Today’s lesson covers the A1 beginner level word pourquoi, meaning “why”. Pourquoi combines the two words pour (for) and quoi (what). This lesson provides pronunciation, audio and examples.
Pourquoi – Understanding “Why” in French
Level A1 (beginner)
For this first sentence, pourquoi is being used as an adverb to ask why or provide a reason.
Pourquoi faut-il maîtriser tous les temps des verbes ?
Why is it necessary to master all the verb tenses?
This sentence uses pourquoi in the context of the interjection “pourquoi pas !” (why not!)
Tu veux commander un dessert ? Oui, pourquoi pas !
Do you want to order a desssert? Yes, why not!
In this sentence le pourquoi appears as a noun, meaning “the why”.
Je ne comprends pas ni le pourquoi ni le comment de cette histoire.
I don’t understand the why or the how of this story
Note that pourquoi can also be a conjunction. For example, Je ne comprends pas pourquoi elle rit (I don’t understand why she’s laughing).
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