Question 1

Could I use en revanche instead of par contre in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! Both expressions are used to contrast two points, meaning 'on the other hand' or 'however.' In this sentence, contrasting the high rent with the large space, they are completely interchangeable. Par contre is just a bit more common in everyday spoken French, while en revanche sounds slightly more formal or elegant.

Question 2

Why do they use la surface instead of a word for 'size'?

Accepted Answer

When talking about real estate, apartments, or rooms in French, la surface (or la superficie) is the standard term for floor space or square footage. While English speakers usually say 'it is a good size,' French speakers refer directly to its surface.

Question 3

Doesn't the adjective grand usually have to go before the noun it describes?

Accepted Answer

You are thinking of the rule where short, common adjectives of size go before the noun (like une grande surface). However, that rule only applies when the adjective is placed directly next to the noun in a phrase. Here, grande is separated from la surface by the verb est (is). It is simply the complement of the sentence, just like in English: 'the surface area is large.'

Question 4

I have seen cher used to mean 'dear' in letters. Is it the exact same word here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cher means both 'expensive' and 'dear' or 'beloved.' You can often tell the difference by its position. When placed before a noun, it means 'dear' (like mon cher ami). When used after the verb être or after a noun, it means 'expensive' (like le loyer est cher).

Le loyer est cher. Par contre, la surface est grande.

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