Breakdown of Le détective observe le suspect.
le détective
the detective
observer
to observe
le suspect
the suspect
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Questions & Answers about Le détective observe le suspect.
Why is the French verb observe used here instead of a direct translation for 'is observing'?
In French, there is no separate tense for actions happening right now like our '-ing' verbs in English. The simple present tense verb observe covers both 'observes' and 'is observing'.
Do I pronounce the 'ct' at the end of suspect?
No. Even though it is spelled exactly like the English word, the final letters 'ct' in the French noun suspect are completely silent.
How would I change this sentence to say 'The detective observed no one' in the passé composé?
What if the detective observed nothing in the past? Where does rien go?
Is détective always a masculine word?