Learn Hardcore French: Marie partira bientôt à la boulangerie pour acheter une pâtisserie, car elle adore le goût sucré. - Marie will soon go to the bakery to buy a pastry, because she loves the sweet taste.

“Partira” is in the simple future tense (le futur simple) of the verb “partir” (to leave). To form this tense, you typically take the infinitive (or a modified stem for irregular verbs) and add the future endings. For the third person singular, the ending is “-a,” resulting in “partira,” which means “will leave.”

Why is “bientôt” placed directly after the subject and verb in the sentence?

“Bientôt” means “soon” and is an adverb of time. In French, adverbs of time are often positioned right after the conjugated verb to indicate when an action will occur. This placement keeps the sentence clear and maintains its natural flow.

How is the phrase “à la boulangerie” constructed and what does it signify?

The phrase “à la boulangerie” is built using the preposition “à” (meaning “to” or “at”) combined with the definite article “la” because “boulangerie” is a feminine noun. Together, they indicate a specific location, translating to “to the bakery,” which is Marie’s destination.

What role does the phrase “pour acheter une pâtisserie” play in the sentence?

“Pour acheter une pâtisserie” is an infinitive clause that expresses purpose. The preposition “pour” (meaning “in order to”) is followed by the infinitive “acheter” (to buy), showing the reason behind Marie’s trip to the bakery—that she is going there to buy a pastry.

Why is the indefinite article “une” used with “pâtisserie” rather than a definite article?

The indefinite article “une” is used because Marie is buying one nonspecific pastry; she isn’t referring to a particular, previously mentioned pastry. In French, the indefinite article is used when referring to an unspecified item from a category.

What is the function of “car” in this sentence, and how does it compare to “parce que”?

“Car” is a conjunction that means “because” and introduces the reason for Marie’s action—her love for the sweet taste. Although both “car” and “parce que” translate as “because,” “car” is generally more formal and is often preferred in written contexts, while “parce que” is more common in everyday spoken French.

What does the phrase “le goût sucré” mean, and why is “le” used with “goût”?

“Le goût sucré” translates to “the sweet taste.” The definite article “le” is used because the phrase refers to a specific, recognizable quality of taste rather than a random or unspecified flavor. It emphasizes that Marie particularly enjoys this well-defined characteristic.