Question 1

How does par conséquent work in this sentence, and could I use c'est pourquoi?

Accepted Answer

Par conséquent means consequently or as a result. It links the cause (La machine est en panne) to the result (nous arrêtons la production). You can absolutely use c'est pourquoi (that is why) here instead. Both are excellent choices for showing consequence in this sentence.

Question 2

Why use en panne for broken instead of cassée?

Accepted Answer

En panne specifically refers to mechanical, electrical, or system breakdowns. When a machine, car, or computer simply stops working, it is en panne. Cassé means physically shattered or snapped into pieces. Since it is a machine that stopped functioning, en panne is the correct choice.

Question 3

Does par conséquent always have to be in the middle of a sentence after a comma?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! While it follows a comma here, par conséquent very often starts a brand-new sentence or follows a semicolon, especially in writing. For example, you could write: La machine est en panne. Par conséquent, nous arrêtons la production.

Question 4

Why is there a la before production if the English translation usually just says production?

Accepted Answer

French requires definite articles (le, la, les) for general concepts and broad categories. While English often drops the article for general terms like production, French still needs la to introduce the noun.

La machine est en panne, par conséquent nous arrêtons la production.

Breakdown of La machine est en panne, par conséquent nous arrêtons la production.

Questions & Answers about La machine est en panne, par conséquent nous arrêtons la production.

Learn La machine est en panne, par conséquent nous arrêtons la production and more in French