Quand nous prenons une pause, nous pouvons nous amuser sans stress.

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Breakdown of Quand nous prenons une pause, nous pouvons nous amuser sans stress.

• prendre: to take
• quand: when
• pouvoir: to be able to
• se: oneself
• sans: without
• la pause: the break
• le stress: the stress

Questions & Answers about Quand nous prenons une pause, nous pouvons nous amuser sans stress.

Why is the reflexive pronoun "nous" used twice in the phrase "nous pouvons nous amuser"?

In French, many verbs—especially those that describe actions done to oneself—are reflexive. In this sentence, the first "nous" is the subject (meaning "we"), and the second "nous" is the reflexive pronoun required by the verb s'amuser (which means "to have fun" or "to enjoy oneself"). This repetition clarifies that the subject is both performing and receiving the action.

Why is the verb s'amuser in its infinitive form after nous pouvons instead of being conjugated?

When modal verbs like pouvoir ("to be able to/can") are used, they are followed by another verb in the infinitive form. Here, nous pouvons (we can) is directly followed by s'amuser (to have fun), which remains unaltered regardless of the subject.

What is the function of the phrase sans stress in the sentence?

The phrase sans stress is a prepositional phrase that functions adverbially to explain how the action of having fun is performed. Sans means "without," and stress is used similarly in French as in English, referring to tension or pressure. Together, they indicate that the fun is enjoyed in a stress-free manner.

Why is there a comma after the clause "Quand nous prenons une pause"?

In French, when an introductory adverbial clause (here introduced by quand, meaning "when") precedes the main clause, it is customary to set it off with a comma. This comma helps to clearly separate the time-setting clause from the main action of the sentence.

Is "prendre une pause" the idiomatic way to express "take a break" in French?

Both prendre une pause and faire une pause are acceptable ways to say "take a break" in French. While many native speakers might more commonly use faire une pause in everyday conversation, prendre une pause is grammatically correct and widely understood, especially in more formal contexts.