French language Q&A Forum

In this listening practice, it is stated that the preferred response is 'je prends mon petit-déjeuner' - that is, with the hyphen. I left the hyphen out. Checking on the Academie Francaise site dictionary, it does not appear to recognise the hyphenated form as being accepted at all, and refers to déjeuner as either the first or midday meal, noting that in common use 'un petit déjeuner' is used for 'a breakfast'. It does note that déjeuner itself is also a verb intransitive form, but does not list petit-déjeuner (or the informal petit-déj) as accepted. The Academie is obviously prescriptive generally and French for France, but even for dictionairies with a more descriptive approach, such as Larousse, the hyphenated form is not listed as a 'noun', and only as being used as a V.I. (familier) at times (ie Je petit-déjeuner and translated as meaning «je prends (son) petit déjeuner». On the other hand, le Robert dico en ligne, does denote the hyphenated form as a noun. At the least, I think it is incorrect in the lesson to suggest the preferred form should be hyphenated, as at best it seems to me an argument can be made that either is acceptable (although not if the Academie remains the ultimate reference for material on this website). Worth a look?

Since étoiles started with a vowel- I entered “millards d’étoiles- but it was marked wrong for

Millards de étoiles

Why is this?

Je ne comprends pas le verbe “patiner” dans ce cadre, où il veut dire “Come to a standstill.” Je cherche des définitions, mais je suis pas arrivé à le reconciler le traduction. 

Vous aviez pu le voir une dernière fois. 

You had been able to see him one last time.

I am confused where did you get the HIM?

Why the verb connaître for “to meet”

Thanks

Why is ce restaurant plâit à nous wrong? Shouldn't ce restaurant nous plâit and ce restaurant plâit à nous both be correct?

I used “de laquelle” in the last sentence instead of “dont”.  Is this unacceptable?

J'habite en Nigeria, c'est correct? S'il vous plaît 

I have recently come across le poêle (as one of the words for) - stove; la poêle - frying pan/skillet. Fairly common kitchen terms, so may be worth adding to the list?