Learn French: Moins de deux réalisateurs boudent ce projet, qui va rapporter beaucoup. - Fewer than two directors are ignoring this project, which is going to gross a lot.

Word

Moins de deux réalisateurs boudent ce projet, qui va rapporter beaucoup.

Meaning

Fewer than two directors are ignoring this project, which is going to gross a lot.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

French

Lesson

Paradoxical agreement (plus d'un, moins de deux)

Breakdown of Moins de deux réalisateurs boudent ce projet, qui va rapporter beaucoup.

qui

who

this (before a noun)

of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)

le projet

the project

Questions & Answers about Moins de deux réalisateurs boudent ce projet, qui va rapporter beaucoup.

Logically, 'fewer than two' means one or zero. Why is the verb boudent in the plural?

This is the core paradox of moins de deux! Even though the logical meaning is singular (one or zero), French grammar strictly follows the number written. Because deux is plural, the noun that follows (réalisateurs) and the verb (boudent) must both take the plural form.

I learned that bouder means 'to sulk' or 'to pout'. Why is it translated as 'ignoring' here?

While bouder literally means to pout or sulk, it is widely used in French to mean shunning, boycotting, or showing a lack of interest in something. When professionals boudent a project, it means they are turning their backs on it or refusing to get involved.

Does rapporter mean 'to gross money' even without the word for money in the sentence?

Yes. Rapporter translates literally to 'to bring back', but in business, film, and financial contexts, it is the standard verb for 'to yield a profit' or 'to bring in money'. When combined with beaucoup (a lot) or gros (big), the fact that it refers to money is entirely understood.

Why do we use qui after the comma instead of lequel or que?