Learn French: Tu dois chuchoter, sinon la lecture est strictement interdite. - You must whisper, otherwise reading is strictly forbidden.

Tu dois chuchoter, sinon la lecture est strictement interdite.

You must whisper, otherwise reading is strictly forbidden.

Breakdown of Tu dois chuchoter, sinon la lecture est strictement interdite.

être

to be

you (informal singular)

Questions & Answers about Tu dois chuchoter, sinon la lecture est strictement interdite.

Is sinon just a combination of si and non?

Historically yes, it literally translates to 'if not'. In modern French, it is written as one single word and means 'otherwise' or 'else'. It links the required condition (Tu dois chuchoter) to the negative consequence of not doing it.

Why translate 'reading' as la lecture instead of using the verb lire?

La lecture is a noun meaning 'the act of reading'. French often prefers using nouns for formal rules or abstract concepts where English might use an '-ing' verb. You could say il est interdit de lire (it is forbidden to read), but la lecture est interdite sounds more like an official sign or rule.

Why is there an -e at the end of interdite?

Here, interdite (forbidden) acts as an adjective describing the noun la lecture. Because lecture is a feminine word, the adjective must agree with it and take the feminine -e ending.

Could I put strictement at the very end of the sentence?

It is much more natural to put adverbs like strictement directly after the conjugated verb (est). While putting it at the end isn't completely impossible, est strictement interdite flows much better and is the standard way to phrase a strict rule in French.