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Max
difference between je peux and je puis
I met with this new word "puis" and noticed that it has the same meaning "peux" has
can somebody help me noticing the difference?
Mar 21, 2018 6:31 PM
Answers · 5
1
If "je puis" is not used anymore, we say "puis-je" as a question (only for the first singular person), for example "puis-je vous aider ?" (May I help you ?). We don't say "peux-je" but "puis-je" or "est-ce que je peux... ?". We can't say "puis-tu", it doesn't exist.
"Je ne puis" is already used, rarely, if we want to add a formal style to the sentence but not in a formal conversation actually. For example: "Je ne puis te répondre" is sometimes used. Notice that we don't add "pas" in this case: "Je ne puis te répondre" and not "Je ne puis pas te répondre". A contrario, "je ne peux te répondre" and "je ne peux pas te répondre" are both right.
Yes, that's complicated.
March 21, 2018
Puedes decir "puis-je", como "podría" pero no puedo decir "peux-je". Si te gustaría hablar en Skype yo puedo ayudarte con inglés.
March 21, 2018
« Puis » means « then ». « Je puis » doesn’t exist, there is « (que) je puisse » though, which is the verb « pouvoir » Conjugated in subjonctif présent. « Je peux » is conjugated in indicatif présent.
March 21, 2018
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Max
Language Skills
English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish
Learning Language
English, French, German, Japanese
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