Breakdown of Tu effraies le perroquet si tu cries.
tu
you (informal singular)
si
if
crier
to shout
effrayer
to frighten
le perroquet
the parrot
Questions & Answers about Tu effraies le perroquet si tu cries.
Why is it effraies with an 'i' instead of effrayes?
Does cries mean 'cry' as in shedding tears?
No, crier usually means to shout, yell, or scream. If you want to say 'cry' in the sense of weeping, you need to use the verb pleurer. It is a very common false friend for English speakers!
Can I use the future tense after si if I mean 'if you will shout'?
No, in French si (if) clauses, you must use the present tense even if the English meaning implies the future. So 'if you will shout' or 'if you are going to shout' simply becomes si tu cries in the present tense.
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