French language Q&A Forum

Bonjour,

Why is 'marron' (as opposed to 'châtaigne') unacceptable as a translation for 'chestnut'?

I love this site-- but I think they have done a bad job explaining what, if any, is the difference.  Especially in the quizzes. what am I missing?

“Quel plaisir de recevoir DE tes nouvelles” and “J’espère recevoir DE tes nouvelles”. When do you need to add the “de” after “recevoir”?  Does it depend on the noun, in this case “tes nouvelles”? Because it seems other nouns can follow this verb without a preposition e.g. “Quel plaisir de recevoir ton cadeau” and “J’espère recevoir une lettre”.  

To the question 'You had shaved completely that morning' I was marked wrong for 'Tu t'étais rasée ....' which is surely correct rather than your answer 'Tu t'étais rasé ....' Please explain.

Are these sentences structured in a way that is considered more "French"? Because if I were saying them in English I wouldn't often start the example sentences with "By the time...", I would flip the clauses. Is that it "the French way" to start sentences with "le temps que"?

Ex.  Il avait déjà bu une bouteille entière le temps que je finisse de manger.

Why is She had eaten all the cake! wrong for Elle a mangé tout le gâteau!".. 

.. in English it is something that has happened.. an event and does not demand the plusvque parfait.

when is tout used rather than full tout ce qui/que?

dont was whose earlier but know means of whom/which. i'm getting muddled even thogh ive just gone through lessons again. Can some one make it a little simpler please. Or just a different explaination