rule triggering "ne"

[alan gould]

On émet 4 fois plus de C02 que la planete n'est capable d'en absorber. 

i don't understand the placement of "ne."  i've seen it used in other sentences where i also couldn't understand it.  

 

[George Hunt]

I am waiting for Chantal to drop in as I expect you are .

The best I can suggest is to try using this "ne" in a few random sentences and to see if it "sounds right"

I enjoy the usage but cannot work out the rationale for it,but there must surely be one even if only as some kind of a linguistic remnant from earlier times.

[George Hunt]

Aha,I think we've been here before

http://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/n-est-pas-si...

Seems it is the pleonastic  "ne" and it can be triggered  by the comparative.

[Chantal Savignat]

Hello Alan.

This "ne" is called "explétif". It means that this "ne" is not mandatory.

It's not really a negative form, it's more a comparative form. It's used when there is a fear or a doubt about something.

This "ne" is used to have a formal language.  But without this "ne" it's right too.

On émet 4 fois plus de C02 que la planete est capable d'en absorber.

On émet 4 fois plus de C02 que la planete n'est capable d'en absorber.

These two sentences are equal and means the same thing.

[alan gould]

since the form is used in formal french, i'll assume it's unlikely that i'll hear it tho i can come across it in reading.   so i'll ignore using it.  i'm glad i finally had it explained. 

i'll b sending vocabulary this week for u to check and explain.  i have plenty to study on my own, so no problem waiting to incorporate new vocabulary to my study list.   i still take sentences sometimes from the dictionary and these i definitely need checked.  but most of the new vocab is coming from written news articles or youtube so i'm seeing them used in everyday french.  

[Chantal Savignat]

About "formal language", I think we have to clarify some things.

I know 3 groups in french, I don't know how many there are in english, and if theses groups are the same  :

- langage familier : informal, slang, .... 

- langage courant = everyday language

- langage soutenu = formal language

I have a precision to add :

I put this "ne" in "formal language".I have a doubt about "formal" language.  Maybe it's  every day language for educate people.

You may hear this sentence in tv news or from educate people, not only in writing news.

It's not infrequent and because of the theme "CO2" and planète,  I think this sentence is always said like that (with the word "ne")

But a sentence like  "il achète 4 fois plus de pain qu'il en mange" has the same structure, but the topic is minor, so the word "ne" isn't always said.   

[alan gould]

never use "precision" this way.  use "clarification" or "distinction."  

"educated" people.  maybe u just forgot to add the "d."  

"written" news not "writing"

interesting that the "ne" doesn't appear in an insignificant idea.  but i guess for me, it's just best to make no attempt to ever use it and if i encounter it, i'll know to ignore it.  

[alan gould]

specification would also b a good choice for "precision."