Learn French: En effet, le contrôleur n'est pas dans notre wagon. - Indeed, the ticket inspector is not in our carriage.

En effet, le contrôleur n'est pas dans notre wagon.

Indeed, the ticket inspector is not in our carriage.

Breakdown of En effet, le contrôleur n'est pas dans notre wagon.

not (used before the verb)

pas

not (used after the verb)

Questions & Answers about En effet, le contrôleur n'est pas dans notre wagon.

What is the difference between en effet and en fait?

They are easily confused! En effet means "indeed" and is used to confirm something that was just said or assumed (as it does in this sentence). En fait means "actually" or "in fact," and is usually used to contradict or correct a previous statement.

Why is "ticket inspector" translated as contrôleur?

In French, the verb contrôler often means "to check" or "to inspect" (like checking tickets or passports), rather than "to control" or "to boss around." Because of this, the person who checks your ticket on a train or bus is always the contrôleur or contrôleuse.

How do you pronounce the word wagon in French?

Even though it is spelled with a "w", it is pronounced with a "v" sound (vah-gohng). In French, the letter "w" is mostly found in borrowed words, and it is frequently pronounced like a "v".

I always mix up notre and le nôtre. Why do we use notre here?

Notre is the possessive adjective meaning "our", and it must be placed directly in front of a noun (like notre wagon). Le nôtre is the pronoun meaning "ours", and it replaces the noun entirely (for example: Their carriage is full, but le nôtre is empty).