Question 1

Why does this sentence use parce que (because) instead of pour (for / in order to) since this lesson is about pour?

Accepted Answer

Pour shows a goal or purpose and is usually followed by an infinitive verb (like pour travailler = in order to work). But this sentence gives a reason or cause for his tiredness, not a goal. To explain a reason using a full mini-sentence with a subject and a verb (il travaille), you must use parce que.

Question 2

Why is there an apostrophe in parce qu'il?

Accepted Answer

The phrase for "because" is parce que. In French, when a short word ending in e is followed by a word starting with a vowel, like il (he), the e is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. This makes the words flow together smoothly. So, parce que il becomes parce qu'il.

Question 3

Would the word fatigué change if we were talking about a woman?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because fatigué (tired) is a describing word (an adjective) linked to il (he), it is in the masculine form. If the subject were elle (she), you would add an e to make it feminine: Elle est fatiguée. It sounds exactly the same when spoken, but the spelling changes.

Question 4

I noticed tard looks a bit like the English word "tired". Are they related?

Accepted Answer

No, this is just a coincidence! Tard simply means "late" when talking about time. The French word for "tired" is fatigué, which might remind you of the English word "fatigued".

Il est fatigué parce qu'il travaille très tard.

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