French language Q&A Forum

C's at biença

Hello,

When someone asks you if you can swim or you can cook how can you determine whether to use the verb pouvoir or connaitre vs savoir? 

  I have not learned about the last two verbs just yet as it is in A2 but I am familiar with them but very confused. 

Can you help me?

Thanks 

Nicole

Hi !

Would you tell me what activities are available after reading or listening to the text?

Regards,

D

hi 

can someone please explain why " je suis desolée que tu es triste" is in indicative but 

"je suis desolée que ton roman n'aie pas été publié en france "is in the subjunctive

i assume it is to do with negativity but the je suis desoléé hasn't changed

thanks

Follow up of a question from Sally ~ 1 year ago. 

In the context of the 'story' the mermaid is resting on the beach at sunset and 'also likes to collect seashells'.  For me, the first interpretation that comes to mind from this is 'I gather shells' not 'I am a collector of shells'. Currently ramasser is being 'corrected' to collectionner - « ramasser des coquillages » is not given as an option. 

The discussion below, Larousse definitions, and the use of "collectionner les", all indicate that 'collectionner' is more specific to 'being done by a collector' than just gathering. I don't think 'collectionner' is the best choice here as, without other context, the majority of beach walkers 'collecting' shells are not 'collectors' of seashells. Regardless of that, ramasser is definitely an acceptable interpretation in this context. And in that case 'ramasser des coquillages'.  Can it be added?

a) Je dormais quand tu m'as interrompu OR b) J'étais dormir quand tu... In sentence b) is être redundant as the verb dormir can be used?  

In the test question: Le policier est descendu à la cave à la recherche de la bête féroce.

May I ask what the pronoun 'la' refer to in 'à la recherche'? and why recherche is not rechercher after the preposition 'à'?

If these phrases have the same meaning, as noted in the lesson, why was answer deemed incorrect?

Harlan Spiroff