French language Q&A Forum

The text uses the infinitive for "je passerai la soiree a parler ..." and the gerund for "Geraldine s'ennuiera en ecoutant ..." Why is the infinitive used in the first part of the sentence and the gerund used in the second part?

One of the examples given is:

- T'appelles-tu Martine?

- Is your name Martine?

How would one say "Is my name Martine?"

My ear says that the kind of inversion describe in this lesson ("M'appelle-je Martine?") isn't allowed in French for the first person singular. But I could be wrong.

In any case, it'd be helpful to add either an example, or a specific note that this isn't allowed, to the lesson. Thanks!

I'm confused by 'si vous pouviez ajouter' above which I'm not sure how to translate. I would have said 'si vous pourriez ajouter': 'if you would/could add'

Hello - 

I'm still confused about why "Nous nous habillions à 6 heures et demie", "We got dressed at half past 6", is imparfait and not passe compose. This seems to be one specific event (not describing a repeated action), is complete, has a clear beginning (6:30), and isn't an opinion or (I don't think) story background. What rule would I use to know it's imparfait?

Bonjour,  dans une leçon controverse, il'y avait la question de "touts les vendredis" ou "le vendredi" pour aller en ville.  Selon la leçon, la façon correcte pour exprimer : Paul takes the train every Friday =  Paul prend le metro le vendredi.  Dans cette exercise, vous constatez que Ma soeur va nager le samedi est faux pour dire "every Saturday.  

Quelle response est bonne ou est-ce que quelque chose ou régle m'echape?

Merci,

Diane

This exercise used the imperfect tense of pouvoir to translate the English word, could.  The French also use the conditional tense to translate could.  I am sometimes confused as to the correct choice when trying to translate could.  I searched the library for pouvoir and found lots of lessons regarding various tenses for pouvoir; however, I found none for the imperfect.  I am surmising that the use of the imperfect for pouvoir is appropriate in what I call "if I could-then I would" constructions. The if part would take the imperfect of pouvoir.  This is distinctive from a simple condition as in "Could you pass me the salt?", which I believe would use the conditional form of pouvoir.  I hope you understand my question.  I am simply trying to figure out when to use the imperfect form for pouvoir when trying to translate could.  Thanks in advance.

J'adore la Tour Eiffel - elle est vraiment belle! On espère qu'elle va durer depuis une autre siècle en plus!