"Hugo ne peut pas vivre sans appareils électroniques."

Translation: Hugo can't live without electronic devices.

[KristianKp]

Why shouldn't there be a des or les before appareils?

[claude295345]

" sans " is always followed by a noun without an article.

[geometry667721]

That is, if it is followed by a noun. Don't misunderstand the above comment as if "sans" always had to be followed by a noun, you can of course use it "sans qu'il s'y ensuive un nom" as well.

[pom666]

we say : je vais à l'école sans courir.

[GuyWhitehe1]

is he on life support?

[Martyn413385]

Haha. Evidently!

[GraemeSarg]

Presumably one device is a pacemaker, but I don't know what the other device that is required to keep him alive is.

[Martyn413385]

Perhaps a wristband that tells him when to eat!

[b_adger]

Could be an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator)...

[lulularosa]

Since I can say "Il ne peut pas vivre sans chien", should "Hugo ne peut pas vivre sans appareil électronique" be added to Duo's accepted list?

[b_adger]

I think I hear a liaison between "appareils" and "electroniques", so you can tell the difference between the singular and the plural.

[lulularosa]

Right you are! I didn't hear it correctly. Thanks.

[b_adger]

Listening is way harder than reading in French. Glad I could help.

[Bumbersnatch]

Generally (not in every instance, of course), people have just one dog, if they have a dog. On the other hand, do you know anybody who owns only one device?

[lulularosa]

I understand what you are saying, but yes, I do know people who own only one device, as well as people who can't afford even one device.

I should point out that I was oginally referring to a dictation exercise.

[Martyn413385]

"Hugo can't live without electronic gadgets" - is also accepted.