Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

You must use qui here because it is the subject of the verb phrase va rapporter (the project is the thing doing the grossing). It does not matter that the project is an inanimate object; qui is always used for the subject of the relative clause. Que would be used if there were a different subject, like in ce projet que le studio finance.

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

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