Learn French: Nous avons vu un ours dans la forêt.

Nous avons vu un ours dans la forêt.

We saw a bear in the forest.

Breakdown of Nous avons vu un ours dans la forêt.

nous

we / us (object pronoun)

Questions & Answers about Nous avons vu un ours dans la forêt.

Do you pronounce the "s" at the end of ours?

Yes, you do! Unlike most French words where the final consonant is silent, the "s" in ours is pronounced (it sounds like "oorss"). This is true for both the singular un ours and the plural des ours.

Are there any required sound links (liaisons) when speaking this sentence?

Yes, there are two! You must link the "s" in Nous to the "a" in avons, making a "z" sound. You also link the "n" in un to the "o" in ours, making an "n" sound. Spoken naturally, the beginning of the sentence sounds like "noo-zah-vohn vu uh-noorss".

Why is the past participle vu used here without any extra letters for agreement?

Because the sentence uses the auxiliary verb avoir and the direct object (un ours) comes after the verb. In the passé composé (past tense), you only add an "e" or "s" to the past participle with avoir if the direct object is placed before the verb.

What is the difference between saying dans la forêt and en forêt?

Dans la forêt refers to a specific, physical forest, which is why it uses the definite article la. En forêt is a more general expression used without an article, similar to saying you are "out in the woods" or doing a general woodland activity.