milkeywayww83

[desert crater]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[toxic escarp]

you can change the sentence to past tense.

"on peut sentir le beurre" (the butter can be smelled) is present tense, and describes how the butter is at that moment.
Because it describes a state, you would indeed have to use imperfect for it to be past tense.

[cunning cove]

I see now ! Merci beaucoup !

@toxic escarp hope you don't mind I ask further . I can use 'on pouvait ' in l'imparfait, though I don't exactly mean 'we can ' ,but tend to be the meaning that 'one can / it is possible to smell the butter ?

[toxic escarp]

"on" has many uses. I would be proned to translate it using a passive construction (the butter could be smelled)