French language Q&A Forum

I know there's also a 'ne' littéraire where you can indicate negation while dropping 'pas'. This applies exclusively for a short list of verbs, like pouvoir.

If I were to see a sentence like "J'ai peur qu'il ne puisse le faire", would the 'ne' here be a 'ne' expletif or a 'ne' littéraire? In other words, am I afraid that he can do it or that he cannot do it?

I have another question about the use of passé compose with s’en aller. The text states: en will be before or after être: formally, it should be before, but in practice, it often ends up after.

Would the example Nous nous sommes en allés be better as Nous nous en sommes allés? It doesn’t seem to flow as well.

Merci!

...the exercise gives the translation of this sentence as 'We are astonished at his good marks' ...however, I don't see how you can tell the gender of the person with the good marks from this sentence...so surely the translation should be 'We are astonished at his/her good marks' ...? Unless you can tell the person described by the verb 'étonnons' ...but then I am sure this has no connection to the person being referred to in the sentence...

Look forward to your answer...

Could you use se dépêcher in place of se presser?

"Puis je me lèverais sans me dépêcher"

What is the difference between using 'à' + infinitive to express a purpose and using 'pour' (as earlier in 'pour observer de petits insectes')?

Bonjour,

Can you break down this sentence for me please? I can't quite understand the last 3 parts why it formed forever :)

Merci!

What is the function of "ne" in the phrase "avant qu'elle ne rentre?"  It translates, "before she gets home."

Can we use "d'habitude" at the beginning of a sentence?

"D'habitude, je ne prends pas le train."

Merci

This is a perfect example of vocabulary/explanation that should be given ahead of time -- I'll bet that way more than 90% got this wrong! If you do not speak French fluently, you would never think of expressing "To think that by now" is expressed as "Dire qu'à l'heure qu'il est"! Help us be better students by explaining expressions such as this!

One question I did not see addressed in the other submissions below is the difference between “aller à la piscine” and “aller dans le petit bassin”. I assume it is because, in the latter case, she is literally entering into the water of the pool, not just going to the oplace where the pool is located?

Thank you!