French Phrase
En général, les cours de l'aprèm sont plus courts.
Meaning
The sentence states that, as a rule, the classes held in the afternoon are shorter in duration than other classes. It uses a generalizing adverbial phrase and a comparative adjective to convey a typical pattern rather than an absolute rule.
When to use
Use this sentence when describing the typical length of afternoon lessons in a school, university, or training program, especially when comparing them to morning or evening sessions. It works well in informal conversations, presentations about school schedules, or written summaries of class timetables.
✦Grammar Breakdown
En général,lescoursdel'aprèmsontpluscourts.
En général
An adverbial phrase meaning “generally”. It can be placed at the beginning of a sentence and is followed by a comma.
les cours
Plural definite article + noun. The article agrees in number with the noun (les = plural).
de l'
The preposition de + the elided article l' is used before a vowel‑starting word; here it links “cours” with the time of day.
aprèm
Colloquial contraction of l'après‑midi. Acceptable in spoken French and informal writing.
sont
Third‑person plural of être, matching the plural subject les cours.
plus courts
Comparative form plus + adjective. The adjective court must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes (courts = masc. pl.).
🗨In Conversation
En général, les cours de l'aprèm sont plus courts.
Generally, the afternoon classes are shorter.
Oui, ça permet aux élèves de rester concentrés après le déjeuner.
Yes, that helps students stay focused after lunch.
✕Common Mistakes
En général, les cours de l'aprèm sont plus court.
The adjective must agree with the plural noun cours, so it should be plus courts.
En général, les cours de l'aprèm sont plus courts.
In formal contexts you should use l'après‑midi instead of the colloquial aprèm.
En général, les cours de l'aprèm sont généralement plus courts.
Do not replace it with généralement in the same position; the adverb généralement usually follows the verb.
↔Alternatives
En général, les cours de l'après‑midi durent moins longtemps.
In general, the afternoon classes last less time.
Habituellement, les cours de l'aprèm sont plus brefs.
Usually, the afternoon classes are briefer.
Les cours de l'après‑midi sont souvent plus courts.
Afternoon classes are often shorter.
Cultural Tip
In French schools, the afternoon session (l'après‑midi) is frequently scheduled with shorter periods to accommodate lunch breaks and to keep students' attention after the midday meal. The informal term aprèm is common among students and teachers in casual conversation, but in formal writing you should use l'après‑midi.