Question 1

Why does the French sentence use the future tense (manifesteront) when the English translation uses the present tense ("demonstrate")?

Accepted Answer

This is a major difference between French and English! When a sentence describes an event that will happen in the future, French requires the future tense after time words like quand (when), lorsque (when), and dès que (as soon as). English uses the present tense ("When they demonstrate"), but French strictly uses the future: Quand ils manifesteront.

Question 2

Is "descendre dans la rue" a common expression for protesting?

Accepted Answer

Yes! While it literally translates to "go down into the street," it is the standard French idiom for "taking to the streets" to protest or strike. You'll see this phrase very often in French news.

Question 3

How do you form the future tense for an "-re" verb like descendre?

Accepted Answer

To form the futur simple for regular "-re" verbs, you take the infinitive and drop the final e to make your stem. For descendre, the stem becomes descendr-. Then, add the regular future endings. For ils, the ending is -ont, giving us descendront.

Question 4

Could I use "lorsque" instead of "quand" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can! Lorsque and quand both mean "when" and can be used interchangeably in this context. Lorsque is just slightly more formal. The grammar rule stays exactly the same: you would still say Lorsque les travailleurs manifesteront.

Quand les travailleurs manifesteront, ils descendront dans la rue.

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