Breakdown of La température est confortable aujourd'hui.
être
to be
aujourd'hui
today
confortable
comfortable
la température
the temperature
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Questions & Answers about La température est confortable aujourd'hui.
What does the phrase La température mean, and why is it used instead of a more general weather expression like Il?
La température literally means "the temperature." It’s used when you want to talk specifically about the thermal measurement rather than the general state of the weather. In contrast, expressions using Il (as in Il fait chaud) are more idiomatic for describing weather conditions in general.
What is the role of the verb est in this sentence?
Est is the third person singular form of the verb être, which means "to be." In this sentence, it functions as the linking verb that connects the subject (La température) to the complement (confortable aujourd'hui).
How does the adjective confortable interact with the noun température in terms of grammatical agreement?
In French, adjectives typically agree with the noun they describe in gender and number. Température is a feminine noun, but confortable is one of those adjectives that doesn’t change form between masculine and feminine. Therefore, it remains confortable regardless of the noun’s gender.
Where does aujourd'hui fit into the sentence, and what does it modify?
Aujourd'hui means "today" and serves as a time adverb in the sentence. It specifies when the temperature is comfortable. Placing it at the end of the sentence is common in French to add circumstantial information, much like saying "today" at the end of an English sentence.
Why might one choose to say La température est confortable aujourd'hui instead of using a more common weather idiom like Il fait...?
Using La température est confortable aujourd'hui focuses directly on the state of the temperature as an object, making it a clear, descriptive statement. While French speakers often use Il fait to describe general weather conditions (e.g., Il fait chaud), this sentence emphasizes the specific comfort level of the temperature, which might be preferred in contexts where a more detailed observation is intended.
Is the word order in this French sentence similar to the English equivalent?
Yes, the sentence follows a subject-verb-adjective/adverb structure similar to English. The order—subject (La température), verb (est), adjective (confortable), and time adverb (aujourd'hui)—mirrors the structure of the English sentence "The temperature is comfortable today," which can help make comprehension easier for English speakers.
How is aujourd'hui pronounced, and why might it be challenging for learners?
Aujourd'hui is generally pronounced roughly as /oʒuʁdɥi/ in IPA. The pronunciation can be tricky due to the combination of sounds that don’t neatly correspond to typical English phonetics—especially the soft j sound, the guttural r, and the blending of d with ɥi. Mastering these sounds often requires practice with native pronunciation.