Breakdown of La lame de cette scie est certes résistante, mais elle est petite.
être
to be
elle
she
petit
small / short
mais
but
ce
this (before a noun)
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
certes
admittedly
la lame
the blade
la scie
the saw
résistant
resistant
Questions & Answers about La lame de cette scie est certes résistante, mais elle est petite.
How does the certes... mais structure work in this sentence, and where do we place certes?
Certes means 'admittedly,' 'certainly,' or 'granted.' It is used to concede a point before introducing a counter-argument with mais (but). Because certes is an adverb, it typically goes immediately after the conjugated verb, as seen here: est certes. You can also place it at the very beginning of the sentence for a stronger rhetorical effect: Certes, la lame de cette scie est résistante, mais...
Does elle in the second half refer to the saw (scie) or the blade (lame)?
Is scie pronounced with a hard or soft 'c'?
Can résistante just mean 'strong' here, or does it mean something more specific?
While you could translate it broadly as 'strong' or 'durable,' résistante specifically means that the material withstands wear, pressure, or damage. Unlike in English, where 'resistant' often needs a paired word (like 'water-resistant'), the French adjective résistant works perfectly on its own to describe something tough or hard-wearing.
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