Learn Hardcore French: Si tu débranches ton téléphone trop tôt, tu ne pourras pas le brancher facilement, car la prise est cassée. - If you unplug your phone too soon, you won’t be able to plug it in easily because the outlet is broken.

Débranches is the second person singular form of the verb débrancher, which means to unplug or to disconnect. In this context, it tells you that you are taking your phone off its power source.

Why is the sentence structured with the present tense in the "if clause" and the future simple in the main clause?

In French, conditional sentences often use the present tense after si (if) to present the condition, while the consequence is expressed in the future simple. Here, "Si tu débranches ton téléphone trop tôt" sets up the condition, and "tu ne pourras pas le brancher facilement" uses the future simple to explain what will happen as a result.

What does trop tôt mean, and how does it affect the sentence?

Trop tôt translates as "too early" in English. It serves as an adverbial phrase that modifies débranches, indicating that unplugging the phone happens prematurely, which then causes the difficulty mentioned in the consequence.

What is the difference between débrancher and brancher in this sentence?

Débrancher means "to unplug" or "to disconnect", while brancher means "to plug in" or "to connect". The sentence contrasts these two actions by warning that disconnecting (unplugging) the phone too early will make it hard to connect (plug in) again.

What role does car play in this sentence, and how does it compare with parce que?

Car is a conjunction meaning "because". It introduces the reason for the difficulty mentioned in the main clause. Although car and parce que both mean "because," car is often used to provide a more formal or explanatory connection between ideas.

Why is cassée written in the feminine form in "la prise est cassée"?

Cassée is the past participle of casser used as an adjective meaning "broken". It appears in the feminine form because it describes la prise, a feminine noun. In French, adjectives must agree in gender (and number) with the noun they modify.

What does the pronoun le in "tu ne pourras pas le brancher facilement" refer to?

The pronoun le replaces ton téléphone to avoid repetition. It serves as a direct object pronoun meaning "it," referring back to your phone.