French: confusing author?

[gta]

An author writes:

“C'est ce que tu as fait de mieux jusqu'Ã*“ présent. Note this interesting turn of phrase: 'Ce que tu as fait de mieux.'”

[Marsden, French Plus, p. 37]

Of course, there is no explanation as to what I am to learn from this. Why idoes aithor call this called an “interesting turn of phrase”? All I can see is that one can drop “ jusqu'Ã*“ présent”. But, why can you? Why would you ever use the longer version?

And that you have a choice of using “ C'est ce que” or “ Ce que”. Of course I want to always use the shorter version, Can I? Why or why not?

“Similarly, one would say: “C'est ce qu'il a dit de plus intelligent. C'est que j'ai lu de plus intéressant.”

Why are the last 2 sentence examples “similar” to the first two sentences? Please translate all and give rules.

Sorry for the trouble. Thx!

 

[Mona Lisa]

Hi!
The explanation PB gave is great. Probably, the author said "look at 'ce que tu as fait de mieux' " to show that in this case you have to use 'de'. Since he didn't want to say "look at 'de mieux' " because he wanted to show IN WHICH CASE it's 'de' mieux, he added a part of the sentence, but that's not a complete sentence on it's own.

I would just like to give you a translation that's a little more accurate. Mieux can be better, but also best. In this case it's the last meaning. Similarly, plus intelligent means more intelligent, but LE plus intelligent means the most intelligent. Since we have a DE in this structure, the LE isn't mentioned (because he's replaced by DE).

And now the translations, as promised:
--> C'est ce que tu as fait de mieux jusqu'Ã* présent = That's what you did best until now.
--> Ce que tu as fait de mieux = What you did best
--> C'est ce que = It is what
--> Ce que = What
--> C'est ce qu'il a dit de plus intelligent. = That's the most intelligent thing he said.
--> C'est que j'ai lu de plus intéressant. = That's the most interesting thing I read.

The similarity lies in the fact that in the three sentences, you have to say DE, while in English you just say best, most intelligent, etc.

Mona Lisa

 

[spanner]

The first sentence, or more correctly, clause, that you have provided translates as "It is that you have done the best up to now." The part that reads "ce que tu as fait de mieux jusqu'Ã* présent" functions as a noun, or, more specifically, as a predicate noun following the verb "to be", in this sentence. Because it follows the verb "to be" rather than an action verb, the entire clause is in the subjective or nominative case. Also, because the entire arrangement of words functions as a noun in the sentence, it is not correct to use it as a sentence. "Que tu as fait de mieux", on the other hand, serves the grammatical function of a subordinate clause. By itself is an incomplete sentence and it would not be grammatcially correct.

"Ce que", "ce qui" and "ce dont" all mean what. They demonstrate the form of a demonstrative adjective followed by the conjunction of "que".

The last two sentences are similar in format to the first two sentences because they use the term "ce qu'il a dit de plus intelligent" as a noun. Without the demonstrative adjective of "ce in front of the conjunction "que", the words "que j'ai lu de plus intéressant" simply would be a subordinate clause but not a noun answering what. It would acquire the meaning of "that" when the word "that" is used as a conjunction using a subordinate clause.

The adverbial phrase "jusqu'Ã* présent has no relevance to the form these two sentences, along with the two clauses or incomplete sentences, are taking.

Normally phrases such as "c'est ce qu tu as fait de mieux" are preceeded by nother set of words beginning with "ce que" and serving as a noun. Forms of the verb "être" are the linking verb. For example, it would be more grammatically correct to use a sentence such as "Ce que je dit c'est ce que tu doit étudier". It means "What I am saying" (noun phrase) "is" (linking verb of to be) "that you must study" (other noun phrase being linked to the first one).

The first sentence you provided would make more sense in a sentence such as "Ce qui me plaît, c'est ce que tu as fait de mieux." Translated, it would be "What pleases me" (noun clause), "it" (subject anticipating deferred virtual subject in apposition) "is" (linking verb) "that you have done the best." (other noun clause). It is a turn of phrase because "it" normally would be the subject that stands at the beginning of the sentence. Both groups of words, namely the words beginning with "ce que" and the words starting with "que" are clauses because they contain a verb. They are thusnot phrases in clasification.

I hope it makes sense.

Filakia sta kolomagoulakia! ))))