Word
C'est la dixième fois que tu demandes.
Meaning
This is the tenth time you are asking.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of C'est la dixième fois que tu demandes.
tu
you (informal singular)
c'est
it is, that is
la fois
the time (instance)
demander
to ask (for) / to require / demand
Questions & Answers about C'est la dixième fois que tu demandes.
Why does the French sentence use the present tense (tu demandes) instead of a past or continuous tense like 'you have asked' or 'you are asking'?
In French, when expressing 'it is the Xth time that...', you use the simple present tense if the action is currently happening. English naturally leans toward the present continuous ('are asking') or present perfect ('have asked'), but French keeps it straightforward with the present: tu demandes.
Why is 'time' translated as fois here instead of temps?
Fois is used when counting occurrences or instances (like the first time, tenth time, or three times). You use temps when talking about time as a general concept or duration (like spending time), and heure for the time on a clock.
Can I drop que like we drop 'that' in English?
Why do we use C'est and not Il est for 'This is'?