Les airs

Question

Hi: I'm puzzled by the use of the plural form "les airs" in this phrase: "les fleurets élancés qui fendent les airs."  Why not: "qui fendent l'air"?  Thank you! Kalpana

Accepted Answer

Hi Kalpana,
We accept both 'l'air' and 'les airs' in this sentence.
In Fencing, there are single actions or movements through the air which would use the singular only.

Une attaque en l'air = An attack in the air
Un coup en l'air = A hit in the air

The plural "les airs" is less common in technical fencing terminology and might be used in more general descriptions of airborne fencing actions or when describing a fencer's style that frequently involves leaving the ground which is the case in our example.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Bonjour Kalpana,My vision is that the fencers having commenced fencing, will have created several blade strokes thereby creating "airs" (multiple disturbed air molecules) as the the foils made several sweeps during the contest.Bonne JournéeJim