Question 1

Why does this sentence use que instead of qui after C'est la coupe?

Accepted Answer

We use c'est ... que because la coupe is the object of the action (it is the thing being won). If we wanted to emphasize the subject (the ones doing the winning), we would use qui. For example: C'est l'équipe qui veut gagner (It is the team that wants to win).

Question 2

Why isn't que shortened to qu' before l'équipe?

Accepted Answer

Although équipe starts with a vowel, the word immediately following que is the article l'. Since l' creates a consonant sound, que keeps its e. You only change que to qu' when the very next word starts with a vowel or silent h (like in qu'ils or qu'elle).

Question 3

Why is gagner in the infinitive form instead of being conjugated?

Accepted Answer

When two verbs are used together in French and the first one is conjugated (here, veut), the second verb stays in its full infinitive form (gagner). This works just like English: wants (conjugated) to win (infinitive).

Question 4

Could I just say L'équipe veut gagner la coupe aujourd'hui instead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! That is the standard, neutral way to state the fact. Wrapping the sentence in C'est ... que is a special structure used specifically to add emphasis, highlighting that it is the cup (and not a different prize or match) that they want to win.

C'est la coupe que l'équipe veut gagner aujourd'hui.

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