Le dossier retrouvé est important.

The found folder is important.

Breakdown of Le dossier retrouvé est important.

• être: to be
• important: important
• le dossier: the folder
• retrouvé: found

Questions & Answers about Le dossier retrouvé est important.

What is the role of the word retrouvé in this sentence? Is it a verb or an adjective?

Retrouvé is a past participle used adjectivally. It modifies dossier, so Le dossier retrouvé means roughly “the file that was found/recovered.” It’s a reduced relative clause equivalent to le dossier qui a été retrouvé.

Why does retrouvé come after dossier? Could it go before?

In French, most descriptive adjectives—and especially participles like retrouvé—come after the noun. Saying Le retrouvé dossier is ungrammatical. Post-nominal position is the norm here.

Can I say Le dossier qui a été retrouvé est important instead? What’s the difference?

Yes. Le dossier qui a été retrouvé est important is fully correct and slightly more explicit; Le dossier retrouvé est important is more concise and very natural. Both mean “The file that was found is important.”

Does retrouvé have to agree with dossier? How would it change with feminine or plural nouns?

Yes, as an adjective it agrees in gender and number:

• Masculine singular: retrouvé — Le dossier retrouvé
• Feminine singular: retrouvée — La lettre retrouvée
• Masculine plural: retrouvés — Les dossiers retrouvés
• Feminine plural: retrouvées — Les lettres retrouvées

Could I use trouvé instead of retrouvé? What’s the nuance?

• Trouver = to find (discover for the first time).
• Retrouver = to find again/recover (something lost/missing). So Le dossier retrouvé suggests the file was missing and has been recovered. Le dossier trouvé would sound more like a file someone found (initial discovery). Context decides which fits better.

Is the sentence passive?

No. The main verb is est (is), and retrouvé is an adjective modifying dossier. A passive form would be Le dossier est retrouvé (par …) or more commonly in the past: Le dossier a été retrouvé (par …).

How would I say “The file was found and it is important”?

Le dossier a été retrouvé et il est important.

How do you pronounce the sentence naturally? Any liaisons?

Roughly: [lə do.sje ʁə.tʁu.ve ɛ t‿ɛ̃.pɔʁ.tɑ̃]

• dossier: do-syé
• retrouvé: ruh-troo-vay
• est important: eh t‑ehn-por-tahn (there is a liaison: the t sound links from est to important) No liaison between dossier and retrouvé.

Why is the definite article Le used instead of Un?

Le points to a specific file known in the context (already mentioned/identified). Un dossier retrouvé est important would sound generic or odd (“a found file is important”). You’d normally use Le here.

What exactly does dossier mean? Is it the same as “file” in English?

Dossier is a set/collection of documents or a folder (physical or digital directory). For a single computer file, French uses fichier. For a physical paper sleeve, chemise is common. So:

• dossier: folder/case file (and a computer directory)
• fichier: computer file
• document: a document

Can retrouvé take complements like “yesterday” or “by the police”?

Yes. Examples:

• Le dossier retrouvé hier est important.
• Le dossier retrouvé par la police est important.
• Le dossier retrouvé dans la voiture est important.

Does the sentence imply that being found is what makes it important?

Not necessarily. It simply says the found/recovered file is important. If you want to say that the fact it was found makes it important, use something like:

• Le fait qu’il ait été retrouvé le rend important.
• Le fait de l’avoir retrouvé le rend important.

Why is it important and not importante?

Agreement follows the noun:

• Le dossier → important
• La lettre → importante
• Les dossiers → importants
• Les lettres → importantes

Can I say Le dossier a été retrouvé important to mean “was found to be important”?

No, that’s not idiomatic. Use:

• On a découvert que le dossier était important.
• Le dossier s’est révélé/avéré important.

Can I drop the article like a headline?

In headlines, yes: Dossier retrouvé: important or more naturally Dossier retrouvé: une pièce importante. In normal sentences, keep the article: Le dossier…

How can I emphasize retrouvé or important?

• Focus on the fact it’s the recovered one: C’est le dossier retrouvé qui est important.
• Emphasize importance: Le dossier retrouvé est très important.

What are common mistakes to avoid with this sentence pattern?

• Putting retrouvé before the noun: avoid Le retrouvé dossier.
• Forgetting agreement: write retrouvée(s) with feminine/plural nouns.
• Mixing up trouvé vs retrouvé when “found again/recovered” is meant.
• Dropping the accent: it must be retrouvé (é), not retrouve.
• Forcing a liaison between dossier and retrouvé (there isn’t one).