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14/04/2008, 7:38 DerekJ Joined on 19/10/2007 Surrey and soon also the Lot Posts 154 cependant, pourtant or toutefois I'm trying to work out how I would choose any of the following.... "cependant, pourtant,  toutefois" to express "however". In other words, how would I decide which of them to use for any given circumstance.  I know there are also other words and expressions that can also express the general sentiment but it's the differentiation between these 3 words that interest me. Any thoughts please? Derek    Report

14/04/2008, 9:31 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,243 Re: cependant, pourtant or toutefois They are almost interchangeable and all express a contradiction or a restrictive nuance, as do however, nevertheless, yet... There's also néanmoins and tout de même. Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

14/04/2008, 10:47 DerekJ Joined on 19/10/2007 Surrey and soon also the Lot Posts 154 Re: cependant, pourtant or toutefois Thanks a lot Clair. I was unsure about whether there were subtle differences on when you might use one versus the other but thanks for the clarification about the interchangeability and it sounds like I wouldn't be getting it badly wrong regardless of which one I used. Derek    Report

France Forum » French Culture » French Language » cependant, pourtant or toutefois

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