French language Q&A Forum

Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert French teachers

15,062 questions • 32,757 answers • 1,043,808 learners

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

And get your personalised Study Plan to improve it

Find your French level

mon k.C1KwizIQ Q&A regular contributor

Nuances between "à qui" & "auquel" (etc.)

I know that with living beings we have the choice between "à qui" vs. "auquel/à laquelle/auxquels/àuxquelles". Is there any nuance in terms of formality or elegance between the use these two options?

Asked 5 years ago

Like0Answer1

Ashby M.B2KwizIQ community member

Ancien meaning before and after the noun

I read in a French magazine:

La nécropole de Chellah, l'un des plus anciens sites du pays.

I would translate this as 'One of the most ancient sites of the country.

But 'ancien' before the noun means 'former', which would not make sense. Has the addition of 'plus' caused a change in the structure ? So confusing !

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer1

James W.C1KwizIQ Q&A regular contributor

Elles sont restées à les regarder une dizaine de minutes

A similar question has been asked but I dont understand why "à" is needed when "regarder" means "to watch"? So why is the extra "à" needed? I couldn't find anything that says "rester" is followed by "à" anywhere?

Asked 5 years ago

Like0Answer4

Laura C.C1KwizIQ Q&A regular contributor

en train de

Salut, If it is correct to say, Je suis en train de lire le journal, why can't one say, "Mes oncles sont en train de peler des pommes de terre dans la cuisine." ?

Thank you

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer2

Mark P.C1KwizIQ Q&A super contributor

Durant vs il y a'Tu es resté enfermé ________ une heure?'' You stayed locked in for an hour?Marked wrong for il y a.. they wanted "durant"The help does not explain the difference and why I am wrong.. any ideas?

Asked 5 years ago

Like0Answer2

Elisabeth W.A1KwizIQ community member

how to type accents?

Hello - would anyone be able to help with typing accents? I'm not able to add any into the answers. Thank you

Asked 6 years ago

Like1Answer1

Christopher J.C1KwizIQ Q&A regular contributor

Seems like there are 2 correct answers7"Qu'est-ce que c'est ?" means
I keep getting this wrong because I choose the wrong answer "What is it that it is" because in the lesson for "What is it" it offers
"Literally "what is it that it is?", it is pronounced [kess kuh say]."
but the correct answer according to the test is "What is it".
Why is the literal meaning not correct? If I had my way the literal answer wouldn't be listed.

Asked 2 years ago

Like1Answer3

Angela N.A2KwizIQ community member

Why is heroes singular Les heroes vont why is it va

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer2

may c.A1KwizIQ community member

should i use de ou des?

Hello. Why is it written de chansons and not des chansons? I was writing a translation of "write song lyrics". and it said the translation was "écrire des paroles de chansons." why is it de chansons and not des chansons?

Asked 4 years ago

Like0Answer1

Anita P.C1KwizIQ Q&A regular contributor

tiny hands / to grab

Instead of "avec ses mains minuscules" for "with his tiny hands", could you also say "avec ses toutes petites mains" ?

And

instead of the verb "attraper" could i have used "se saisir de" and said "il s'est saisi de mon pouce" ?

Asked 6 years ago

Like0Answer1