Breakdown of Avant de couper le bois, le menuisier change la lame de la scie.
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
changer
to change
le bois
the wood
couper
to cut
avant de
before (+ infinitive)
le menuisier
the carpenter
la lame
the blade
la scie
the saw
Questions & Answers about Avant de couper le bois, le menuisier change la lame de la scie.
Why do we use avant de couper here instead of avant qu'il coupe?
When the subject performing both actions is the same (here, le menuisier), you use avant de followed by the infinitive. You only use avant que plus the subjunctive when there are two different subjects, such as in "Before you cut the wood, he changes the blade."
I thought "carpenter" was charpentier. What is a menuisier?
In French, woodworking professions are more divided. A charpentier builds large structural frameworks like roofs, while a menuisier makes smaller elements like doors, windows, and furniture. Menuisier often translates to "carpenter" or "joiner" in English.
Why does it say la lame de la scie instead of just la lame de scie?
Both are correct but mean slightly different things. Une lame de scie is a compound noun meaning "a saw blade" in general. By using de la scie, the sentence specifies the blade of the particular saw the carpenter is currently holding or using.
Could le bois also mean "the woods" or "the forest" here?
Le bois can indeed mean "the woods" in other contexts, like walking in the forest. However, because the carpenter is cutting it with a saw, it clearly refers to the material "wood" or lumber in this sentence.
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