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Questions & Answers about Nous faisons des progrès.
Why is the verb faire used in the expression “Nous faisons des progrès” instead of another verb like être or accomplir?
In French, faire is used in many idiomatic expressions to indicate an active action or process. “Faire des progrès” literally means “to make progress,” similar to the idiomatic English phrase “to make progress.” The verb être wouldn’t convey the active effort involved, and accomplir would not fit the idiomatic structure.
Why is the plural article des used before progrès when the English word “progress” is uncountable?
In French, the noun progrès is always used in the plural form when referring to improvements or advancements. The indefinite plural article des is used to indicate an unspecified number of improvements. Although English treats “progress” as an uncountable noun, French idiomatically expresses it in plural form.
Can “Nous faisons des progrès” be used in both formal and informal contexts?
Yes, Nous faisons des progrès is versatile. It is commonly used in both formal and informal situations, whether you’re discussing academic improvements, professional milestones, or personal development. The expression is widely accepted in everyday language as well as in more formal discourse.
Is there an alternative way to express the idea of making progress in French?
Absolutely. You can use the verb progresser and say Nous progressons. While this is grammatically correct, the idiomatic expression Nous faisons des progrès is generally preferred in everyday usage because it emphasizes the active process of making incremental improvements.
What does the conjugated form faisons tell us about the subject of the sentence?
The form faisons is the first person plural conjugation of faire in the present tense. It indicates that the subject nous (meaning “we”) is performing the action. This construction stresses that the action of “making progress” is being carried out collectively by the speaker and others.