Learn French: Pourquoi est-ce qu'on n'invite pas le professeur ?

Pourquoi est-ce qu'on n'invite pas le professeur ?

Why aren't we inviting the teacher?

Breakdown of Pourquoi est-ce qu'on n'invite pas le professeur ?

one / we (informal)

le professeur

the teacher

not (used before the verb)

pas

not (used after the verb)

Questions & Answers about Pourquoi est-ce qu'on n'invite pas le professeur ?

Why does on mean "we" here, and why does the verb look singular?

In casual spoken French, people use on to mean "we" much more often than nous. Even though it translates to "we" in this sentence, on is always grammatically singular (just like "he" or "she"). That is why the verb is invite (the il/elle form) instead of the nous form.

Why is there an apostrophe in qu'on?

Qu'on is a combination of the word que and on. Because on starts with a vowel, the e at the end of que is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. This helps the words flow together smoothly without two vowel sounds clashing.

Where is the ne for the negative ne ... pas?

It is hiding in the n' right before the verb! The full negative structure is on ne invite pas, but because invite starts with a vowel, the ne drops its e and shrinks to n'. The verb is perfectly sandwiched between n' and pas.

Why is the verb translated as "aren't inviting" instead of "don't invite"?