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Mike H.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
En replacing a prepositional phrase beginning with "de"La liberté d'expression est un droit fondamental mais il faut ________ respecter les limites.  The correct answer is "en", but it is seems to me that what must be respected is "la liberte", not "d'expression" which is not a phrase, but a modifier of la liberte.
Asked 3 years ago
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N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Use of "le, la, les.." vs. possessive pronouns: "son, sa, ses..."

I have noticed that all the phrases use the pronouns, "le or la". As in:

"La fille dont le frere travaillait avec moi..."

"Francois, dont j'ai rencontre la femme..."

Is there any problem with saying the following for example?:

"La fille, dont son frere travaillait avec moi, a gagne le prix"

"La femme, dont son fils j'ai rencontre la semaine derniere..."

"Amelie, dont ses enfants sont venus chez nous, sont bien eleves"


Asked 3 years ago
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D. A.C1Kwiziq community member
Difficult to understand 'confiais a eux'

ce gars parle trop vite!

Asked 3 years ago
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Annich M.B2Kwiziq community member
answer given - la mien - how can this be? Je vois ton sac, mais où est ________ ? I see your bag, but where is mine? la mien

Surely it is le mien? Please explain

Asked 3 years ago
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Martin D.A2Kwiziq community member
Two verbs for 'to save'

why is 'épargner' wrong for 'economiser' - does it not mean 'to save' (as in money)?

Asked 3 years ago
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Anita P.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
ne…pas de

I’ve always thought that in a negation the preposition ‘de’ is used, so in « I don’t waste water » I wrote « je ne gaspille pas d’eau » but this was corrected to « je ne gaspille pas l’eau ». My thought pattern was supported in « when I can’t cycle » - « quand je ne peux pas faire de vélo » (given that : to cycle = faire du vélo). Can this be explained ?

Asked 3 years ago
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coca p.C1Kwiziq community member
pourquoi c'est pas 'j'avais plein de doutes' ?

avoir des doutes -- > avoir plein de doutes                                                                                              C'est pas comment ça? 

Asked 3 years ago
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N. Hilary (Shamrockhill) W.C1Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
"Faire des cadeaux a..."

This is a new expression for me for "giving a gift to someone". I know the expression, "faire quelque chose a quelqu'un" can be used in other ways such as "faire un calin a". 

Are there many other similar expressions and is there a lesson on this subject? 

Thank you for your help, as always.

Asked 3 years ago
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D. A.C1Kwiziq community member
I must have done it or I had to do it

Both of the sentences above are translated as "J'ai du le faire".

BUT the two formulations in English have not-very-subtle differences in meaning.

"I had to..."  implies "I was obligated to.."  or "I was forced to..."  - very definite!

"I must have..."  implies "I may have forgotten to ..."  -- quite indefinite!

How are these different flavors of meaning expressed en francais?

Asked 3 years ago
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Maria A.A2Kwiziq community member
why do you say " faire de la plongée" but "jouer au beach volley"
Asked 3 years ago
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