Log inSign up

L'idée est plus réalisable et astucieuse que je ne le pensais.

L'idée est plus réalisable et astucieuse que je ne le pensais.
The idea is more feasible and clever than I thought.
From Lesson 340:Expletive ne in comparisons (plus que ne…)·French

Questions & Answers about L'idée est plus réalisable et astucieuse que je ne le pensais.

Why is there a ne before le pensais if the sentence isn't negative?
This is called the ne explétif. In formal and written French, it is often added after affirmative comparisons of inequality (like plus... que or moins... que). It doesn't make the sentence negative; it simply emphasizes the difference between reality and what was expected.
Is it mandatory to use ne here, or can I just say que je le pensais?
The ne explétif is completely optional and mostly used in formal or literary French. In everyday spoken French, people usually drop it and just say que je le pensais.
What does the le in je ne le pensais refer to?
The le is a neutral object pronoun that stands in for the fact that the idea is feasible and clever. It translates literally to 'than I thought it (was)'. Unlike English, French requires this pronoun because you cannot leave the verb penser without a direct object in this type of comparison.
Why is it astucieuse rather than astucieux?
It is the feminine singular form of the adjective astucieux, meaning clever or ingenious. Both réalisable and astucieuse must agree with the feminine noun L'idée.

Learn L'idée est plus réalisable et astucieuse que je ne le pensais and more in French

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning French →