Question 1

Why is there no -s at the end of Regarde?

Accepted Answer

In the affirmative imperative with tu, -ER verbs drop the final -s: Parle !, Regarde !. The -s returns only when the verb is immediately followed by the pronoun y or en for euphony (e.g., Vas-y, Parles-en). Here, en in en dessous de is not a pronoun; it’s part of the fixed expression, so you keep Regarde without -s.

Question 2

When would I use Regardez instead of Regarde?

Accepted Answer

Use Regardez when addressing:
- more than one person (plural), or
- one person formally (vous).
Use Regarde with someone you’d address as tu (singular, informal).

Question 3

What’s the difference between sous la table and en dessous de la table? Which sounds more natural?

Accepted Answer

Both can mean “under the table.”  
- Sous la table is the most direct, everyday way to say “under the table.”  
- En dessous de la table also means “under/beneath,” sometimes with a nuance of “below a reference level.”  
In this context (a cat hiding under a table), sous la table is the simplest and most idiomatic option.

Question 4

Could I say au-dessous de la table?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it sounds more formal/technical and often implies “below” on a vertical scale without contact. For a cat hiding under a table, sous la table or en dessous de la table is more natural in everyday speech.

Question 5

What exactly does s’y stand for?

Accepted Answer

It’s two pronouns: se (reflexive) + y (locative “there”).  
- se cacher = “to hide (oneself).”  
- y replaces a place previously mentioned (here, “under the table”).  
So le chat s’y cache = “the cat is hiding there.”

Question 6

Why is it s’y and not y s’? What’s the pronoun order?

Accepted Answer

French clitic pronouns before the verb follow this fixed order:  
1) me, te, se, nous, vous  
2) le, la, les  
3) lui, leur  
4) y  
5) en  
So reflexive se must come before y, giving s’y. Example in the negative: Le chat ne s’y cache pas.

Question 7

Why not use en instead of y here (e.g., le chat s’en cache)?

Accepted Answer

Because y refers to a place (“there”), while en replaces “de + thing/amount.”  
- Le chat s’y cache = “The cat is hiding there.”  
- S’en cacher means “to hide something,” as in the idiom ne pas s’en cacher (“not to hide it; to be open about it”). It does not mean “to hide there.”

Question 8

Can I just say Le chat se cache sous la table and drop y?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can either avoid repetition by using y (Le chat s’y cache) or restate the place (Le chat se cache sous la table). Both are correct.

Question 9

How would I make it negative? (e.g., “The cat isn’t hiding there” and “Don’t look under the table.”)

Accepted Answer

- Statement: Le chat ne s’y cache pas.  
- Imperative: Ne regarde pas en dessous de la table.  
With pronouns, the negative goes around them and the verb: Ne t’y cache pas.

Question 10

Is the comma between the two clauses good French?

Accepted Answer

It’s acceptable, but many writers prefer a colon or a full stop for clarity:  
- Regarde en dessous de la table : le chat s’y cache.  
- Regarde en dessous de la table. Le chat s’y cache.

Question 11

How is se cacher different from cacher?

Accepted Answer

- cacher = “to hide (something/someone),” transitive: Il cache le jouet.  
- se cacher = “to hide (oneself),” reflexive: Le chat se cache.  
In your sentence, the cat hides itself, so se cacher is required.

Question 12

What’s the difference between y, là, and là-bas here?

Accepted Answer

- y is a clitic pronoun meaning “there,” used to avoid repeating a place already mentioned: Le chat s’y cache.  
- là is a deictic adverb (“there/here”), often used to point: Le chat se cache là.  
- là-bas is “over there” (farther away): Le chat se cache là-bas.  
All can be correct; y is best when the place has just been named.

Question 13

Can I say dessous la table or le dessous de la table?

Accepted Answer

- Le dessous de la table (with article) is a noun phrase meaning “the underside of the table.”  
- Dessous la table (as a preposition) is non-standard in careful French; prefer sous la table or en dessous de la table.  
- Dessous alone works as an adverb: Le chat est dessous.

Question 14

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Accepted Answer

- s’y sounds like English “see.”  
- en in en dessous is a nasal vowel (like “on” in French): don’t pronounce a separate n.  
- dessous is roughly “duh-SOO”; the final -s is silent.  
- In everyday speech, the final -e in Regarde is very light or silent before a vowel sound: it may sound like “regard’ en…”

Regarde en dessous de la table, le chat s'y cache.

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