Je suis fatigué, mais je travaille encore.

I am tired, but I am still working.

Breakdown of Je suis fatigué, mais je travaille encore.

• je: I
• être: to be
• travailler: to work
• fatigué: tired
• mais: but
• encore: still

Questions & Answers about Je suis fatigué, mais je travaille encore.

What does fatigué mean, and why is it written in the masculine form?

Fatigué means “tired.” It is in the masculine form because the speaker (represented by je) is either male or is defaulting to the masculine. If a female speaker were expressing this, the adjective would be written as fatiguée.

What does encore signify in this sentence?

In this context, encore means “still.” It indicates that despite being tired, the speaker continues to work.

How does the conjunction mais function in this sentence?

Mais means “but” and serves to contrast the two ideas: the speaker is tired, yet continues to work. It connects the two independent clauses, highlighting a change or contrast between the states described.

What is the role of the comma in this sentence?

The comma is used to separate the two clauses. It provides a brief pause between Je suis fatigué and mais je travaille encore, making the contrast between the speaker’s fatigue and their continued work clearer.

How does this sentence convey the idea of perseverance despite exhaustion?

By stating Je suis fatigué (“I am tired”) and then mais je travaille encore (“but I’m still working”), the sentence juxtaposes physical fatigue with continual effort. The keywords mais and encore emphasize that, even in a state of tiredness, the speaker continues with their responsibilities. This reflects a common sentiment of perseverance in everyday language.