French language Q&A Forum

Hello,

I'd like to know why the C1 quizzes focus so extensively on the Passé Simple. The tense is never used in speaking, (except perhaps in a stilted academic discourse), and is encountered primarily when reading. 

For example, on a recent C1 quiz, seven of the ten questions were on the Passé Simple. I'd rather have my quizzes focus more on idiomatic expressions. Instead, the passé simple questions come up over and over again, even when I score a perfect "10" on a given quiz.

Thanks,

Greg

Hi Kwiziq team,

Why not "their lives" here: 

Je fais ce que je peux pour rendre leur(s) vie(s) plus facile tout en leur faisant découvrir notre culture.

Thank you

Hi, in “d'où l'on pouvait admirer la vallée du Rouvres en contrebas,” is the “l’” in “l’on” purely for euphonics (i.e. it carries no meaning)?

I don't understand when to use dont or que.

Can you explain why passé composé is used to translate 'I didn't have the time before my trip'? I always make this mistake because I think that the speaker means they didn't have the time for an extended period of time and I often think that imparfait should be used in those cases.

I notice that "carte bancaire" was used here,  not "carte bleue" and carte bleue wasn't given as an acceptable answer. Is it falling out of use in France ?

Qu'est-ce c'est la différence en français entre "he made the dish, which she loved" (she loved that he made it) et "he made the dish that she loved" (it is her favorite dish)?

''Je crois que le modèle que nous imaginions, où les gens travaillaient de chez eux, s'est concrétisé.''

For example, in the sentence above, 'où' does not mean 'when' or 'where'; rather, it is used to describe the 'modèle', which is not a time or place. Why is the use of 'où' still correct?

Thank you.

Merci Aurelie. 

Miam !  Everything looks so good. I can't decide what to have!

I learned a new use of the word: "choux", from your definition of Profiteroles: (re: choux filled with ice cream).  I was a little confused at first knowing that "choux" means "cabbage" in French, but I had never heard the term used in American English.

However, according to Collin's English dictionary, it is a noun in Bristish English meaning: 

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Word 

"origin: partial translation of French pâte choux cabbage dough (from its round shape)"

Merci et Bon Apetit !