Breakdown of Elle coupe la viande de crainte que son fils ne s'étouffe.
elle
she
son
his/her/its (son, sa, ses)
la viande
the meat
couper
to cut
le fils
the son
de crainte que
for fear that
ne
expletive 'ne' (no negative meaning)
s'étouffer
to choke
Questions & Answers about Elle coupe la viande de crainte que son fils ne s'étouffe.
Why is the word ne used before s'étouffe if the sentence isn't negative?
This is known as the ne explétif. It doesn't make the sentence negative at all. Instead, it is a formal, stylistic word used after expressions of fear (like de crainte que or de peur que) to highlight the unwanted outcome that the person is trying to avoid. It is frequently dropped in everyday spoken French, but it is standard in written French.
Why is s'étouffe in the subjunctive?
The conjunction de crainte que (for fear that) expresses an emotion or fear about a potential outcome. Expressions of fear in French always require the verb in the following clause to be in the subjunctive mood. Because s'étouffer is a regular -er verb, its present subjunctive form looks identical to the present indicative.
Is there any difference between using de crainte que and de peur que in this sentence?
They mean exactly the same thing and are used in the exact same way grammatically (both require the subjunctive and often trigger the ne explétif). De crainte que is just slightly more formal and literary than de peur que.
Could we use an infinitive here instead, like de crainte de s'étouffer?
Not in this sentence, because there are two different subjects. The mother (elle) is cutting the meat, but it is the son (son fils) who might choke. You must use de crainte que + subjunctive when the subjects in the two clauses differ. You only use de crainte de + infinitive when the same person is doing both actions (for example: Il mange lentement de crainte de s'étouffer - He eats slowly for fear of choking).
Why is the verb reflexive (s'étouffe) instead of just étouffe?
When you choke on food, choke on a bone, or suffocate yourself, French uses the reflexive verb s'étouffer. If you were to use the non-reflexive verb étouffer, it would mean to smother, suffocate, or stifle someone or something else.
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