Question 1

Why does this sentence start with En effet instead of En fait?

Accepted Answer

En effet translates to "indeed" and is used to confirm a previous statement or provide a reason for it. A common trap is confusing it with en fait, which means "in fact" or "actually" and is used to contradict or correct what was just said. Here, the speaker is confirming a situation, not contradicting one.

Question 2

How do you pronounce tous in this sentence, and why?

Accepted Answer

You pronounce the final "s", making it sound like "tooss". When tous is used as a pronoun emphasizing "all of us" or "everyone" (here, reinforcing nous), the final "s" is always pronounced. If it were an adjective before a noun, like in tous les guides, the "s" would be silent.

Question 3

How does déshydratés tie into the lesson on detached participial phrases?

Accepted Answer

In this exact sentence, déshydratés is just a standard past participle acting as an adjective, linked to nous by the verb étions. However, to apply this lesson's concept, you could detach it at the beginning of a sentence to show cause. For example: Déshydratés, nous avons dû faire une pause (Dehydrated, we had to take a break).

Question 4

Could we move sauf le guide to the end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is perfectly grammatically correct to say nous étions tous déshydratés, sauf le guide. By detaching it early in the sentence between commas instead, the speaker emphasizes the exception right away and adds a bit of dramatic contrast to the story.

En effet, sauf le guide, nous étions tous déshydratés.

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