Breakdown of Elles ont marqué un but après que l'entraîneur a changé la tactique.
un
a / an (masculine)
elles
they (feminine)
avoir
to have
changer
to change
le but
the goal
après que
after (conjunction)
marquer
to score
l'entraîneur
the coach (m)
la tactique
the tactic
Questions & Answers about Elles ont marqué un but après que l'entraîneur a changé la tactique.
Why is a changé in the indicative? Doesn't que often trigger the subjunctive here?
A very common trap! While avant que (before) takes the subjunctive, après que (after) strictly requires the indicative. This is because the action following après que is a stated fact that has already happened, not a subjective possibility or uncertainty.
In English, we might say 'after the coach had changed the tactic.' Why are both halves of this sentence in the passé composé?
In spoken and everyday French, it is very common to use the passé composé in both clauses when the events follow each other closely in time. However, using the plus-que-parfait (après que l'entraîneur avait changé...) is also perfectly correct and often preferred in formal written French to emphasize that the change happened first.
Is the 't' at the end of but pronounced?
Could I use marquer for scoring in other contexts, like getting a high score on an exam?
No, marquer (literally 'to mark') is specifically used for scoring points or goals in physical sports and games (marquer un but, marquer un point). For getting a good score on a test, you would use avoir or obtenir (for example, avoir une bonne note).
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