Passerelles ep. 1, Quiz 29: à partir de

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starting from

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What does “par contre” mean?

“Par contre” is a common French expression that can be translated to “on the other hand,” “however,” or “in contrast” in English. It is used to introduce a contrasting or opposing idea to the one previously mentioned in a conversation or text. The phrase helps to shift the focus to a different perspective or point of view.

Usage:

• “Par contre” is often used in discussions or arguments to present an opposing viewpoint or to bring up a contrasting fact or information.
• It is commonly used to express differences or contradictions between two statements, ideas, or situations.
• The expression is versatile and can be used in various contexts, such as informal conversations, formal writing, or even in debates.

Example: “J’aime beaucoup les films d’action. Par contre, mon frère préfère les comédies romantiques.” (I really like action movies. On the other hand, my brother prefers romantic comedies.)

Fun Fact: “Par contre” is a useful expression to master in French, as it allows you to add nuance to your conversations and express differing opinions or perspectives effectively. By using “par contre,” you can show that you have considered the other side of the argument or that you want to present an alternative viewpoint in a balanced and respectful manner.

What does “assez récente” mean?

“assez récente” is a French expression that translates to “fairly recent” or “quite recent” in English. It is used to describe something that has occurred or been established not too long ago but is not necessarily brand new. The phrase “assez récente” helps convey that the event or object in question has a modern or contemporary nature without being extremely recent.

Usage:

• “Assez récente” is often used when discussing topics related to history, technology, trends, or any subject where the timeframe of the event or occurrence is relevant.
• It can be used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate that something has happened in the not-too-distant past.

Example: “La découverte de cette espèce est assez récente, elle date seulement d’il y a cinq ans.” (The discovery of this species is fairly recent; it’s only five years old.)

Fun Fact: “assez récente” is a useful phrase to indicate that something is relevant to the present time but not necessarily a groundbreaking discovery or a completely new phenomenon. It allows you to specify the timeframe of the event or topic being discussed without being too precise about its exact age.

What does “à partir de(s)” mean?

“À partir de” is a French prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate a starting point or point of departure in time, space, or a specific condition. It is equivalent to the English phrases “from” or “starting from.” Depending on the context, “à partir de” can be followed by different elements, such as a specific time, location, or condition.

Here are some common uses of “à partir de”:

1. Time: “À partir de” is often used to specify the beginning time of an event or action:
   • “Le magasin ouvre à partir de 9 heures.” (The store opens from 9 o’clock.)
   • “À partir de demain, je serai en vacances.” (Starting from tomorrow, I will be on vacation.)
2. Location: It can also indicate a starting point in space or a location:
   • “Nous partirons à partir de la gare centrale.” (We will leave from the central station.)
   • “Le chemin est fermé à partir de ce point.” (The path is closed from this point.)
3. Condition: “À partir de” can express a specific condition or circumstance from which something happens:
   • “À partir de cet instant, tout a changé.” (From that moment on, everything changed.)
   • “À partir de 18 ans, on peut conduire une voiture.” (From the age of 18, one can drive a car.)

When followed by a definite article, “à partir des,” it indicates a starting point with plural nouns:

• “À partir des années 2000, les technologies ont évolué rapidement.” (Starting from the 2000s, technologies evolved rapidly.)

In summary, “à partir de” is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate starting points in time, space, or condition. It is a common expression in French and is essential for describing when something begins or originates.

What does “s’est répandue” mean?

“S’est répandue” is a verb phrase in French that is the past participle form of the verb “se répandre.” It translates to “has spread” or “has been spreading” in English. The verb “se répandre” is a reflexive verb, which means it requires a reflexive pronoun (in this case, “se”) that refers back to the subject of the sentence.

Here’s a breakdown of the verb “se répandre”:

• “Se” is the reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject of the sentence.
• “Répandre” is the verb, which means “to spread” or “to disseminate.”

When conjugated in the passé composé (compound past tense), “se répandre” becomes “s’est répandue” to agree with the feminine singular subject of the sentence.

Example: “La nouvelle s’est répandue rapidement.” (The news has spread quickly.)

In this sentence, “la nouvelle” (the news) is the subject, and “s’est répandue” indicates that the news has been spreading. The reflexive pronoun “se” refers back to “la nouvelle,” making it clear that the news is the one doing the action of spreading.

The phrase “s’est répandue” is commonly used to describe the spread of information, rumors, news, or other intangible elements. It is a useful expression to convey the idea of dissemination or propagation of something throughout a certain area or among people.

The reason it’s “s’est répandue” and not “c’est répandue” has to do with the reflexive nature of the verb “se répandre.” In French, some verbs are reflexive, meaning they require a reflexive pronoun (like “se”) that reflects the action back onto the subject of the sentence.

When “se répandre” is used in the passé composé (compound past tense), it needs the reflexive pronoun “se” in front of the auxiliary verb “être” (to be), creating “s’est répandue.” The reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the sentence in gender and number.

For example:

• “La nouvelle s’est répandue rapidement.” (The news has spread quickly.)
• “Les rumeurs se sont répandues dans tout le quartier.” (The rumors spread throughout the neighborhood.)

In both of these examples, the subject of the sentence (la nouvelle, les rumeurs) is doing the action of spreading (se répandre), and the reflexive pronoun “se” indicates that the action is reflected back onto the subject.

On the other hand, “c’est répandue” would not be grammatically correct because “c’est” is a contraction of “ce” (it) and “est” (is), and it doesn’t agree in gender or number with the subject “la nouvelle” or “les rumeurs.” For reflexive verbs like “se répandre,” the correct form in the passé composé is “s’est répandue” for a feminine singular subject, “s’est répandu” for a masculine singular subject, “se sont répandues” for feminine plural subjects, and “se sont répandus” for masculine plural subjects.

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