La capacité

For cubic measurements ⇒ Le volume.

British liquid measurements

20 fl oz = 0,57l (litre)

1 qt = 1,13l* (litres)

1 pt = 0,57l

1 gal = 4,54l

*There are three ways of saying 1,13l, and other measurements like it : un virgule treize litres, or (less formally) un litre virgule treize, or un litre treize. For more details on how to say numbers ⇒ Les nombres.

American liquid measurements

16 fl oz = 0,47l

1 qt = 0,94l

1 pt = 0,47l

1 gal = 3,78l

Phrases

what does the tank hold?

= combien le réservoir contient-il?

what’s its capacity?

= quelle est sa contenance?

it’s 200 litres

= il fait 200 litres

its capacity is 200 litres

= il fait 200 litres

my car does 28 miles to the gallon

= ma voiture fait dix litres aux cent† or ma voiture fait du dix litres aux cent

they use 20,000 litres a day

= ils utilisent 20000 litres par jour

† Note that the French calculate petrol consumption in litres per 100 km. To convert miles per gallon to litres per 100 km and vice versa simply divide the factor 280 by the

known figure.

A holds more than B

= A contient plus que B

B holds less than A

= B contient moins que A

A has a greater capacity than B

= A a une plus grande contenance que B

B has a smaller capacity than A

= B a une moins grande contenance que A

A and B have the same capacity

= A et B ont la même contenance

20 litres of wine

= 20 litres de vin

it’s sold by the litre

= cela se vend au litre

Note the French construction with de, coming after the noun it describes :

a 200-litre tank

= un réservoir de 200 litres