Question 1

Why does jetons only have one 't' when other forms like je jette have two?

Accepted Answer

Jeter (to throw) is a stem-changing verb. The rule is that the 't' is doubled when the vowel sound immediately after it is silent. Since the -ons ending in nous jetons is pronounced, the 't' stays single. You will also see this single 't' with vous jetez.

Question 2

Does the single 't' change how the first 'e' in jetons is pronounced?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When the 't' is doubled (like in je jette), the first 'e' makes an open eh sound. When there is only one 't' (like in nous jetons), that same 'e' makes a softer uh sound, exactly like the 'e' in le.

Question 3

The English translation says throw away, but the French just says jetons. Where is the word for away?

Accepted Answer

In French, the single verb jeter means both to throw and to throw away. You do not need to add an extra word for away because the idea of getting rid of something is already built into the verb.

Question 4

Just to review, how does the negative ne ... pas wrap around the verb here?

Accepted Answer

To make a sentence negative in French, you put ne directly in front of the conjugated verb and pas directly after it. Here, it sandwiches the verb to make ne jetons pas (do not throw).

Nous ne jetons pas le plastique ici.

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