Both ce and cet mean this or that for masculinenouns. Normally, you use ce for masculine words. However, because oignon starts with a vowel, saying ce oignon is hard to pronounce. French uses cetbefore a masculine noun starting with a vowel or a silent 'h' so the words flow together smoothly.
Why is it J'achète and not Je achète?
When short words like je (I) end in a vowel and the next word also starts with a vowel, French drops the first vowel and adds an apostrophe. Sinceachète starts with an 'a', je becomes j' to make it easier to say out loud.
Why does achète have an accent mark (è) when the dictionary form acheter doesn't?
Acheter (to buy) is a verb that slightly changes its spelling when conjugated. For forms like je, tu, il, and ils, a grave accent is added to the first 'e' (achète) to change how the vowel sounds. You do not add this accent for the nous and vous forms.
Does J'achète mean I buy or I am buying?
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It translates to both! French does not have a separate verbtense for actions happening right now (like the English -ing form). You use the standard present tenseJ'achète to mean either I buy in general or I am buying at this exact moment.
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