Question 1

Why is there a le in le sait?

Accepted Answer

Here, le acts as a neutral pronoun standing in for the fact that milk ferments. While English often just says 'The cheesemaker knows' or uses 'knows that', French frequently uses le with verbs like savoir to reference a complete idea or situation that is already known or about to be stated.

Question 2

Why use grâce aux instead of à cause des for the bacteria?

Accepted Answer

The phrase grâce à means 'thanks to' and is used exclusively for positive or helpful causes. Since the cheesemaker wants the milk to ferment to make cheese, the bacteria are doing something desirable! If the bacteria were spoiling the milk, you would use à cause de (because of), which implies a negative outcome.

Question 3

Why is it aux bactéries instead of just à bactéries?

Accepted Answer

The prepositional phrase grâce à must be followed by a noun with its definite article. Since bactéries is plural, it requires the plural definite article les. In French, the preposition à and the article les must always contract into aux.

Question 4

Could we use que (that) instead of a comma to connect these ideas?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You could absolutely write Le fromager sait que le lait fermente... (The cheesemaker knows that the milk ferments). Using a comma and the pronoun le instead separates the sentence into two independent clauses. This stylistic choice makes the sentence feel a bit more conversational and emphasizes the cheesemaker's knowledge as a standalone fact.

Le fromager le sait, le lait fermente grâce aux bactéries.

Breakdown of Le fromager le sait, le lait fermente grâce aux bactéries.

Questions & Answers about Le fromager le sait, le lait fermente grâce aux bactéries.

Learn Le fromager le sait, le lait fermente grâce aux bactéries and more in French