Answer to a test question not adequately explained in lessonI know this question has already been somewhat addressed earlier (I'll quote the comments here), but I didn't find the answer very clarifying. So I'll repeat the issue, quote the explanations that were given, and attempt to explain why I'm still confused.
In a test question, we are asked:
How would you say ''I haven't been in France for long.'' ?
The only tenable-seeming answers are:
-Je ne suis pas arrivé en France depuis longtemps (marked correct)
-Je n'arrive pas en France depuis longtemps (marked incorrect)
In spite of the questionable use of the verb "arriver", I actually chose the latter option on the basis that, in the lesson, we are told:
– Ne ... pas + Passé composé + depuis longtemps = not for a long time / not in ages -> It's over and done in the past
– Ne ... pas + Présent indicatif + depuis longtemps = not long / not for long -> It started a short while ago, and is still ongoing
Commenting on the issue, Cécile's gives this transition:
– I haven't been in France for long = Je ne suis pas en France depuis longtemps.
Like the instructions in the lesson, and the second answer in the quiz (which was marked incorrect), this translation conforms with the use of the Présent indicatif + depuis longtemps to describe something that "is still ongoing."
Chris, however, gives two translations:
Je ne suis pas en France depuis longtemps.
Je ne suis pas arrivé en France depuis longtemps.
He then explains "The former sentence talks about a period which started in the past and continues up until the present time. The second one focuses on the event of the arrival, which has no connection to the present."
For me personally, this explanation is too terse and opaque to clarify anything. It fails to explain what focusing on "the event of the arrival" changes in terms of grammar rules. Further, it doesn't acknowledge, in this instance at least, the fact that the lesson's instructions are seemingly contravened, or explain why this is so.
Either there is a mistake in the quiz (which is doubtful), or another section needs to be added to the lesson to explain this exception.
One of my 'test recommended' questions was: Il prend toujours l’avion. - Non, il ________ l'avion
The answer given was: 'ne prend jamais' and my answer 'ne prend jamais de' was marked incorrect.
Why is there no 'de' in this case when the 'vous mangez de la viande' example on this page shows there is?
I found Chris' post very helpful. Merci! What remains unclear is the use of de qui. Couple of specific questions 1) Can I say both "La fille dont je parle" or "la fille de qui je parle"? Or does the verbal clause (parler de) require dont even if it's a person? 2) Do I use de qui with a prep phrase in stead of duquel (and its derivatives)? For example, "La fille près de qui je me suis assise" Would "'de laquelle" be equally acceptable in that sentence?
I am not sure why "chaque" or "tous les" are classified as "duration", when they should labelled as "frequency". To me, it seems to be a mistake.
I recently ran across a guideline which contradicts the quiz sentence "Il est venu pour voir Sarah" associated with this lesson!!
'Venir' is purportedly one of the verbs which does not take ANY preposition before the following infinitive when the context is 'come 'to do 'action of the infinitive' ! So he came to do what.. to see Sarah! So (according to that guideline ) the preposition 'pour' is at least superfluous here if not invalid! Please clarify.
I know this question has already been somewhat addressed earlier (I'll quote the comments here), but I didn't find the answer very clarifying. So I'll repeat the issue, quote the explanations that were given, and attempt to explain why I'm still confused.
In a test question, we are asked:
How would you say ''I haven't been in France for long.'' ?
The only tenable-seeming answers are:
-Je ne suis pas arrivé en France depuis longtemps (marked correct)
-Je n'arrive pas en France depuis longtemps (marked incorrect)
In spite of the questionable use of the verb "arriver", I actually chose the latter option on the basis that, in the lesson, we are told:
– Ne ... pas + Passé composé + depuis longtemps = not for a long time / not in ages -> It's over and done in the past
– Ne ... pas + Présent indicatif + depuis longtemps = not long / not for long -> It started a short while ago, and is still ongoing
Commenting on the issue, Cécile's gives this transition:
– I haven't been in France for long = Je ne suis pas en France depuis longtemps.
Like the instructions in the lesson, and the second answer in the quiz (which was marked incorrect), this translation conforms with the use of the Présent indicatif + depuis longtemps to describe something that "is still ongoing."
Chris, however, gives two translations:
Je ne suis pas en France depuis longtemps.
Je ne suis pas arrivé en France depuis longtemps.
He then explains "The former sentence talks about a period which started in the past and continues up until the present time. The second one focuses on the event of the arrival, which has no connection to the present."
For me personally, this explanation is too terse and opaque to clarify anything. It fails to explain what focusing on "the event of the arrival" changes in terms of grammar rules. Further, it doesn't acknowledge, in this instance at least, the fact that the lesson's instructions are seemingly contravened, or explain why this is so.
Either there is a mistake in the quiz (which is doubtful), or another section needs to be added to the lesson to explain this exception.
Vous aviez pu le voir une dernière fois.
You had been able to see him one last time.
I am confused where did you get the HIM?
I find this expression interesing: "comme le veut la tradition". Is there a specific lesson for that?
Would it work also in these examples? E.g. "The cake was made of chocolate, like how he wanted it." "The red coat is more beautiful, as she says."
Thank you
Can anyone explain to me the difference between rien and aucun?Thanks
I am finding these extremely difficult, for some reason, despite doing a lot of wotk on ce que / que etc. It would be helpful if you could find some way of explaining why the wrong answers are wrong.
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