Language registerWhen I speak with native speaker friends, they would never respond to any of the "tu veux... / tu penses que... / tu crois que..." questions above with a "le" in their response. I know it's correct, but is this a feature of formal French? When I'm in France, I always hear "Oui, je pense/crois/veux" as a short sentence response when I ask people if they think/believe/want something.
Actual questions I've asked native speakers and responses I've got: Tu veux aller au magasin avec moi? Oui, je veux (bien). Tu penses qu'il reste du pain? Oui, je pense. Tu crois qu'il va pleuvoir? Oui, je crois.
I only see and hear le used when people are expressing a longer idea, like in the lesson example "Pauline pense vraiment que c'est bien de faire des études?" - "Oui, Pauline le pense vraiment." where a long clause is introduced that would have to be replaced by le in a response.
What do you think?
Hello
on the quiz: "we are leaving at four:" I chose "nous sortons à quatre," because I took it to mean "in the process of." But "partons" is correct, because "sortons" requires an actual place. Is that correct?
Thanks
We are leaving at four o’clock." ?Nous partons à quatre heures.Nous laissons à quatre heures.Nous quittons à quatre heures.Nous sortons à quatre heures.how can we watch the film?
Il ne t'a pas appelé de peur que tu ne luiraccroches au nez.
He didn't call you for fear that you may hung up on him.
should be might hang up...
Can you say
Ma soeur a un bebe neuf
meaning a brand new baby?
What is the rule for using the pesky little accent circumflex with possessive plurals-- adjectives and pronouns (notre and votre)? Used only with pronouns but not adjectives? Is that right?
When I speak with native speaker friends, they would never respond to any of the "tu veux... / tu penses que... / tu crois que..." questions above with a "le" in their response. I know it's correct, but is this a feature of formal French? When I'm in France, I always hear "Oui, je pense/crois/veux" as a short sentence response when I ask people if they think/believe/want something.
Actual questions I've asked native speakers and responses I've got: Tu veux aller au magasin avec moi? Oui, je veux (bien). Tu penses qu'il reste du pain? Oui, je pense. Tu crois qu'il va pleuvoir? Oui, je crois.
I only see and hear le used when people are expressing a longer idea, like in the lesson example "Pauline pense vraiment que c'est bien de faire des études?" - "Oui, Pauline le pense vraiment." where a long clause is introduced that would have to be replaced by le in a response.
What do you think?
I think I have seen both la douane and les douanes used for the French customs police. Is there a rule for which to use and when?
I think in English, especially in the UK, it is an evolving language and many grammatical rules are being overwritten by common usage. On that basis, I think it is becoming harder and harder to prescribe firm rules, and more often the answer is "either may be acceptable". Unfortunately, bad/lazy/incorrect/slang grammar, used repeatedly, becomes acceptable/normal grammar. I struggle to teach my children proper grammar, but they hear incorrect grammar all around them, even from teachers, and they use what the hear more than what I tell them is good grammar. e.g. "James and me went to the cinema."
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