Learn French: Le détective remarque une empreinte sur la porte ! - The detective notices a fingerprint on the door!

Le détective remarque une empreinte sur la porte !

The detective notices a fingerprint on the door!

Breakdown of Le détective remarque une empreinte sur la porte !

Questions & Answers about Le détective remarque une empreinte sur la porte !

Since this lesson is about indefinite pronouns, how would I say "The detective notices something on the door"?

You would replace une empreinte with quelque chose (something). The sentence becomes: Le détective remarque quelque chose sur la porte !

Does remarque mean he is making a remark out loud?

It can mean to make a remark, but in French the verb remarquer most commonly means to notice or to spot. In this context, the detective isn't talking; he is just noticing the clue.

Does empreinte always specifically mean "fingerprint"?

Not always! Une empreinte is a general word for any print or mark made by pressing. It can be a footprint (une empreinte de pas) or a fingerprint (une empreinte digitale). However, in a crime context, just saying une empreinte usually implies a fingerprint.

Why do we use sur here instead of à?

Sur la porte is the right choice because sur means physically "on" the surface of something. If you said à la porte, it would mean "at the door" (like someone standing there waiting), rather than a mark stuck directly on the wood.