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Breakdown of Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir nos amis pour le dîner.
être
to be
l'ami
the friend
nous
we
pour
for
nos
our
de
of
accueillir
to welcome
heureux
happy
le dîner
the dinner
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“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).
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Questions & Answers about Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir nos amis pour le dîner.
What is the overall structure of the sentence "Nous sommes heureux d’accueillir nos amis pour le dîner"?
The sentence is composed of several parts: the subject "Nous" (we), the linking verb "sommes" (are), and the adjective "heureux" (happy), which describes the subject. This is followed by the infinitive phrase "d’accueillir nos amis" (to welcome our friends), which explains what makes them happy. Finally, the prepositional phrase "pour le dîner" (for dinner) indicates the occasion or purpose of the welcoming.
Why is there a contraction "d’accueillir" instead of "de accueillir"?
In French, certain adjectives—like "heureux"—are often followed by the preposition "de" when introducing an infinitive clause. Since the verb "accueillir" starts with a vowel sound, "de" contracts to "d’" for smoother pronunciation.
How does the adjective "heureux" agree with the subject in this sentence?
The adjective "heureux" is in the masculine plural form, which corresponds to the subject "Nous" when referring to a group of people that is either all male or mixed gender. If the group were exclusively female, the adjective would change to "heureuses."
What is the function of the phrase "nos amis" in the sentence?
"Nos amis" means "our friends" and acts as the direct object of the infinitive "accueillir." It specifies who is being welcomed.
What role does the prepositional phrase "pour le dîner" play in the sentence?
"Pour le dîner" translates to "for dinner" and serves as an adverbial modifier. It indicates the purpose or context of the action by specifying that the welcoming is taking place in connection with a dinner event.