35 Comments
What do you do when it sounds exactly the same for singular and plural? How do you tell them apart without further context from additional sentence structure applied?
21
Is this a question about listening exercises on Duolingo? The French team includes both relevant versions; however, there may be some delay as this isn't something they do themselves but rather have to request staff do for them. And some, of course, may slip through the cracks.
does each person eat a carrot or is this multiple people eating one carrot
They also have one where multiple people are eating one strawberry, which sounds even more of a challenge. "Ils mangent une fraise."
- 766
so not only we are exercising French, but also they are exercising multiple people eating a small strawberry or a carrot.
I am afraid that our exercise is much easier than theirs.
I second Marty, the voice made no indication that it was looking for the plural version.
Duolingo accepts both the singular "il mange" and plural "ils mangent" as acceptable answers.
- 864
It did not, I'm sorry to say. I wrote it as singular today and it marked it wrong. Please fix all versions of this!
I think it marks it wrong (and gives you a pre-set answer about it being plural), because there is some other problem in your answer. First time I put it in as "il mange une carrote" (ie: misspelled "carotte" and got the error message about it being "Ils mangent ...". Second go with "il mange une carotte", all good. It's curious because duo is usually pretty forgiving of misspelling, but anyway, the problem here is not the marking it is the comment that comes with the marking.
- 21
Both versions should be accepted for write-what-you-hear exercises, but for translation, the sentence is what it is.
I have read the discussions above, and I DID type in the singular and it was marked as wrong. This is really the most aggravating thing about your wonderful teaching. . .when either one should be accepted, it should not be marked as incorrect.
Not a fair question on a test. Ils mangent and il mange have exactly the same pronunciation and both answers should be correct as there is not way to distinguish between the two when listening.
Singular (Il mange une carotte) should be accepted as there is not way to distinguish it from the plural by voice.
I think a carrot each is implied, if I remember from another exercise but hope for a damon response.
Ok, please could someone help me? What is the difference in manges and mangeZ when do they apply?
How do I know the difference between 'il mange' and 'ils mangent', 'le garçon and 'les garçons' when spoken?
'il mange' and 'ils mangent' sounds exactly the same whereas 'le' is pronounced like 'luh' and 'les' sounds like 'lay' so you can hear the difference clearly.
They eat a carrot? What kind of crazy translation is that? 'They are eating a carrot' would be better (but still weird!)
These exercises are farcical and frustrating. The worst i have experienced with Duo.
it's confused with "il mange one carotte" as both for me are correct answers, no difference in pronunciation!!
If it says "ils mangent" why does the answer have to be " they eat" rather than "they are eating"? Any insight would be lovely :)
