French language Q&A Forum

Why isn't is "étaient"?  the subject seems to be plural--"nos parents". 

I answered incorrectly "au haricot vert", and was wondering if the difference is audible? Though perhaps this is something to know context rather than hear.

I found that the sound quality on this recording was really terrible, there's an echo that made it really difficult to make out what the speaker was saying, so I abandoned it.

Which is correct. Il fait beau or il y a du soleil?

Hello! I'm confused about the sentence: "Pour que tous les habitants comprennent, le roi François Ier décide en 1539 .... " If the English translation takes place in the past tense (the king François decided), why does the phrase seem to be conjugated in the present tense? Why not "le roi François Ier a décidé?" Merci!

Could anybody help me with the form of the word: 'cochant'?

I have learned third person plural conjugation is cochent, but this word 'cochant' I couldn't find in a dictionary. 

As you know, cocher is infinitive form of verb but what about cochant? Please!

The original context: "Répondez aux questions en cochant la ou less bonne response."

Please help me!

Can someone at least point me to a detailed explanation of when to use Tu. I am 74 and I have assumed nobody will tutoyer me automatically. I would prefer not to tutoyer someone else merely for some hierarchical reason, so I am focusing on the vous form (as does Pimsleur, which I am also using). But, if I go to a French Meet Up in America, will everyone be using Tu? And what about visiting Guadeloupe?

I understand why we use the definite article for one and possessive adjective for the other buy why are they both singular?

Could "du coin" substitute for "local" in the context of a local newspaper?