Question 1

Why do we use tellement que here? Could we use tant que?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you could absolutely use tant que here! When modifying a verb to express intensity and a resulting consequence (meaning "so much that"), tellement que and tant que are interchangeable. You could just as easily say ils la traquent tant qu'elle a peur.

Question 2

Why is la placed before the verb in ils la traquent?

Accepted Answer

In French, direct object pronouns like la (which replaces la star here) must go immediately before the verb. While in English we say "they stalk her," the French structure is literally "they her stalk" (ils la traquent).

Question 3

If the celebrity being stalked were a man, would it still be la star and elle a peur?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The noun star is always feminine in French (la star), regardless of the actual person's gender. Because grammatical gender dictates the pronouns, you must use elle to refer back to it. Even if they were stalking a famous male actor, you would still say elle a peur because elle matches la star.

Question 4

Why does it say elle a peur instead of using the verb être (to be)?

Accepted Answer

In French, certain feelings and states like fear, hunger, or being cold are expressed using the verb avoir (to have) followed by a noun. Instead of saying "she is afraid," the French phrasing literally translates to "she has fear" (elle a peur).

Les paparazzis traquent la star ; ils la traquent tellement qu'elle a peur.

Breakdown of Les paparazzis traquent la star ; ils la traquent tellement qu'elle a peur.

Questions & Answers about Les paparazzis traquent la star ; ils la traquent tellement qu'elle a peur.

Learn Les paparazzis traquent la star ; ils la traquent tellement qu'elle a peur and more in French