Breakdown of Je ne laisse pas ce bouton accessible de peur qu'il ne s'étouffe.
je
I
il
he
pas
not (used after the verb)
ce
this (before a noun)
le bouton
the button
laisser
to leave (something or someone)
de peur que
for fear that
ne
expletive 'ne' (no negative meaning)
accessible
accessible
s'étouffer
to choke
Questions & Answers about Je ne laisse pas ce bouton accessible de peur qu'il ne s'étouffe.
Why is there a ne before s'étouffe? Does it mean 'doesn't choke'?
No, the sentence means 'for fear that he chokes.' This is the 'ne explétif' (expletive ne). It is not a negative word. It is often added after expressions of fear or caution, like de peur que, to emphasize the unwanted outcome. It is mostly used in formal or written French and can be safely dropped in casual speech.
Is s'étouffe in the present indicative or the subjunctive here?
It is in the subjunctive mood, which is strictly required after de peur que and de crainte que. Because s'étouffer is a regular -er verb, its subjunctive form (qu'il s'étouffe) happens to look exactly like the present indicative.
Could I say de peur de s'étouffer instead of de peur qu'il ne s'étouffe?
Not in this exact sentence, because there are two different subjects: Je (I) am leaving the button, and il (he) might choke. You use de peur de plus an infinitive only when the subject is the same for both actions (for example, 'I move the button for fear of choking' would use de peur de).
Why is the verb s'étouffer reflexive here?
The reflexive verb s'étouffer means 'to choke' as an internal action happening to oneself. If you used the non-reflexive étouffer, it would mean 'to suffocate' or 'to smother' someone or something else.
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