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La natation est un très bon sport.

La natation est un très bon sport.
Swimming is a very good sport.
From Lesson 244:Jobs, school and sport·French

Questions & Answers about La natation est un très bon sport.

Why do we use La before natation when the English translation just says Swimming?
In French, general concepts, categories, and activities always need a definite article (le, la, or les). Since natation is a feminine noun, you must use la to talk about the sport of swimming in general.
Why does bon come before sport? I thought French adjectives usually go after the noun.
You are right that most French adjectives go after the noun, but there is a short list of common adjectives that go before it. A handy trick is the acronym BANGS, which stands for Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, and Size. Because bon describes Goodness, it is placed before sport.
Is there a difference between la natation and nager?
Yes! La natation is the noun for the sport or formal activity of swimming, whereas nager is the verb meaning to swim. You use la natation when talking about the sport itself, but you use the infinitive verb nager if you want to say you like to swim, as in J'aime nager.

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