French language Q&A Forum

This is very confusing.  I have gotten it wrong in quizzes twice because I used a singular verb with the "plural" noun as in Mes vacances coûte.....please explain why I should use a plural verb? In the lesson all the examples show a plural noun (French style) with a singular verb. And, in the examples there are only singular verbs with the plural nouns.  

I'm still somehow confused on when to use des vs. les. For example, in the translation exercises,

"and boys can play with dolls" is translated to "et les garçons peuvent jouer avec des poupées".

But I thought it should be LES poupées because it's referring to dolls (in general). Is this a case of either one working?

We are asked to use the historic present for one small section and then revert to the past tenses. I’m not clear why there is that change. Whenever I have seen the historic present used at various sites, they maintain it all the way through.

Hello

Could you please explain why the pronoun 'en' is used in this phrase? I am having difficulty recognising when to use en and what it means in this context. Thanks.

....et en acceptèrent la langue

Translations:

Suggest translate the French expression with an English equivalent expression - eg 'first go' or 'first time' : "But, I managed first go/time" ? Using more formal English confuses the translation, especially when it is changed from the general 'first go' to the specific 'on my first attempt'.

I don't fish - but looking at Larousse and the Académie site, it seems 'les leurres' is more appropriate for "the lures, and "appat"  for bait. Les leurres gets a strikethrough currently, but is correct.

Is it possible to use à instead of 'en' when saying "Je suis à ville."?.....Thirza0

Why is it les for his pockets? I understand it has to be les for hands as is a body part,  but why not ses poches?

"As for le jour suivant (on the following day) and le jour précédent (on the previous day), they are used in a past context just like le lendemain and la veille, but always on their own."

And then you give the examples: "Il a été relâché le jour suivant son arrestation."; "Le jour précédant leur premier rendez-vous, ils étaient très nerveux.".

So, do they have to be used on their own, or not?

According to the lesson Vrai before noun means quite a.... where as Vrai after noun means true. So why are we using vraie here before cuisine when we want to say a true kitchen?