French language Q&A Forum

Here we use Passé composé because the use of the negation ne ... pas insists on the fact that the action stopped happening at the specific time mentioned (since/for) in the past. 

If we used Présent indicatif here, it would make it sound like the action "keeps on stopping" during the given length of time.

To say that a (recurring) action in the past has now stopped happening with depuis, you can also use Présent indicatif with ne ... plus (not any more) instead of ne ... pas: 

Regarding Cathy's question, the two following answers were accepted as being correct with both là  and y replacing 'dans une clairière'. The first was the answer given by KWIZIQ as the first choice.

1. je me repose là pendant quelques minutes. 

2. je m'y repose pendant quelques minutes.

 I understand that y can replace 'dans + place',  and I often read that y and là have different meanings, but have never found a clear explanation as to when you 'can' use one or the other when referring to a place.

I would really appreciate someone explaining to me why both are correct.  

Why is it "Nous faisons des progrès" instead of "le progrès?

Why is there a need to add "je suis" to "d'accord?"  There are only 2 people in this conversation, so it would seem obvious that the one is agreeing with the other without identifying himself.  It's a bit cumbersome and wordy, esp in spoken interaction.  Do  people actually talk like that in real life???

Je ne suis pas une mère, donc je n'ai pas des enfants. 

On my computer the hints are shown on the phrase after they are needed - eg tout le monde.  I have seen this on many of the excercises.

je me repose là pendant quelques minutes. 

je m'y repose pendant quelques minutes. 

je m'y relaxe durant quelques minutes. 

May I know what the me y make the meaning different here from me only?

For: The girls have just left  can I use Les fils viennent de partir AND Les fils viennent de partir.

Do you guys have quizzes for these vocabulary sections?

Can someone explain why sometimes you make a "direct object" do something and other times an "indirect object"?  Examples:

Je le fais asseoir à côté de moi (direct object) - I make him sit next to me

Je lui fais sortir la poubelle (indirect) - I make him take out the garbage

Elle lui fait cueillir les fleurs (indirect) - She makes him pick the flowers

There has to be a unifying rule that explains this distinction.  Any help is much appreciated.  Thanks.