Learn French: Le tailleur mesure la longueur de ce tissu. - The tailor measures the length of this fabric.

Le tailleur mesure la longueur de ce tissu.

The tailor measures the length of this fabric.

Breakdown of Le tailleur mesure la longueur de ce tissu.

this (before a noun)

of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)

mesurer

to measure

le tissu

the fabric / the cloth

Questions & Answers about Le tailleur mesure la longueur de ce tissu.

How does longueur relate to the French word for 'long'?

Longueur means 'length'. It comes from the adjective long (long). In French, you often add the feminine suffix -eur to an adjective to make it a noun indicating a measurement or physical quality, just like adding '-th' in English. For example, large (wide) becomes la largeur (the width).

Why is it ce tissu and not cet tissu or cette tissu?

Tissu is a masculine singular noun starting with a consonant, so it takes the demonstrative adjective ce (this or that). You only use cet before a masculine noun if it starts with a vowel or a mute H (like cet arbre), and cette is strictly for feminine nouns.

Does the verb mesurer require the preposition de after it?

No, mesurer is a direct verb, meaning it connects straight to its object without needing a preposition. In this sentence, the de belongs entirely to the noun phrase la longueur de (the length of), not to the verb mesure.

Is tissu the right word if I want to ask for a facial tissue (like a Kleenex)?