Breakdown of Tu n'as pas encore fini l'exercice, mais en divisant la tâche, tu fais des progrès.
tu
you (informal singular)
mais
but
avoir
to have
ne
not (used before the verb)
pas
not (used after the verb)
finir
to finish
l'exercice
the exercise (m)
encore
still, again
en
while / by (with gerund)
la tâche
the task
faire des progrès
to make progress
diviser
to divide
Questions & Answers about Tu n'as pas encore fini l'exercice, mais en divisant la tâche, tu fais des progrès.
How does en divisant act as a condition here, rather than just two things happening at once?
The gérondif (en + present participle) is well known for showing simultaneous actions, meaning 'while dividing'. However, here it acts as the method or condition for the main clause. It translates closer to 'if you divide the task' or 'by dividing the task'. Using the gérondif to show 'how' or 'under what condition' something is achieved is a key pattern at this level.
Why is the phrase pas encore placed between as and fini?
In the passé composé, short adverbs of time like encore, déjà, and bientôt belong between the conjugated auxiliary verb (as) and the past participle (fini). Because this is a negative sentence, pas also goes before encore, building the standard structure n'as pas encore fini.
Why does the sentence say des progrès instead of just progrès like in English?
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