Instead of sens bon I answered Je sens la rose. I thought that was right.....?

L. I.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Instead of sens bon I answered Je sens la rose. I thought that was right.....?

I expect not!
Asked 7 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer
Bonjour Lisa !

The meaning is indeed there, however "je sens la rose" is a figurative expression, which you wouldn't really translate by the plain equivalent "I smell good", but by a similarly visual image (like heaven, like roses...).
The neutral way to express "I smell good" is "Je sens bon" :)

In the same way, you would translate "it's raining cats and dogs" by the simple "il pleut", but rather the equivalent colloquial expression "il pleut des cordes".
Bonne journée !
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Lisa, Je sens la rose = I smell the rose on the other hand La rose sent bon = the rose smells good I hope that helps
L. I.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Merci Ron, I appreciate your answer. However there is a fixed case for sens la rose. Describing senses with "sentir" - The different meanings of the verb "sentir" in French%252Fsearch%253Fs%253DSentir So I think I should not have been marked wrong!
David M.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I agree with Lisa's original post.  Please clarify the difference between "I smell good" and "You smell good".  From the lesson ... Tu sens la rose aujourd'hui !   You smell good today!

L. I. asked:View original

Instead of sens bon I answered Je sens la rose. I thought that was right.....?

I expect not!

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