French language Q&A Forum

Why is the subjunctive past used in "le plus beau cadeau que mes parents m'aient fait"?  Seems to me the subjunctive is not necessary.

I'm posting this as a new question as I previously posted it as a reply and I don't think it gets picked up and answered? (See the lesson page for original question and answer)

Many thanks Jim, that helps.  I got confused because the subject of the lesson is about adding même and then these two examples don't without any explanation as to why - or perhaps I need to re-visit the basics! So it's because he is talking of/about himself.  If he was talking to himself then it would be 'Il aime vraiment parler à lui-même' ?  Also, what if he was saying 'He really likes to talk of/about him' ie a third person - what would be the distinction?

Also, since I posted this I've looked at the lesson on stress pronouns and I'm even more confused. This lesson gives the example of 'Je parle de lui - I speak of him'. So would 'Il parle de lui' be 'He speaks of/about him' or 'He speaks of/about himself'? Help!!

Ce produit est inférieur au nôtre.

Why "au nôtre" rather than "à nôtre" 

(Faire peur à = to scare [someone/something])

What are you trying to say? That you can use either one (auquel or a qui), there is no difference?

Is nul the same as using n’importe quoi? C’est nul ! Duo allows it. Thanks. 

“You are reading the instruction manual”. Why should this not be “en train de lire” instead of a present indicative conjugation?

I don't understand why we can't use the 

when there is no reference to a duration of time. For example "during that year the letters had been sent"??? This sentence seems like it was a one time action. ???

To describe "Snow falls" ot just "Heavy snowfall", which verb should we use:

tomber or chuter?

What are the subtle or not-so-subtle differences between these two verbs?

Why is "objectif" not a good translation for "goal" here, and under what circumstances might one use it instead of "but"? 

Is it possible for purposes of emphasis to write or say "Allons-y à Paris" or should I just say 'Allons à Paris.'  Perhaps I could write 'Allons-y...à Paris'