Breakdown of Nous protégeons ce trésor en le gardant dans un coffre fermé.
nous
we
dans
in
garder
to keep
une
a
en
by
le
it
le trésor
the treasure
protéger
to protect
le coffre
the chest
fermé
locked
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Questions & Answers about Nous protégeons ce trésor en le gardant dans un coffre fermé.
What does the construction en le gardant mean, and why is it used in this sentence?
The structure en + present participle (here, gardant) indicates the means or way in which the action is carried out—essentially translating to "by keeping". The pronoun le refers back to ce trésor (this treasure), so en le gardant means "by keeping it". This construction helps explain how the treasure is protected.
Why is the pronoun le inserted between en and gardant, and could it be omitted?
The pronoun le is necessary because it explicitly refers to ce trésor, the object being protected. In this type of construction, the pronoun is placed before the present participle to avoid repeating the noun. Omitting le would make the sentence unclear about what is being kept, so its inclusion is essential in linking back to the treasure.
What role does ce trésor play in the sentence, and why is the demonstrative ce significant?
Ce trésor acts as the direct object of the verb protégeons. The demonstrative ce (meaning "this") signals that the speaker is referring to a specific, significant treasure. It highlights that not just any treasure is being talked about, but one that is especially important and in need of protection.
How does the phrase dans un coffre fermé function, and what is the significance of the adjective fermé?
The phrase dans un coffre fermé functions as a locative complement that tells us where the treasure is kept. Dans means "in", and un coffre fermé translates to "a locked (or closed) chest". The adjective fermé qualifies the noun coffre, emphasizing that the chest is secure, which adds to the overall protection of the treasure.
Why is the present participle form gardant used alongside the simple present protégeons, and what does this imply about the actions?
The simple present protégeons indicates an ongoing or habitual action—"we protect" the treasure. The present participle gardant is used to describe a simultaneous or accompanying action—"keeping it". Together, they imply that the method of protection is continuous and that the act of keeping the treasure safe (by storing it in a locked chest) is integral to the overall act of protecting it.