French language Q&A Forum

As a note, this is very poorly written for English speaking people to translate. "Happy as a clam" = "heureux comme un poisson dans l'eau" uh, sure. Why not just write "happy like a fish in water" so we could actually translate it? "Don't be pigheaded" = "ne sois pas têtue comme une mule" again, why not just say "don't be stubborn like a mule". "I could eat a horse" = "j'ai une faim de loup" - why not just say "hungry like a wolf". Made this exercise unnecessarily hard. 

The difference is the same as in English: une glace de marrons -- an ice cream made from chestnuts (the main ingredient is chestnuts)

une glace aux marrons -- an ice cream made with chestnuts (chestnuts are not the main ingredient)    

This nuance wasn't clear from the lesson above. How does one distinguish 'from' versus 'with' in such cases?

While the lesson is clear that the le passé composé is used here to use depuis for negation, I'm not sure how to ask the question that leads to this response: 

For example: When was the last time you your mother saw you? 

- Is it: Quelle était la dèrniere fois/Depuis quand ta mere t'a vu/te vois?

In either the case the answer would be in passé composé: for instance: Elle ne m'a pas vu depuis longtemps

Thanks!

Are there any patterns to looks for in the verbs that are conjugated with è VS. the verbs conjugated with the (ll/tt) rule? If not, are there any tricks to memorize these select exceptions from the (ll/tt) rule? 

I can't seem to get these two lessons down because I have no rule for distinguishing between the verbs which have distinct conjugations. 

Is the “ en  train de finir” construct also accepted for the question: “Louis is finishing his homework”?

Is it correct to say "Il a encore besoin des oiseaux?  

Also, is it correct to say "De quoi est-ce Catherine a besoin?