On = we, one, people

Hi Shari,

'On ne peut pas stationner ici'    is     'You cannot park here'...

The you here applies to everyone, in other words,  it is forbidden to park here.

It is a bit like: 

On ne sait jamais ce que nous réserve l'avenir = You never know what the future holds

Which is a saying for a truth that applies to everyone.

Not sure what you mean about the verb tense not matching...

Thanks, Cécile.  I selected all three in my quiz answer - One, You and We - but the answer was just One and You.  I was trying to figure out how I could decipher why We was not included and thought the form of the conjugation (sorry, not tense) ‘peut’ might be an indication.  But ‘peut’ matches the third person spelling so that left me with the question of why You and not We.

Hi Shari,

All 3 are correct - I just tried the question myself and it accepted all 3.

With these multiple selection questions, I sometimes find that one of the answers I was sure I had selected is missing. Then it can be confusing when you compare the correct answer with what you supposedly entered. Maybe that's happened to you.

I have a feeling there may be a bug somewhere - perhaps if you click on the answers too quickly.

Hi Ayushi - I can see a kwiz so if this is still an issue for you, please take a screenshot and send it in to support. Many thanks!

Okay!

Yes, it would be wrong. "On" always and without exception takes the verb in 3rd person singular.

merci beaucoup :)

Sometimes you know because the participle or an adjective gives it away. Simetimes you only know from context. 

-- Chris. 

Hi - I just checked and this seems fine. Is this still happening for you?

"On" can be used as an informal "we" or a more impersonal, general subject like the English "one". Depending on which one it is, one uses either the plural (when used as "we") or the singular (when used as "one").

On est allés au cinéma hier soir. -- We went to the movies yesterday evening.
Olivier et moi, on est mariés. -- Oliver and I, we are married.
Quand on est poli, on accueille les invités. -- If one is polite, one welcomes the guests.

The first two sentences are examples of "on" meaning "we"; the last one features "on" as "one".

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Thank you, that's very helpful.

It was a wrong answer when I used "allons-nous sort?" for this kwiz question. Why is it wrong?

Hi Judy, 

the lesson is about "on", hence I suspect the answer is looking for a construction using it. 

On sort -- Are we going out. 

Nous sortons? -- Are we going out (using nous in place of on). 

Va-t-on sortir? -- Are we going to go out?

Allons-nous sortir? Are we going to go out (using nous). 

"Allons-nous sort" is incorrect because need the infinitive (sortir) after the conjugated verb. "Sortir" means "to go out" it can't be used as an adjective for "out". 

-- Chris (not a native speaker). 

Thank you Chris.  I did finally realize that the verb was not the proper tense in my answer--but not until after I had posted the question!

Bonjour Lewis !

"Va" is indeed the form for "il/elle" but also for "on".
Think of "on" as an equivalent to the general "one" (both are singular words, but refer to more than one person):

See also : 
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/subject-pronouns-nous-versus-on

 

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !

Bonjour Truc, Here is another locution that uses «avec» : Les gens ne devraient pas parler avec leur bouche pleine In fact, here is another translation to the phrase in your question: «On ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine» --> You do not have to talk with your mouth full . As can be seen from the different locutions, they say similar things in a different way, i.e. don't talk with your mouth full. After I reread the lesson, I better understand the syntax: «You can also use 'on' in a more general sense like this: Si on travaille dur, on gagne plus If you work hard you earn more Here "on" includes Men/people in general, or can be a theoretical statement such as"one ". This form is often used WHEN EXPRESSING RULES such as: On ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine. People shouldn't speak with their mouths full.» What I get from this as a takeaway is this: «On» is being used in a general sense in a politeness rule; sometimes in stating a rule, the very valid French grammar is not always adhered to and the lesson is on the use of «on» not about the use of «la bouche pleine» nor about «avec la bouche pleine». If we write this in l'imperatif this is the phrase: «Ne parle pas la bouche pleine» or «Ne parlez pas avec la bouche pleine». J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait. Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde français depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet Ron (un locuteur non natif )

The French grammar actually is correct. You don't need the word "avec" as in the corresponding English version "with your mouth full". -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Parler la bouche pleine means to speak with your mouth full.