Breakdown of Le clavier de mon ordinateur portable est parfois bruyant.
être
to be
mon
my
de
of
parfois
sometimes
bruyant
noisy
le clavier
the keyboard
l'ordinateur portable
the laptop
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Questions & Answers about Le clavier de mon ordinateur portable est parfois bruyant.
What does ordinateur portable mean in English?
It means laptop. Literally, ordinateur portable can be translated as “portable computer,” but in everyday French it specifically refers to a laptop.
Why is the adjective portable placed after ordinateur instead of before it as in English?
In French, adjectives usually follow the noun they modify unless stylistic or idiomatic exceptions apply. The expression ordinateur portable is the standard and fixed way to say “laptop” in French.
What is the function of the phrase de mon ordinateur portable in this sentence?
The phrase de mon ordinateur portable is a prepositional phrase that indicates possession. It tells us that the keyboard belongs to “my laptop.”
What does parfois mean and how does it function in the sentence?
Parfois means “sometimes.” It is an adverb that modifies the adjective bruyant, indicating that the keyboard is noisy on occasion rather than all the time.
Does the adjective bruyant correctly agree with clavier, and why is that agreement important?
Yes, it does. Clavier is a masculine singular noun, so the adjective bruyant remains in its masculine singular form. Adjective agreement is important in French because adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they modify.