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Barbara O.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

le passé compose vs. l'imparfait

I'm wondering why in the sentence: "...during that period, I did not have to take the train.", the imperfect of devoir is used instead of the perfect tense? Since it is a specific and closed period of time (three weeks), doesn't that mean it's not an ongoing action? Thanks.

Asked 5 years ago

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J. S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Disputed terrorities

A number of places are have a disputed status; in these cases would the form used vary with the opinion of the speaker? For instance, whilst Kwiziq states «au Québec» (as if it's a country), I can find «dans le Québec» being used.

Could someone manage to accidentally imply a particular opinion by using one form rather than another? (Presumably, this would apply more strongly to a less common form.)

(And in trying to find this out, I've discovered in/to Taiwan is «à Taïwan», following the rule for a city.)

Asked 5 years ago

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Barbara O.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Passer - different meaningsHi - I have a question regarding the verb passer. When passer is used with exams, tests, etc. I recall it means 'to take' (e.g. J'ai passé mes examens = I took my exams) and does not mean 'to pass'. I believe 'réussir' is the better choice?? Recently, I have come across a couple of translations that translate 'J'ai passé mes examens' as 'I passed my exams'. I'm wondering if someone could clarify if it is now acceptable to use passer in the context of 'passing' an exam? Thanks.

Asked 5 years ago

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Barrie S.C1Kwiziq community member

Why is Ça used to begin the specific statement relating to the play?Ça a toujours été ma pièce de théâtre ....etc. Bit surprised to see 'Ca' rather than 'Il a toujours etc .....' (as I answered), reasoning that this is a statement relating to a specific thing, ie, the play 'Waiting for Godot', whereas 'Ca' is used for general statements?

Asked 4 years ago

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Tim S.A2Kwiziq community member

en vs dans la

I don't understand why 'je suis en classe' is correct but 'Sarah est en classe' is incorrect

Asked 5 years ago

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emre can c.A2Kwiziq community member

"Je fumais depuis des années quand j'ai décidé d'arrêter"

I don't understand why "depuis" is used here despite the fact that we use "depuis" for ongoing actions as stated in the lesson below.

Using the present tense (Le Présent) - and not the compound past (Le Passé Composé) - in sentences with "depuis" (since/for) in French (French Prepositions of Time)

Asked 5 years ago

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Youbode J.A2Kwiziq community member

Sentence wording

Note also that you use qu'est-ce que if it appears at the start but quoi at the end.

:: This sentence is a little confusing, do you think this is more clear

Note;

you start a question with "qu'est-ce que"; in order words, "qu'est-ce que" only appears at the start of a question. However, you end a question with "quoi"; in order words, "quoi" only appears at appears at the end of a question.

Example

Qu'est-ce que tu fais?
Notice how the sentence starts with "qu'est-ce que"

Tu fais quoi?

Notice how the sentence ends with "quoi"

Asked 4 years ago

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Mark P.C1Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

En train de dormir or endormis?What would be the best way to say "I knocked at the door, but you were sleeping."?

Would était endormis bé acceptable here?

Asked 4 years ago

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Carolyn T.A2Kwiziq community member

avoir besoin de / avoir envie de

I recently did the lesson on "avoir envie de" (Avoir envie de = To feel like, want to (French Expressions with avoir)%252Fsearch%253Fs%253Denvie), which includes as an example "J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes". I used this phrase in this exercise and was marked wrong. Was it correct? Are there any guidelines for which "need" phrase is most appropriate for a given situation?

Asked 3 years ago

Like1Answer3

Jagoda D.B1Kwiziq community member

________ me coucher tard. I'm used to going to bed late. (HINT: use 'habitude') J'ai l'habitude de J'avais l'habitude de

Why I was wrong with imparfait?

Asked 4 years ago

Like0Answer5