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Beverley R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Using "moins" for minutes to

I thought that between noon and midnight (including midnight), one never used "moins", but always used minutes past. Or, is midnight perhaps regarded as a.m.?

I can't find it in any lessons which explain this, other than one example in the A1 lesson. There is no explanation, however. Can you please explain to me the rule about when you can and cannot use "moins"for minutes to the hour.

Thank you

Asked 7 years ago

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D O.B2Kwiziq community member

Commencer avec ou commencer par ??

They both mean to start with, but which one is normally used for what situation ?

Asked 5 years ago

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Hà Thu Đ.A2Kwiziq community member

Du pain

Why is it "Il achète du pain"? I think bread is countable so it should be "Il achète des pains"

Asked 6 years ago

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Silken L.B2Kwiziq community member

How do I form the subjonctif present?

Asked 10 years ago

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Andrew K.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Les cloches sont passées Les cloches sont passées ce matin pour apporter les œufs de Pâques. The bells passed this morning to bring the Easter eggs. HINT: (In France, it's bells that bring the Easter eggs, not a bunny!) Is this expression idiomatic as the rules above dont seem to apply or have I missed something? Thanks.

Asked 9 years ago

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Beverley R.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Use of etre + descendre/monter in the passe composeI know that you use etre + ascendre or descendre or monter in the passe compose when the verb is followed by a preposition, but I am still slightly confused, with certain situations. For example, I got on.... would be "Je suis monte sur...", But "I mounted.... would be "J'ai monte...." You could say "I mounted the bus." or "I got on the bus." Could you use either, saying "Je suis monte sur le bus." OR J'ai monte le bus?" Is "to go upstairs" "monter l'escalier" or "aller en haut" I have the same problems with descendre. For example, how do you say "I went downstairs"? Forgive the lack of accents. Your advice sheet doesn't work on my computer. Beverley

Asked 8 years ago

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Susan M.C1Kwiziq community member

Stress pronouns lui and elle.I am still confused about the stress pronouns lui and elle. Is there a reason why lui is used as a stress pronoun with manquer (à), but elle is not?

Asked 8 years ago

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David R.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Nous étions ou nous avons été?

Nous avons été très surpris en apprenant la nouvelle.

We were really surprised when we heard the news.

I would have used nous étions instead of nous avons été. Is that not correct?

In English nous avons été très surpris translates to - We have been very surprised which implies the surprise happened and is still ongoing or at least has a prolonged duration, whereas nous étions translates to - We were, which implies it happened but is no longer ongoing. The latter seems to be the correct answer to this question especially since being surprised is usually a point in time thing.

Asked 5 years ago

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Dr. B.A1Kwiziq community member

If jus dʻorange is masculine, why is it "de la jus?"

Asked 5 years ago

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Brian H.C1Kwiziq community member

Ne...pas + le présent + depuis longtempsNous ne sommes pas arrivés depuis longtemps. We have not been here for long. My question is, that since the English translation appears to imply that the action continues into the present, why is the above French sentence in le passé composé and not le présent. Like the examples: Je ne vis pas en France depuis longtemps. I have not lived in France for long. Nous n'habitons pas ici depuis très longtemps. We haven't lived here very long. This is my third attempt to get an answer. The previous answers told me to read the lesson. I have read it many times. What am I missing?

Asked 8 years ago

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