Question 1

Why does cents have an "s" at the end here?

Accepted Answer

In French, the word cent (hundred) takes an "s" when it is multiplied by another number (like deux) AND is not followed by any other number. Because it is exactly 200, we write deux cents. If it were 201, it would lose the "s" and become deux cent un.

Question 2

Could livres mean "pounds" instead of "books"?

Accepted Answer

Out of context, yes! The word livre has two meanings depending on its gender. Un livre (masculine) means "a book", while une livre (feminine) means "a pound" (the weight or the currency). Since the plural hides the gender, we rely on context: having two hundred books in a room makes much more sense.

Question 3

What is the difference between salle and pièce if both mean "room"?

Accepted Answer

Pièce is a general word for a room in a house or apartment. Salle usually refers to a room with a specific purpose, often in a public building, like a classroom (salle de classe), a waiting room (salle d'attente), or a large event hall. Here, la salle likely refers to a classroom or meeting room.

Question 4

Since there are multiple books, why don't we use a plural form of il y a?

Accepted Answer

Unlike English, which switches between "there is" and "there are", the French expression il y a is completely fixed. It never changes to a plural form, no matter how many items follow it.

Il y a deux cents livres dans la salle.

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