Question 1

Why does the sentence say et que l'alternative instead of et quand l'alternative?

Accepted Answer

In French, it is considered poor style to repeat subordinating conjunctions like quand, comme, lorsque, or si in coordinated clauses. Instead of repeating quand after et, you use que as a substitute.

Question 2

Since we are using que here, why isn't the verb est in the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

When que replaces a conjunction, the verb that follows takes the same mood as the original conjunction would. Since quand takes the indicative mood, the que that replaces it also takes the indicative. Note: If que were replacing si (if), it would trigger the subjunctive!

Question 3

Why is l'énergie fossile singular here when we usually say "fossil fuels" in English?

Accepted Answer

French often uses a singular noun to represent a broad, uncountable category—in this case, "fossil energy" as a whole concept. You will also see the plural les énergies fossiles, but the singular sounds very natural for a general statement like this.

Question 4

How does the word inépuisable break down?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the verb épuiser, which means "to exhaust" or "to use up". By adding the negative prefix in- and the suffix -able, you get a word that literally translates to "inexhaustible" or "endless".

Quand l'énergie fossile pollue et que l'alternative est inépuisable, on change.

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