French language Q&A Forum

"Il avait même fallu que les autorités démentissent le canular". According to a conjugation guide I use, this sentence appears to use "démentir" in the subjunctif imparfait, which I think is rarely used today in French. Would it be better as "que les autorités démentent" (present subjunctive)? Or maybe "aient démenti" if a subjunctive in the past tense is needed here? 

1-  I am unsure of when to use "personnes" and when to use "gens."  I had, "Disons une trentaine de gens."

2-  Why is it "Ma mère adore le fruit de la passion et l'ananas"  with the definite article but "...mais les enfants préféreraient du chocolat"  ?

I thought this was a general opinion and therefore chose the definite article "le" for "chocolat," as well.

Bonjour .

Me being a beginner of the language French, usage of Alors and Donc baffles me.

Can someone help me of how to use both these in practical context.

Merci Beaucoup

I am a little unclear as to what the definition of Indirect Speech is especially as it applies to the examples given in the lesson and in the use of verbs such as, 'se demander' and 'savoir'. 

How is this Indirect Speech:

Je me demande si tu viens ou pas. ? 

What I do understand is that in cases where 'whether = if', then 'si + Mode Indicatif' is applied.

The way I usually work it out in my mind is if the sentence is expressing the idea of 'regardless of which' or 'whether or not' than 'Que + Le Subjunctif' is used.

Why "Il a mangé la moitié de son pain" but "Il n'a mangé qu'une moitié du biscuit" ? The grammar note does not explain this.

During the dictation, I have noticed that before I can give myself a grade, 1 thru 5, the bar goes to the next sentence thereby it seems as though I did not respond to the question, which deminishes my score

Je comprendais des autres professeurs que l'inversion est utilisé moins que 1% du temps à l'oral car c'est trop soutenu, très formelle. Si c'est vrai, pourquoi n'acceptiez les deux formes plus utilisé: "Est-ce-que ..." et l'indicatif normal avec un point d'interrogation ?

Et oui, je sais que l'inversion est utilisée plus fréquent dans les journaux et en géneral en écrivant.

Ou, peut-etre mieux, vous pourriez constater que même que les inversions sont utilisées peu fréquent à l'oral, toutes ces questions utilise l'inversion du sujet et verbe.

In the sentence; J'avais oublié de finir mes devoirs; why the de?

Hello,

When I looked up crayons in WordReference it showed "crayon gras" but not "crayon à la cire." Would crayons gras work here?