French language Q&A Forum

Hello, bonjour!

 This is not a question, just a comment. I must say I really like to the voice of the woman reading the sentences on this page!! Lovely voice and style - more of this reader, please!

On a recent quiz - "Nous quittons Londres." - was marked correct, while, "Nous quittons de Londres."  Was marked incorrect.  -- While the lesson was clear as to why "Nous partons de Londres" was the only correct answer, it was unclear on the distinction for the verb quitter.  When I read other grammatically correct phrases as " Il a quitté de son plein gré." & "Il a quitté de son poste," where quitter is used as a direct transitive verb I get more confused.   What makes the only correct usage in this case -- "Nous quittons Londres" - indirect??  

Merci beaucoup!

I fear that you drive too fast.

Could you please tell me why a 'ne' would be in this sentence? I have

copied your test question.

Thank you, Jennifer

what is the difference between these two?

I guess I find most reflexive verbs make some kind of sense in that I can see that an action is performed on oneself (e.g. se laver) or somehow internalized (e.g. s'amuser, se demander), Sometimes however I just need to know how words get formed and se moquer has me puzzled.

Best I can tell, it has been around as a reflexive verb for at least 500 years and probably comes from blowing your nose at someone as a gesture of contempt (vulgar Latin: muccare), as such it makes sense to be reflexive - as of course is the modern se moucher . Other theories are se moquer comes from dutch, german or piedmontese words for mumble, grumble or grimace, which also kind of makes sense as reflexives. BTW the theory it comes from Norman words for 'stirring manure' has been discredited* which is just as well because that wouldn't explain the reflexive

I appreciate this isn't exactly a level A1 question, but I was wondering if anyone out there can confirm or deny my theories?

*Accordng to Tresor de la Lange Francaise

où on a degouté des specialities lyonnaises/ où on dégoutait des specialities lyonnaises (where we enjoyed Lyonnaise specialities)

I don't understand why this can't be in the imparfait as there's no end time. Is it passé composé because it is NOW finished?  It seems like this is something that happened over a period of time in the past, not quickly, so I used imparfait.

I had to resort to my dictionary as this was not clear which type of mould was meant.

A shape as opposed to a fungus as in going mouldy.