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Michael D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Avoir - get vs. have un permit de conduire

In the example:

Il faut qu'ils aient leur permis de conduire.
They must get their driving licence.

Avoir us used here similarly to "avoir un exam". Here it means they must 'obtain' their driver's license.

But how would you say: "They must have their driver's license (with them)"?

Context might be one way, but if 'they' was ambiguous, the imperative sentence would be ambiguous.

Asked 7 years ago

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Katy C.A1Kwiziq community member

Seem specific to me?I'm still having trouble with these two examples: C'est vraiment magnifique ici! It's really beautiful here! - ici seems to make it specific, is it not? Miam, c'est délicieux! Yummy, it's delicious! -this seems to fit the ambiguous cases example of the soup. We don't know if the speaker is talking about a certain food in general or something in front of them. That would make a difference, wouldn't it?

Asked 8 years ago

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Kenadee M.Kwiziq community member

what is 9:20 PM in French

Asked 5 years ago

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J. T.C1Kwiziq community member

Does this indicate failure?In English, when we say “I was going to...”, it implies that we intended to do something but didn’t. Is the same true in French? Or, for example, could I say « J’allais ouvrir la fenêtre quand j’ai entendu un crie horrible. Je suis sorti par la fenêtre tout suite ! »

Asked 7 years ago

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Patty B.A1Kwiziq community member

Je viens de Portland.

Asked 10 years ago

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Joakim R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

des vs les (retry)From a recent writing challenge: "It was an excellent exhibition, and she was even able to taste local specialties!" "c'était une exposition magnificent et elle a même pu goûter LES spécialités locales !" I had expected DES rather than LES here, would you please explain?

Asked 9 years ago

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Mark H.C1Kwiziq community member

Is it possible to say "La souris était mangée par le chat. -- The mouse was eaten by the cat."? How is this sentence different from "La souris a été mangée par le chat. -- The mouse was eaten by the cat.", please? Thank you. This is something I get stuck on a lot.

Asked 7 years ago

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Yelena P.A1Kwiziq community member

"Russian" nationalité

Salut,

How to say "I am Russian"? in masculine and feminine form?

Asked 5 years ago

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Michael R.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Article contractionsDoes de l'orages not contract even if orages is plural. So not "des orages" but "de l'orages." Although on second thoughts its probably "le orages" not "les orages."

Asked 8 years ago

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Jack G.C1Kwiziq community member

sûre? Êtes-vous sûr ?

I can find no reference with a definition for 'sûre' ?! Is this a colloquialism?

Asked 4 years ago

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