As a French native, I see no problem with those two sentences. Actually sentence #2 is something I often say when on the phone, for example if someone is asking about my dog after she went to the vet: "She's doing good, she's home". As for the definitive grammar books, i vote for the "Le bon usage" from Maurice Grevisse, and the Bescherelle "La grammaire pour tous".
Nov 28, 2017 - 07:50 PM
Thanks for the grammar book suggestions, Fabrice. It's always good to have references! And I agree that there is nothing wrong with speaking those sentences. It's just that in writing in English, you can't connect them with a comma. So, I guess I'm wondering if "épissure virgule" is a grammar error in written French. :-)
Nov 28, 2017 - 08:07 PM
In English, you can join two independent clauses with a semi-colon but only IF they are very closely related. I'm now wondering if, perhaps, French allows them to be joined with a comma if they are closely related? It's fun to learn about not only the grammar differences but also differences in punctuation rules! I'm sure this will never come up in my actual life, but I just love to know.
Nov 29, 2017 - 01:45 PM
I found some interesting stuff online, but the two books I mentionned would be the reference and unfortunately i don't have them (not at school anymore!). I found this too: https://books.google.com/books?id=-YM5AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA521&ots=Yr8oV1WMZ3&dq=%22o
n%20se%20menace%2C%20on%20court%2C%20l'air%20gemit%22&pg=PA521#v=onepage&q=%22o
n%20se%20menace,%20on%20court,%20l'air%20gemit%22&f=false so it appears that French allows for loosely related clauses.
n%20se%20menace%2C%20on%20court%2C%20l'air%20gemit%22&pg=PA521#v=onepage&q=%22o
n%20se%20menace,%20on%20court,%20l'air%20gemit%22&f=false so it appears that French allows for loosely related clauses.
Nov 29, 2017 - 02:56 PM
Those books would probably be hard for me to find, and they are a bit intimidating being completely in French! I'm curious to know what you found interesting online. Do you see differences of opinions on this topic, too?
