Qu'est-ce qui sent le chocolat

pamela B.C1Kwiziq community member

Qu'est-ce qui sent le chocolat

Why isn't it "qu'est-ce qui sent comme le chocolat" if the answer is "what smells like chocolate"?  It looks like "what does chocolate smell like."

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Pamela,

Actually, "What does chocolate smell like ?" is a totally different question to "what smells like chocolate ?".

In the second one, you already know what the 'odeur/arôme' of chocolate is.

To answer your question you would have to say something like :

Comment expliquer/définir l'arôme du chocolat ?

But 

Qu'est-ce qui sent le chocolat ? What smells like chocolate? 

Bonne Continuation!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Pamela,

Try here Describing senses with "sentir" - The different meanings of the verb "sentir" in French%252Fsearch%253Fs%253Dsentir

Towards the bottom of this piece it specifically covers this type of "smelling like" useage.

I think that this may help you.

Alan (Jim)

Qu'est-ce qui sent le chocolat

Why isn't it "qu'est-ce qui sent comme le chocolat" if the answer is "what smells like chocolate"?  It looks like "what does chocolate smell like."

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