"J'espère qu'il n'y a pas que du chou pour le dîner."
Translation:I hope there isn't only cabbage for dinner.
17 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
I don't know when the construction" ne . . .que" means "only" and when the construction means "is not only". I am confused. Please help.
Yes, the double negative is easy to miss. It translated to "I hope there is nothing but cabbage for dinner" in my head. It would have been simpler if they'd put "J'espère qu'il y a plus que du chou pour le dîner". But it's a good lesson to us as is. ;-)
478
I'm guessing it's because of the "que" between "pas" and "du". I think it would be il ne mange pas de chou but with the added "que" you no longer do the du to de conversion.
- 1036
In this sentence, the word just could be used instead of "only". In other words, it should also be accepted.
- 767
Agreed, it works better and is less clumsy. It's also what you get if you use Reverso - although Collins returns: I hope there is more to it than cabbage for dinner. Perhaps it's just a matter of one's taste for brassicas!
If this is a negation, then how are you going to say: "I hope there is only cabbage for dinner"? "J'espère qu'il y a que du chou pour le dîner."?
- 767
You just take out the "pas" and leave in the "ne... que". You need to add "n'y " back into your sentence.
- 1098
"I hope there is something other than cabbage for dinner." is rejected.
Duo accepts "there is nothing but" for "il n'y a que", so it should also accept "there is something other than" for "il n'y a pas que". Reported.
- 503
I agree with you. Something like, "I hope that there is something other than cabbage for dinner."
