Learn French: C'est la même mousse que celle qui pousse sous le chêne. - It is the same moss as the one that grows under the oak.

C'est la même mousse que celle qui pousse sous le chêne.

It is the same moss as the one that grows under the oak.

Breakdown of C'est la même mousse que celle qui pousse sous le chêne.

être

to be

it / this (with être)

Questions & Answers about C'est la même mousse que celle qui pousse sous le chêne.

Why do we use "celle" here instead of "celui"?

Celle means "the one". It is feminine singular because it refers back to the noun la mousse (the moss), which is feminine. If we were referring to a masculine noun instead, we would use the masculine form celui.

Why is it "celle qui" and not "celle que"?

We use qui because "the one" is doing the action: it is the subject of the verb pousse (grows). If "the one" were the object of the action, we would use que. For example, you would say celle que je vois (the one that I see).

In English we say "the same moss AS the one". Why is the French word "que"?

In French, comparisons of equality using même (same) are followed by que. The structure is always le/la même [noun] que (the same [noun] as). You cannot use the direct translation of "as" (comme) in this structure.

Doesn't the verb "pousse" normally mean "pushes"?

Yes, the verb pousser usually means "to push". However, when you are talking about plants, hair, or teeth, pousser translates to "to grow". To talk about a person or an animal growing up, you would use a different verb, grandir.