Question
Ne [verb] pas
N' [verb beginning with a vowel] pas
Why would habite have a n' in front of it (n'habite pas), not Ne habite pas? H is not a vowel (right)? Just asking because I got it wrong on a test when I put Ne habite pas.
N' [verb beginning with a vowel] pas
Why would habite have a n' in front of it (n'habite pas), not Ne habite pas? H is not a vowel (right)? Just asking because I got it wrong on a test when I put Ne habite pas.
Answers
Peeps
Is it because habite is pronounced with out the h?
Ms. Sue
The French don't sound the h, so it's treated as a voiceless vowel at the beginning of a word.
Peeps
Ohh, ok thanks Ms. Sue.
Ms. Sue
You're welcome, Peeps.
SraJMcGin
There are actually two "h's" in French. In th e dictionary, when you see an asterisk (*) it means that that is a "voiced/sounded" h. Ordinarily, the "h" is unvoiced/unsounded, as Ms. Sue explained. Then the first sound you hear is the "vowel" after it; in this case it the "a" which is why it is je n'habite pas BUT hacher* = to grind = je ne hache pas.
Sra (aka Mme)
Sra (aka Mme)
Peeps
Ok thanks for helping me understand about the letter h in French SraJMcGin :). I wonder why my French teacher didn't mention this before.
SraJMcGin
It could depend upon your level of French, but that was an excellent question, showing you notice things!
Sra (aka Mme)
Sra (aka Mme)