Body parts+adjective requiring possessive adjective - French Language2024-03-28T21:57:10Zhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/body-parts-adjective-requiring-possessive-adjective?xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIls lui ont essuyé le visage…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2019-11-25:3179028:Comment:6956642019-11-25T07:14:10.314ZChantal Savignathttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/ChantalSavignat
<p>Ils lui ont essuyé le visage</p>
<p>would become</p>
<p>Ils lui ont essuyé son visage sale. (1) = Ils ont essuyé son visage sale (2)</p>
<p>The form (2) is better. (1) is not really wrong but not used.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yes I never thought about that before. But Yes when an adjective qualifies a body part the definite article is always replaced by a possessive adjective except for "droite" and "gauche".</p>
<p>Even for another person's body.</p>
<p></p>
<p>"avec sa main droite abimée il a…</p>
<p>Ils lui ont essuyé le visage</p>
<p>would become</p>
<p>Ils lui ont essuyé son visage sale. (1) = Ils ont essuyé son visage sale (2)</p>
<p>The form (2) is better. (1) is not really wrong but not used.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yes I never thought about that before. But Yes when an adjective qualifies a body part the definite article is always replaced by a possessive adjective except for "droite" and "gauche".</p>
<p>Even for another person's body.</p>
<p></p>
<p>"avec sa main droite abimée il a réussi à ouvrir la porte" Or "avec la main droite abimée..."</p>
<p>Yes the two forms are correct, I think it's because of "droite".</p> Well all rules have exception…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2019-11-13:3179028:Comment:6677192019-11-13T14:52:15.434ZGeorge Hunthttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/GEORDIEHOUND
<p>Well all rules have exceptions ,but I think you have the gist of this.</p>
<p>As for "la main droite" etc the reason seems to be that the phrase is so compact and common that it falls into the category of unqualified body parts.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Not sure what other examples of this there are,but it does make sense to me</p>
<p></p>
<p>You might also have "avec sa main droite abimée il a réussi à ouvrir la porte" Or "la main droite abimée .....etc". </p>
<p>I think either would work.</p>
<p>Well all rules have exceptions ,but I think you have the gist of this.</p>
<p>As for "la main droite" etc the reason seems to be that the phrase is so compact and common that it falls into the category of unqualified body parts.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Not sure what other examples of this there are,but it does make sense to me</p>
<p></p>
<p>You might also have "avec sa main droite abimée il a réussi à ouvrir la porte" Or "la main droite abimée .....etc". </p>
<p>I think either would work.</p>