French language Q&A Forum

Chers amis,

I am not native English-speaking person, but while I was reading this lesson, I made the relations of different types of “leave” in French with my native language which is Greek. In Greek we have different words, as in French, for expressing “leave”, probably there is the same in English with specialized word of meaning “leave”. Some words in English that are synonyms to leave could be for example, depart, go, abscond, exit, vamoose, go away, run off etc. So, maybe, for a native English person could be better explaining the different notions of French “leave” with the right word in English. Is that right? What do you think?

Why is the pouvoir necessary in this sentence? I would translate it as : I am going to bring out my spring clothes. What does the "pouvoir" add to the sentence that I am missing? Thank you!

Why, in “Nous courons pour ne pas manquer notre train.”, do we have “ne pas manquer” and not “ne manquer pas”? I didn’t know that “ne pas” is valid. 

Why is it l'an prochain and not l'année prochaine?

A light bulb went off for me after reading Sandra’s post below.

If I may add my two cents worth to expand on what she said…..

When I looked back over my incorrect answers, I had been choosing responses containing ‘devoir’ without an infinitive following, so in reality those sentences had an entirely different meaning.

Devoir + noun (no verb) = to owe 

Je dois de l’argent – I owe some money

Il me doit dix euros – He owes me 10 euros

So only the first two out of the three following test examples can be correct or mean "to need": 

•Marie doit ACHETER un nouveau sac à main = correct (devoir + infinitive)

Marie needs to buy a new handbag

•Elle doit RENTRER de bonne heure = correct (devoir + infinitive)

She needs to go home early

Vous devez un nouveau vélo = incorrect (no infinitive after devez)

I owe a new bike??

Am I on the right track here?

The lesson states that « que » always follows « Je trouve »  yet « Je trouve que Halloween est... » is given as a right answer. 

My wife is a doctor:  Can this  be translated as 1)  " Ma femme est une médecine  . OR  2) Ma femme est médecin . Could you please let me know which one (if any) is correct, and an accompanying explanation would be appreciated.   Thanks 

Can someone distinguish for me the difference between the French cookie, petit gâteau, and biscuit.  Does it depend on size or thickness?

Thanks