Breakdown of J'ai perdu le fichier parce que l'ordinateur avait effacé la mémoire.
je
I
l'ordinateur
the computer (m)
avoir
to have
parce que
because
perdre
to lose
le fichier
the file (digital)
effacer
to erase
la mémoire
the memory (f)
Questions & Answers about J'ai perdu le fichier parce que l'ordinateur avait effacé la mémoire.
Why do we use avait effacé (plus-que-parfait) instead of a effacé (passé composé) here?
We use the plus-que-parfait to show that one past action happened before another. The computer erased the memory first (avait effacé), and as a result, the speaker lost the file afterwards (J'ai perdu). The plus-que-parfait acts as the 'past of the past'.
What is the difference between un fichier and un dossier?
Un fichier is a specific digital file, like a single text document or a photo. Un dossier is a folder (either physical or digital) that holds multiple files.
Why isn't parce que shortened to parce qu' here?
Could I use the verb supprimer instead of effacer?
Yes, but they have slightly different flavors. Effacer means 'to erase' or 'to wipe out', which fits perfectly with wiping a computer's memory. Supprimer means 'to delete' or 'to remove', which is the standard term you will see in French software menus for deleting a specific file.
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