I. LA NEIGE

Page 1. — i. de la vapeur d'eau; hère vapeur is used partitively, and the words de la are not to be rendered. The numerical abbreviation which follows in line 3 stands for ze'ro (the freezing-point) of the Centigrade scale.

2. aussi la neige tombe-t-elle ; when aussi introduces a clause, it does not mean "also," but "therefore," "so," " accordingly "; and in such cases the subject, if a pronoun, usually follows its verb. If, as in this phrase, the subject is a noun, it is resumed, just as in questions, in the form of a personal pronoun placed after the verb.

3. s'est formée; note that this verb-form is not in the passive voice, and so does not mean "is formed," though it may be rendered appropriately (as reflexives very often are) by a passive expression, has been formed.

4. il tombera de la neige, snow will fall; il is used impersonally ; for the use of the noun compare note i, above.