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Après le repas, la miette reste sur la table.

Après le repas, la miette reste sur la table.
After the meal, the crumb remains on the table.
FromLesson 8inHardcore French

Breakdown of Après le repas, la miette reste sur la table.

la table
the table
sur
on
après
after
le repas
the meal
la miette
the crumb
rester
to remain

Questions & Answers about Après le repas, la miette reste sur la table.

What does the word miette mean in this sentence?
Miette is a feminine noun that translates to crumb in English. In this sentence, it refers to a small piece of food that remains on the table after the meal, emphasizing even the tiniest leftover is mentioned.
Why is miette used in the singular form instead of the plural?
The sentence uses the singular form to suggest that even one small crumb remains. This might emphasize the idea that nothing has been entirely cleared away—even a single little remnant is noteworthy.
Why is the definite article la used before miette?
In French, definite articles like la signal that you’re talking about a specific, identifiable object. Here, la miette implies a particular crumb that remains on the table after the meal, rather than referring to crumbs in general.
How is the verb reste conjugated, and why is it appropriate here?
Reste is the third-person singular form of the verb rester in the present tense. It is appropriate because the subject la miette is singular, and the conjugation must agree grammatically with its subject.
What role does the prepositional phrase sur la table play in the sentence?
The phrase sur la table specifies the location where the crumb is found. It uses the preposition sur to indicate “on,” describing that the crumb is resting on the surface of the table.
Why is there a comma after Après le repas?
The comma after Après le repas functions like it does in English. It separates the introductory phrase from the main clause, clarifying that the phrase sets the temporal context ("after the meal") for what follows in the rest of the sentence.
Could the structure of this sentence be applied to similar situations in French?
Absolutely. The structure—an introductory temporal phrase followed by a main clause with clear subject-verb agreement and a location indicator—is common in French. For instance, you might say, Après le dîner, le dessert est servi dans la cuisine, to describe where the dessert is served after 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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