1

C'est sûr que les garçons risquent de s'y sentir les bienvenus.

Considering that « c'est sûr que ... » means "it is certain that ..." or "with one hundred percent certainty", isn’t it contradictory to have it followed by « risquer de ... » that means "likely to do" or "probably" or "with 90 percent probability"?

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    I’d say the sentence’s main problem is its near-tautological nature rather than its contradictory one: “It’s certain that the boys have a [good] chance of feeling welcome there/here.” (Note that I put “good” in brackets but I would omit it because I think “risquer de” is closer to “might do” than “likely to do” and closer to “have a chance to/of”(=”possibly”) than it is to “probably.”)
    – Papa Poule
    Commented Nov 13, 2016 at 20:49

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
2

"C'est sûr" has nothing to do with "risquer de" in particular.

"Risquer de" can mean a strong probability, not always negative.

"Ce concert risque d'être une tuerie"

Note that using it positively is a little informal.

"C'est sûr", in that case, simply means that you agree with a previous statement, often adding information.

"Ce concert va être dingue" "C'est sûr, avec ce groupe c'est toujours génial"

There is nothing wrong with using those two together.

Improve this answer
3
  • When the phrase "risquer de" is used in this manner, how likely do you think it is that the thing mentioned will actually happen? Around 80-90%? Or somewhat lower than that, as Papa Poule mentioned? Merci.
    – Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 15:08
  • Well the postive usage of "risquer de" is not really correct and somewhat sarcastic, so it kinda depends on who uses it. I'd say it's a strong probability, (ironically) something it wouldn't be too risky to bet for. It's hard to give probability but I'd give it a "fair chance of happening". Like 70-80% maybe, I'm not sure.
    – Teleporting Goat
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 15:44
  • I just sent you some voice samples. :) I thought that you, as a linguistic "nerd", might be interested in seeing how a Japanese person speaks European languages. :D I mean, compared to how French people speak foreign languages.
    – Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
    Commented Apr 14, 2018 at 11:21
1

It might be mathematically questionable but there is no semantic issue with this sentence.

The risk is simply a certainty.

Improve this answer
0

nothing more than others

Although all existing answers are right, saying that this sentence is semantically correct, as native I feel like it is not a sentence I would use.

Since you are asking about usage, I would have probably been annoyed by this potential contradiction.

what I would have use

Rather than

C'est sûr que les garçons risquent de s'y sentir les bienvenus.

I would prefer to explain the guarantee by using:

C'est sûr que les garçons s'y sentiront les bienvenus.

Or, if you rather want to underline the chance it is not sure:

Il y a un risque que les garçons s'y sentiront les bienvenus.

I'm curious, did you find this sentence in a book or have you written it?

Improve this answer
4
  • Hi. I heard a French speaker say this sentence.
    – Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 15:11
  • @LUNA Wasn't this sentence negative? like C'est sûr que les garçons risquent de ne pas s'y sentir les bienvenus.?
    – Yohann V.
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 15:19
  • Sarcasm is implied in the original sentence, so yes, it basically translates into the negative sentence that you mentioned.
    – Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 15:26
  • @LUNA Ok, I would only use this sentence ironically or with negative
    – Yohann V.
    Commented Nov 15, 2016 at 6:53

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.