Breakdown of Mon loyer en ville était trop élevé, alors j’économise pour acheter une maison.
je
I
être
to be
mon
my
la maison
the house
en
in
la ville
the city
acheter
to buy
alors
so
trop
too
pour
in order to
une
a
le loyer
the rent
élevé
high
économiser
to save
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Questions & Answers about Mon loyer en ville était trop élevé, alors j’économise pour acheter une maison.
Why does the sentence switch from the past tense (était) to the present tense (j’économise)?
The first part, "Mon loyer en ville était trop élevé," uses the imperfect tense to describe a past condition—specifically, the situation of paying high rent. The present tense in "j’économise" indicates that saving money is an action currently in progress. This shift shows that the past circumstance has led to an ongoing effort in the present.
What does the phrase "mon loyer en ville" mean?
It literally translates to "my rent in the city." It implies the amount paid for housing in an urban area, emphasizing that the cost was notably high.
What role does the word "alors" play in the sentence?
"Alors" means "so" or "therefore." It links the two parts of the sentence by explaining that the high rent is the reason for the current behavior of saving money for a house.
Why is "pour acheter une maison" written with acheter in the infinitive form?
In French, when expressing purpose with the preposition "pour," the verb that follows must be in the infinitive. Here, "acheter" (meaning "to buy") is in the infinitive because it explains the goal of saving money.
How does the use of different tenses contribute to the meaning of the sentence?
Using the imperfect tense for the rent situation establishes a past background or circumstance (that rent was high), while the present tense for saving money emphasizes that this is a current and ongoing decision or process. The contrast helps the learner see how a past condition can have a direct impact on current actions in French.