Question 1

Why is faisait in the imperfect tense here when the main verb (méprise) is in the present?

Accepted Answer

After comme si (as if), we use the imparfait to describe a hypothetical or unreal situation in the present. He doesn't actually belong to the nobility, so this contrary-to-fact comparison requires the imperfect tense, just like in English (as if he belonged).

Question 2

Why does si contract to s' in comme s'il?

Accepted Answer

The word si has a special rule: it only contracts and drops its vowel when followed directly by il or ils. It never contracts before other vowels, meaning you would write comme si elle or comme si on, but always comme s'il.

Question 3

Could I use appartenait à instead of faisait partie de to say he belonged to the nobility?

Accepted Answer

You could, but faire partie de (to be a part of) is the most natural and common way to express belonging to a group, social class, or team in French. Appartenir à is more often used for strict ownership, like a physical object belonging to someone.

Question 4

Why do we use de la before noblesse?

Accepted Answer

The expression is faire partie de (to be a part of), which ends with the preposition de. Noblesse is a feminine noun that takes the definite article la because it refers to a general category or class. Combined, they form de la noblesse without any contraction.

Il nous méprise comme s'il faisait partie de la noblesse.

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