Learn Hardcore French: L’exposition sur la forêt commence à quinze heures. - The exhibition about the forest starts at three p.m.

French uses elision: la becomes l’ before a word that starts with a vowel sound (or a mute h). Since exposition starts with a vowel sound, you get l’exposition. The noun is still feminine; if it were masculine and started with a vowel, you’d also use l’ (e.g., l’homme).

How do I know exposition is feminine?

The elided article l’ hides the gender, but the full form would be la exposition → l’exposition. Also, most nouns ending in -tion are feminine (e.g., la nation, la décision), so it’s une exposition.

What does sur mean here? Can I use de instead?

Here sur means “about/on the topic of.” With nouns like exposition, conférence, film, livre, French commonly uses sur to introduce the subject matter: une exposition sur la forêt. Using de would usually indicate content/possession or composition (e.g., une exposition de photos = an exhibition of photos), not the topic. Alternatives: à propos de, au sujet de, concernant (more formal/wordy).

Why la forêt and not une forêt or les forêts?

French often uses the definite article to talk about a thing in general. la forêt here means “the forest” as a general concept. les forêts would stress forests in the plural (varieties/types), and une forêt would suggest one specific forest (e.g., une exposition sur la forêt amazonienne).

What does the accent in forêt do, and how do I pronounce it?

The circumflex in ê often reflects a lost historical “s” (compare English “forest”). It signals an open “eh” sound [ɛ]. Pronounce forêt roughly “fo-REH”; the final t is silent.

How is the whole sentence pronounced? Any liaisons?

Approximate IPA: [lɛkspozisjɔ̃ syʁ la fɔʁɛ kɔmɑ̃s a kɛ̃z‿œʁ]. Notes:

ex- is [ɛks], and the single s in -sition is → [ɛkspozisjɔ̃].
sur → [syʁ] (the French u is the rounded [y]).
forêt → [fɔʁɛ] (final t silent).
commence → [kɔmɑ̃s].
quinze heures has a liaison: pronounce the z in quinze linking to heures → [kɛ̃z‿œʁ]. The h in heures is mute.

Why is it commence and not commencera or va commencer?

French often uses the present for scheduled future events (just like English “starts at”). All are possible:

commence à 15 h = starts at 3 p.m. (neutral, scheduled)
va commencer = is going to start (near future, slightly more informal/imminent)
commencera = will start (simple future, a bit more formal or detached)

Why à quinze heures? Can I use vers, dans, pour?

à quinze heures = at 3 p.m. (exact time)
vers quinze heures = around 3 p.m. (approximate)
dans quinze minutes = in fifteen minutes (duration until something happens), but you don’t say dans 15 heures for a clock time
pour 15 h = for 3 p.m. (planned/targeted time: prévu/fixé pour 15 h)

Why is heures plural? What about 1:00, noon, and midnight?

Numbers above 1 take the plural: deux heures, quinze heures. With 1 it’s singular: une heure. Special cases: à midi (noon), à minuit (midnight).

Is quinze heures the normal way to say 3 p.m.?

Yes, especially in timetables, announcements, and formal contexts, French prefers the 24‑hour clock: quinze heures / 15 h. In casual speech you’ll also hear the 12‑hour style: à trois heures, optionally clarified with de l’après‑midi.

How do I write the time correctly in French?

With words: à quinze heures.
With figures: à 15 h (a space before and after h). Minutes: 15 h 30. You may also see 15:30 in digital contexts, but typographically 15 h 30 is preferred.

Can I front the time: À quinze heures, …?

Yes. À quinze heures, l’exposition sur la forêt commence. Fronting time expressions is common; add a comma after the time.

What’s the difference between commencer and ouvrir for an exhibition?

L’exposition commence à 15 h emphasizes the event’s start time (e.g., opening ceremony or the moment it begins).
L’exposition ouvre (ses portes) à 15 h emphasizes when it opens to the public (daily opening hours or opening day).

Do I need an article? Can I say just Exposition sur la forêt?

In full sentences, French normally requires a determiner: L’exposition sur la forêt… Dropping the article is mostly for headlines, signs, or note-taking.

What’s the difference between a and à?

a (no accent) = “has” (3rd person singular of avoir): il a.
à (with accent) = “at/to” (preposition): à quinze heures. In this sentence, you must use à.

Any spelling quirks with commencer?

It’s a regular -er verb, but before a/o, you add a cedilla to keep the soft [s] sound: nous commençons, il commença. No change is needed in commence because c before e is already [s].