French language Q&A Forum

Just FYI a few of the lines of text do not show the translation when you hover over them.

Why is 

grandes quilles de bois acceptable but not grande boule de bois?

In the second example ‘grande’ is corrected to ‘grosse’.

Both are describing ‘big’ as in: 

-eight big wooden skittles

-a big wooden ball

There is an extra word after 'et je m'ennuie' in the audio, I cannot figure out what it is. 

No, he hasn't got a degree (marked wrong)

No, he didn't earn his degree  (correct)

I simply do not understand what the question is meant reflect.  The point is not explained.

Salut, pouvez-vous m'expliquer le temps du verbe dans cette phrase:

Je n'avais jamais boursicoté avant que Belinda ne suggère que je tente le coup et bien que je sois encore en train d'apprendre les ficelles..."

Pourquoi est le present utilisé?

Merci !

Would an alternative translation to the above be: "It was nice yesterday"    ?

Why 'du' in 'la demeur du Capitaine Haddock' instead of 'de' as in fan de Tintin and Château de Cheverny?  In general, when I interpret something as possessive, for example Tintin's fan or Cheverny's castle, I use 'de'.  So, I am puzzled about the use of 'du' for Captain Haddock's house.  I get this wrong a lot, so if you can point me to a grammar lesson or give me some guidance, I would greatly appreciate it.  Thanks, in advance.

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 !

When do you use une in place of la in french