Log inSign up

L'entreprise a moins de concurrents depuis la faillite.

L'entreprise a moins de concurrents depuis la faillite.
The company has fewer competitors since the bankruptcy.
From Lesson 190:Subjunctive for doubt and possibility (douter que, il est possible que)·French

Questions & Answers about L'entreprise a moins de concurrents depuis la faillite.

Since this lesson is about the subjunctive, why is there no subjunctive in this sentence?
This sentence is stating a direct, objective fact: the company definitely has fewer competitors. The subjunctive is only triggered by specific expressions of doubt, possibility, or emotion (like il est possible que). Because there is no trigger here, the verb a stays in the normal present tense (the indicative).
Why is it moins de concurrents and not moins des concurrents?
After expressions of quantity—such as moins (fewer/less), plus (more), and beaucoup (a lot)—you always use the preposition de by itself, dropping the plural article les. Therefore, it becomes moins de.
The word concurrents looks like the English word "concurrent". Is it a false friend?
Yes, it is a major false friend! In French, un concurrent is a competitor or rival. If you want to say that things are happening at the same time (concurrently) in French, you would use an expression like en même temps or the adjective simultané.
Why do we use depuis here for "since"?
Depuis is used to point to a specific starting event in the past (the bankruptcy). It shows that the new situation (having fewer competitors) started at that moment and continues to be true in the present.
If la faillite is the noun for "bankruptcy", how would you say "to go bankrupt"?
You use the verb phrase faire faillite. For example, if you wanted to say "Their main competitor went bankrupt," it would be: Leur principal concurrent a fait faillite.

Learn L'entreprise a moins de concurrents depuis la faillite and more in French

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning French →