What is elision?
This is when you have to remove the final vowel from certain words, when the final
vowel is in front of a word beginning with a vowel or a silent h.
The French language is known for this.
The vowel deleted and replaced by an apostrophe.
Let's start by studying the elision of the letter E.
We remove the final of the following words.
For example, I
like becomes I
like. You wait for me.
Become. You wait for me.
The student becomes the student.
In the words when, the E is also
deleted. For example when it becomes when it.
In the word some, the E is elided, deleted and replaced by an
apostrophe only before the word becomes .
Now let's look at the elision of the letter A.
The final A is deleted in the word.
Here for example, becomes .
The elision of the letter i the i is elided in the word si if it is
followed by il in singular and ils in plural.
Thus, becomes .
For example, becomes please.
The elision of the letter U.
The U is dropped in the word tu, but only in a colloquial register, i.e.
if you want to speak like a native, you must drop the u from tu before a vowel.
But it doesn't have to be in an academic setting.
For example, becomes .
becoming.
Basically If your teacher allows you to be on first-name terms, you do not delete the U.
On the other hand, with your friend, you can .
Let's summarize in a table the letter E is deleted in front of the words.
Just that in front of any vowel or silent h, but also in words.
When, since whatever before any vowel or silent h.
Again and also in what line before the word one.
The letter A is deleted in the word, the before any vowel or silent h.
The letter i is deleted in the word if in front of it, it in singular or it in
plural. The letter u is deleted in the word you before any vowel or silent h.
Of course, there are exceptions.
Sometimes the rules of elision do not apply.
Here are the cases in which the final vowel should not be deleted.
The final vowel before the letter Y is not deleted.
If the word that begins with the letter Y is not of French origin.
For example, yogurt.
The yacht.
Yugoslavia. But you can remove the final vowel if the word that follows is
French for example.
God. Or lionesses.
We do not delete the final vowel before the words eleven and 11ᵉ.
We must say the eleven.
The 11ᵉ and not the eleven or the eleventh.
It's not a pretty sight.
The final vowel is not removed after an imperative form.
We say and , because it changes the meaning of the sentence.
And finally, the final vowel is not removed after the subject is reversed, for example.
Have I arrived?
We don't say.
Have I arrived or is it April?
It looks like the E is deleted because it can't be heard, but it should remain written.
Join me in the following video to practice.