French language Q&A Forum

I could not find photocopier in the Library Index so used Larousse online dictionnaire. This gave both photocopieur (n.m.) and photocopieuse (n.f.)  I chose the masculin form so did not mark myself down.  Is there a reason to prefer the feminin form?

Regarding Cathy's question, the two following answers were accepted as being correct with both là  and y replacing 'dans une clairière'. The first was the answer given by KWIZIQ as the first choice.

1. je me repose là pendant quelques minutes. 

2. je m'y repose pendant quelques minutes.

 I understand that y can replace 'dans + place',  and I often read that y and là have different meanings, but have never found a clear explanation as to when you 'can' use one or the other when referring to a place.

I would really appreciate someone explaining to me why both are correct.  

I am bring this up because I am desperately trying to find a site where I can check my written French.  One I recently discovered https://bonpatron.com/  seemed promising at first.  

In a quiz question here on the lesson topic above, multiple choice, my answer was marked wrong:

#1 Nous sommes entrés sans que vous ne nous entendez. (wrong, and I now see why)

The correct answer was:

#2 Nous sommes entrés sans que vous nous entendiez.

I can understand why my answer is wrong, based on the lesson.  

I checked out all four sentences at Bon Patron including the last two

#3  Nous sommes entrés sans vous nous entendre.

#4 Nous sommes entrés sans vous nous entendiez.

For all four sentences, I was given a grammar score of 100% on Bon Patron.  

So I am thinking that Bon Patron is not at all helpful, unless there is some really obscure reason that the three wrong answers here might be acceptable under some obscure circumstance, which I doubt.

Writing in French (to express my own thoughts) is a real challenge for me.  At some point I have to go beyond set quizzes (and in no way is this meant as a criticism of Kwiziq) and use what I've learned here, so, for example, I can write correct French to French friend in France.

Anyone have any helpful ideas for me? 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, if you do !

I just put réussir à un examen in one of your tests and you marked the "à" as wrong although I was always taught this was correct.  I have checked in both Collins dictionary and in the Harraps dictionary and they both say réussir à un examen.  Please could you explain this?

I thought only the first letter of titles was capitalized in French. For example, in a catalogue, the title of the book "Gabrielle Roy: La détresse et l'enchantement" is written with only the proper name and the first word of the subtitle in capitals.

Can someone explain why sometimes you make a "direct object" do something and other times an "indirect object"?  Examples:

Je le fais asseoir à côté de moi (direct object) - I make him sit next to me

Je lui fais sortir la poubelle (indirect) - I make him take out the garbage

Elle lui fait cueillir les fleurs (indirect) - She makes him pick the flowers

There has to be a unifying rule that explains this distinction.  Any help is much appreciated.  Thanks.

For: The girls have just left  can I use Les fils viennent de partir AND Les fils viennent de partir.

I still can't wrap my head around when you use the subjonctif passé instead of the subjonctif présent. Can someone please give me a couple more examples?

Merci :)

Merci beaucoup!

Why is it emue and not emué here?