Je crois que le schéma explique comment déplacer l'explosif doucement.

Questions & Answers about Je crois que le schéma explique comment déplacer l'explosif doucement.

Why is explique in the indicative and not the subjunctive after Je crois que?
Verbs expressing belief or certainty like croire and penser take the indicative in affirmative sentences because they declare something you consider to be a fact. You only use the subjunctive if the sentence is negative (Je ne crois pas que) or an inverted question, which introduces doubt.
Why do we use comment déplacer for "how to move"? Is there no preposition?
In French, to express "how to do something", you simply use the question word comment directly followed by the infinitive of the verb. You do not need to add a preposition like à or de.
Is schéma a false friend for the English word "scheme"?
Yes, it is. While un schéma means a diagram, outline, or schematic, the English word "scheme" (as in a secret plan) is usually translated as un complot or un projet.
Could doucement mean "slowly" here instead of "gently"?
Yes! Doucement can mean gently, softly, or slowly depending on the context. When handling an explosive, moving it both slowly and gently makes perfect sense, so the meanings overlap here.

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