Question 1

Why do we need qu' in tellement qu'ils? Can't I just say tellement ils?

Accepted Answer

To express a consequence ("so much that"), you must use que (contracted to qu' here) after tellement. In English, we often drop the "that" and just say "they shout so much they ruin...", but in French, the que is absolutely required to connect the two ideas.

Question 2

Could I use tant instead of tellement in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When modifying a verb to mean "so much that," tellement que and tant que are entirely interchangeable. You could say Les paparazzis crient tant qu'ils gâchent l'intimité de la star and it would mean the exact same thing.

Question 3

Doesn't que usually trigger the subjunctive? Why is gâchent in the normal present tense?

Accepted Answer

While many expressions with que do require the subjunctive mood, tellement que introduces a real, factual consequence. Because it states a concrete result—the paparazzi actually do ruin the star's privacy—it takes the regular indicative mood.

Question 4

Does intimité translate to "intimacy" or "privacy"?

Accepted Answer

It can translate to both depending on the context, but here it means "privacy." It's a classic false friend for English speakers! Another very common way to say "privacy" in French is la vie privée (private life).

Question 5

Is the word star always feminine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, la star is always a feminine noun in French, even if the celebrity you are talking about is a man. For example, you would still say that a famous actor is une grande star.

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