French language Q&A Forum

I understand that, as a general rule, in French, we add definite articles before a country’s name. E.g.: J’aime la France. However, I also understand that if the country’s name comes after “de”, and the country is feminine, then, we omit the definite article. E.g.: Je viens de France. However, I am terribly confused by the phrase “Au service de la France” - why is there a definite article after “de” in this phrase? 

In The sentence " la père de Caroline ne travaille pas dans une banque". Why doesn't 'UNE' in this sentence change to 'de' and stay as Une in -ve form

Okay, so I've just climbed up from A2 but this:

Je suis jalouse des nouvelles bottes que tu as achetées.

looks wrong to me.  Why do I have achetées with bottes with avoir?  

In the first examples, you have 

Jacques a manqué son train.

and then,

Vite ! On va manquer le début du concert !

Why is manquer conjugated in the first example, but not the second.  The sentence structure seems identical, except instead of have, it is go.?

Thanks.

I see that Jacques a manqué... is the passé composé, but I can't delete my question now.

Why is "He's thinking of her" - Il pense à elle instead of Il lui pense?

If someone were to ask the question "Pense-il a Marie?" Would the answer be "Oui, il lui pense."  

Good morning,

Could someone please clarify for me in the following sentences if they are in the active or passive, voice, please, and if so, why? Thank you.

1. Tu etais sortie. (Pls. forgive lack of accent. Thx.)

2. Le chien sera sorti.

3. It sera entre (again, with an acute accent). 

Thank you, Katherine.

Hello, I still find myself struggling with the passe compose vs imparfait at times. I have copied part of your online test below. The two I got wrong are in red. My logic is that "The place that enchanted me" is an opinion/description, so should be imparfait. "We walked in the garden" has no clear beginning or end, so should be imparfait. Why are these two in fact passe compose?

L'endroit qui m'enchantait au-dessus de tout,c'était le château de l'impératrice Sissi.Nous nous promenions dans ses jardins merveilleuxdont les fleurs embaumaient l'air,et les fontaines dessinaient de superbes tableaux aquatiques…C'est simple, je ne voulais plus repartir !