Question 1

How could we express this idea using this lesson's focus, être censé (to be supposed to)?

Accepted Answer

Because être censé must be followed by an infinitive verb, you can't just swap it in for est. You have to add an action verb. You could use a reflexive passive: Ce geste n'est pas censé se faire... (This gesture isn't supposed to be made...) or rephrase the subject entirely: On n'est pas censé faire ce geste pendant la cérémonie (One is not supposed to make this gesture during the ceremony).

Question 2

Is inapproprié the most natural word to use for "inappropriate" here?

Accepted Answer

It is perfectly correct and well understood, but French speakers very often use déplacé (literally "out of place") to describe behavior, remarks, or gestures that cross a social line. Saying Ce geste est déplacé is extremely natural in this context.

Question 3

Could I say lors de la cérémonie instead of pendant la cérémonie?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it would sound excellent! Lors de is a slightly more elegant or formal way to say "during" or "at the time of" an event. While pendant emphasizes the literal duration of the ceremony, lors de simply points to the occasion itself.

Question 4

Does geste only refer to a physical hand movement here?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Just like in English, un geste can mean a literal physical movement, but it can also refer to a metaphorical action or behavior (like a "kind gesture" or a "symbolic gesture"). Without more context, this sentence could be talking about either one.

Ce geste est inapproprié pendant la cérémonie.

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