Je sens le froid dans le jardin.

I feel the cold in the garden.

Breakdown of Je sens le froid dans le jardin.

• je: I
• dans: in
• le jardin: the garden
• sentir: to feel
• le froid: the cold

Questions & Answers about Je sens le froid dans le jardin.

What is the subject and verb in this sentence, and what tense is being used?

The subject is Je (meaning “I”), and the verb is sens, which is the first-person singular form of sentir in the present tense.

Why is the definite article le used before froid? Could an indefinite article have been used instead?

In French, when referring to a specific sensation or abstract concept like cold, the definite article le is used to denote a known, specific quality. Using an indefinite article (such as un) would imply an unspecified or random instance of cold, which isn’t typical in this context.

The verb sentir can mean both “to feel” and “to smell.” How do we determine the correct meaning here?

The context dictates the meaning. In this sentence, Je sens le froid dans le jardin describes the physical experience of sensing cold, so sentir translates to “to feel.” If the sentence were referring to detecting an odor, the context would be different.

What role does the prepositional phrase dans le jardin play in this sentence?

The phrase dans le jardin specifies the location where the sensation is experienced—it means “in the garden.” It adds spatial context, indicating where the cold is being felt.

Is froid being used as an adjective or as a noun in this sentence, and how can you tell?

In this sentence, froid is used as a noun referring to the sensation or state of being cold. This is clear because it is preceded by the definite article le, which is typical for nouns in French rather than adjectives.