FR: Car - en début de phrase

xaze04

New Member
Greek
I saw at French grammar sites that car ("because, since, for") cannot be put at the start of a sentence. However in the song that France put out in this year's (2023) Eurovision there is a lyric that starts with 'car' and doesn't seem to be continuing the previous lyric. For context, as far as I know the song belongs to the chanson genre, which is known for more literary-style lyrics. The official lyrics are as follows:

[Refrain]
Évidemment
Toutes ces belles promesses que j'entends
C'n'est que du vent
Évidemment
Elle ne s'ra plus jamais la même
Cette fille d'avant

[Pont]
Car moi je chante
Ma vie, la vôtre, et un peu de romance
Je suis nue devant vous
Donnez-moi donc une chance
De vous à moi, de moi à vous
Ai-je réussi à chanter
À chanter la Grande France ?

I know that songs don't occupy themselves with following grammar rules, but i just want to use this as an example to make this question and clarify if this is an actual rule. Thank you in advance 😊
 
  • I saw at French grammar sites that car ("because, since, for") cannot be put at the start of a sentence.
    I'm afraid this is incorrect. It is sometimes possible to begin a sentence with car. However, unlike parce que, you may not use car if the clause indicating the cause comes before the main clause with the consequence.

    A → B:
    Je pense {A} donc je suis {B} :tick:

    B ← A:
    Je suis {B} car je pense {A} :tick:
    Je suis {B} parce que je pense {A} :tick:
    Car je pense {A}, je suis {B} :cross:
    Parce que je pense {A}, je suis {B} :tick:


    In your example, the car-clause relates to the previous sentence. It is therefore OK. The meaning is indeed:

    Elle ne sera plus jamais la même, cette fille d'avant, car moi je chante ma vie, la vôtre et un peu de romance.

    See also Car - en début de phrase in the Français Seulement forum.
     
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