French language Q&A Forum

I agree with others that this lesson is very confusing. There’s no explanation as to why jeter and appeler are different from the other eTer and eLer verbs discussed in the section above them (lever, acheter). I think this has to do with how the present tense is spelled, but some more explicit explanation would be helpful. Further, the very top section (I realize I’m moving from bottom to top) gives accent rules for ALL eXer verbs, so what comes below is confusing because it appears there are exceptions and we’re not told why. Thanks for any help in clarifying this.

Very 'tricky/unnatural' syntax for this 'idiom' 

le gâteau était en forme de fusée ! so forme and fusée are two nouns with noun 2 acting  as adjective (like 'la salle de classe). No article before first noun because of preposition 'en' which  kinda  fools us(well me) a bit. I tried "they made rocket shaped  cakes" and got "ils ont fait des gâteaux en forme de fusée". Rockets have ONE SHAPE and thus all the cakes had that ONE shape.

I tried "they made cards in the shapes of flowers" and got "ils ont fait des cartes en forme de fleurs". Not 'formes'! Usually even behind idioms are solid grammatical truths.. I suspect this is a dumb question but does  the use of 'en' in this context require a singular noun. Examples of 'not' dont come to mind... unless with a noun like 'larmes' which is really be default plural.

How would you say  " in my last summer vacations i.........."

Thank you!

Bonjour Madame Cécile !

I wrote to you regarding a nuance between the use of tenses in the Past Time a while ago. 

You had provided me with this sentence ->

Après qu'il avait vu ce film, il avait été bouleversé .

After reading your answer several times, I understand that you mentioned “avait été” instead of “était” because once he ‘had seen’ the film , then he ‘had completely got shattered’ which happens immediately as the film finishes; making the actions almost simultaneous.

Hence, the use of le plus-que Parfait is recommended.

So in response to a question I had asked earlier ->

What does the use of Le plus-que-Parfait signify about the sequence of events happening in the sentences ? Does it connote an action getting completed or finished prior to another or simultaneous actions occurring in the past ?

It can also be used to signify an action getting completed prior to another however, the time interval between the two actions in the past should be a longer one .

As in the sentence-

Nous étions très surpris de les voir, car ils n'étaient pas venus ici depuis trois ans.-> We were very surprised to see them, for they hadn't come here for three years.

The action of “not coming there” got finished three years ago and the result of this action is that ‘they were surprised to see them when they returned’

J'étais sorti de la voiture quand je les ai entendus.-> I'd got out of the car when I heard them.

The action of “getting out of the car” was finished long back . He was already out when he heard their sound.

Elles étaient allées manger une glace quand le voleur est venu.-> They had gone to eat an ice cream when the thief came.

Here, the sentence emphasises on the point that the girls were not at home (they had already went out) when the thief entered. [LONGER TIME GAP]

If one writes it as - Elles sont allées manger une glace quand le voleur est venu. 

This will imply that the action of the girls going to the ice cream parlour happened in close proximity to the action of the thief entering the house. [SHORTER TIME GAP] which makes the case less elegant.

Is my justification correct ? Again, thanks for spending time to respond.

Frankly speaking Madame, I am working really hard to get right with my tenses and your endeavour and support is crucial to hone my skills.

Bonne journée!