Devoir (and its discontents)After I had had to do my homework, I went for a walk.Really? No native English speaker would ever say this. One might say "After I did my homework, I went for a walk" but that doesn't mean what I think the question writer is after.
Having had to do something is a state of being, not something after which one takes a walk. Consider a work around to what is said: "After being in a position where I was required to do my homework, I took a walk." Weird, awkward, unidiomatic, and just strange. If this question was written by a native English speaker, it was surely in pursuit of teaching the plupurfect of devoir, which I never hear in conversation. It is something taught but in my experience never used and really never needed. Apparently, whatever exists on the conjugation chart has to be worked into a question....
When I took French in 60s, the pluperfect of devoir was translated as "must have", but I only hear the passe compose in cases where the pluperfect might have worked. Again, I never hear this said and rarely written.
Anyway you look at it, devoir in the past is a condition - not something that happens before something else happens. So no more is needed than the passe compose IMO.....
Really? No native English speaker would ever say this. One might say "After I did my homework, I went for a walk" but that doesn't mean what I think the question writer is after.
Having had to do something is a state of being, not something after which one takes a walk. Consider a work around to what is said: "After being in a position where I was required to do my homework, I took a walk." Weird, awkward, unidiomatic, and just strange. If this question was written by a native English speaker, it was surely in pursuit of teaching the plupurfect of devoir, which I never hear in conversation. It is something taught but in my experience never used and really never needed. Apparently, whatever exists on the conjugation chart has to be worked into a question....
When I took French in 60s, the pluperfect of devoir was translated as "must have", but I only hear the passe compose in cases where the pluperfect might have worked. Again, I never hear this said and rarely written.
Anyway you look at it, devoir in the past is a condition - not something that happens before something else happens. So no more is needed than the passe compose IMO.....
II noticed that she pronounces the s at the end of "plus". I have never understood when to pronounce this and when not. Could someone explain please?
Why was my answer marked wrong because I used tu instead of vous when there was no indicator either way.
Wouldn’t either choice be correct in a quiz?
I realize that in speech there is always a reason for choosing tu versus vous.
Thank you
J'ai choisi abimer au lieu de ruiner, un mot qui n'était pas dans mon vocabulaire avant. C'était un mauvaise utilisation d'abimer ? Dans la même phrase, j'ai utilisé jolie au lieu de belle. Un autre mauvais choix?
In level C1 why is there so much emphasis on passé simple? I would rather be practising useful phrases. Thank you.
I thought they were the same as English's what and which but I feel like that's wrong.
soir vs soiree
I don't know if there are any more. Thank you in advance!
In the sentece: 'Ensuite, j'ai pris une éponge et un shampoing...' I don't hear the word 'Ensuite' but 'Puis'. Is it me or is it a mistake_
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