Breakdown of Tout impressionnante qu'elle est, cette machine a un défaut.
être
to be
un
a / an (masculine)
elle
she
avoir
to have
ce
this (before a noun)
que
that (introducing a clause)
impressionnant
impressive
le défaut
the flaw / the defect
la machine
the machine
tout
completely
Questions & Answers about Tout impressionnante qu'elle est, cette machine a un défaut.
Why is the indicative verb est used here instead of the subjunctive?
Even though this sentence expresses concession (meaning 'although' or 'however'), the specific structure tout + adjective + que is followed by the indicative. This is a notable exception for French learners, as most concessive phrases like bien que or quoique require the subjunctive.
Since cette machine is feminine, shouldn't tout be feminine (toute) to match?
When used as an adverb in this structure, tout is invariable. The only time it changes to toute or toutes is when it comes right before a feminine adjective that starts with a consonant or an aspirated H (like toute petite). Because impressionnante starts with a vowel, tout stays invariable.
How exactly does the phrase tout impressionnante qu'elle est break down?
Could I use si or aussi instead of tout in this sentence?
You can express the same idea with si or aussi, but the grammar would change. Structures like si impressionnante qu'elle soit or aussi impressionnante qu'elle soit require the subjunctive mood. The use of tout... que is unique because it lets you keep the indicative mood (est).
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