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Le contrôle est difficile.

Le contrôle est difficile.
The test is difficult.
FromLesson 13inHardcore French

Breakdown of Le contrôle est difficile.

être
to be
difficile
difficult
le contrôle
the test

Questions & Answers about Le contrôle est difficile.

What does the definite article le indicate in this sentence?
The article le means “the” in English. It signals that the noun contrôle is masculine and refers to a specific item—likely a test or exam—in this context.
What is the significance of the circumflex in contrôle?
The circumflex (ˆ) in contrôle historically indicates that an extra letter was once present in the word. While it doesn’t change the pronunciation dramatically, it’s an important part of the word’s standard spelling in French.
What role does the verb est play in this sentence?
Est is the third person singular form of the verb être (“to be”). It acts as a linking verb that connects the subject le contrôle with the descriptive adjective difficile, effectively stating that the test is difficult.
Why is the adjective difficile unchanged in form?
Difficile is one of the adjectives in French that has the same form for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. Since contrôle is masculine and singular, the adjective remains in its base form without any alteration.
Can contrôle have other meanings depending on the context?
Yes, contrôle can refer to various types of examinations, checks, or inspections. In this sentence, it most likely means an exam or test, but in different contexts, it might also relate to control or monitoring.
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“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).

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