Question 1

How is the adverb éloquemment formed here?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the adjective éloquent (eloquent). Because the masculine adjective ends in -ent, you drop the -nt and add -mment to form the adverb.

Question 2

How do you pronounce the -emment ending?

Accepted Answer

Even though it is spelled with an 'e', the -emment ending is pronounced exactly the same as the -amment ending. Both sound like 'ah-mahn' (with a nasal sound at the end).

Question 3

Does the word argument mean the speaker was in a fight?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily! While an 'argument' in English often implies an angry dispute, the French word un argument usually means a point, reason, or piece of evidence used to make a case. If you want to talk about a verbal fight, you would use une dispute.

Question 4

Why is éloquemment placed at the very end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

In the past tense (passé composé), short adverbs usually go between the helping verb (a) and the past participle (expliqué). However, longer adverbs like éloquemment are usually placed after the past participle, or even after the direct object (son argument) at the end of the sentence.

Question 5

If the speaker were a woman (l'oratrice), would it be sa argument?

Accepted Answer

No, it would still be son argument for two reasons. First, possessive adjectives agree with the thing being owned, and argument is masculine. Second, even if it were feminine, you must use son before any singular noun that starts with a vowel to make it flow nicely when spoken.

L'orateur a expliqué son argument éloquemment.

Breakdown of L'orateur a expliqué son argument éloquemment.

Questions & Answers about L'orateur a expliqué son argument éloquemment.

Learn L'orateur a expliqué son argument éloquemment and more in French