Question 1

Why is it elle-même here instead of just elle?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -même is added to a stressed pronoun (like moi, toi, lui, elle) to emphasize exactly who did the action. Here, elle-même emphasizes that she did the repair herself, without anyone else's help.

Question 2

Does même change its spelling when used as an emphatic suffix like this?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it must agree in number with the pronoun it attaches to. If the subject were plural, such as nous or elles, it would become nous-mêmes or elles-mêmes. Since elle is singular, elle-même takes no s.

Question 3

Why is it appeler (to call) when the English translation says "calling"?

Accepted Answer

In French, when a verb directly follows any preposition other than en, it must be in the infinitive form. Since it follows de (part of au lieu de), we use the infinitive appeler.

Question 4

Could I use fini instead of terminé for "finished"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Elle a fini would also work perfectly here. Terminer is a very common synonym that means the exact same thing, though it can sometimes sound just a tiny bit more formal, focusing on the very end of a task.

Elle a terminé la réparation elle-même au lieu d'appeler le plombier.

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