 Return to the FRENCH Archive | Forward to the Current FRENCH Forum |
| Arteum | Tuesday 22nd of March 2005 08:33:25 AM |
| French Grammar - Hello,
I am feeling uncomfortable translating some grammatical expressions into French. Can anybody translate the phrases marked with (*) (which contain these expressions) into French for me? (*) I hope that you understand me. [Which tense to use after “que” – Présent Indicatif or Présent Subjonctif?] (*) I hope that you will recover soon. [Again, I think I need to use some Subjonctif tense, but there is no Futur Subjonctif in French!] There are also the usual questions about the IF-formations. There are three main IF-constructions in the English language. How to translate them into French? (*) If I have the money, I will buy a house. (*) If I had the money, I would buy a house. (*) If I had had the money, I would have bought a house. [This may be alternatively written as “Had I had the money I would have bought a house”.] There is also a forth formation (in which IF does not really mark a condition), less important but still often encountered: (*) If you have drawn this picture, you must be very talented. Then there is a question about the connection “so that”. (*) I saved some money so that we can go on vacation. [How to translate “so that …”] Another "connection": (*) It will be difficult for you to read this book. [I am interested in the construction: “… for you to …”] Another example of such a construction: (*) It is impossible for her to know this. Now, the “should have” construction: (*) I know, I should have done this long ago. or (*) You should have visited a doctor! I hope this will be enough for the beginning. As I am writing in French more and more, I believe, more and more grammatical constructions I am not sure with will be turning up. Thank you for your help in advance. Arteum P.S. OK, I just made certain that I did not need the translation into English ;-) | |
| Mery | Wednesday 23rd of March 2005 01:33:12 AM |
| - Salut Arteum,
Je vais essayer de traduire ces phrases du mieux que je peux. [b]I hope that you understand me[/b] => j'espère que tu me comprends (présent indicatif) [b]I hope that you will recover soon[/b] => j'espère que tu guériras vite (no need to use un subjonctif, just un futur) [b]If I have the money, I will buy a house[/b] => si j'ai de l'argent, j'achèterai une maison => présent / futur [b]If I had the money, I would buy a house[/b] => si j'avais de l'argent, j'achèterais une maison => imparfait / conditionnel [b]If I had had the money, I would have bought a house[/b] =>si j'avais eu de l'argent, j'aurais acheté la maison => plus-que-parfait / conditionnel passé [b]If you have drawn this picture, you must be very talented.[/b] => I'd translate that sentence differently from English ==>si c'est toi qui a dessiné cette image, tu as beaucoup de talent [b]I saved some money so that we can go on vacation.[/b] ==> j'ai économisé de l'argent [b]pour[/b] que nous puissions partir en vacance OR pour qu'on puisse... => 'puissions' = un subjonctif ;) [b]It will be difficult for you to read this book.[/b] ==> tu auras des difficultés à lire ce livre [b]It is impossible for her to know this.[/b] ==> c'est impossible qu'elle sache ça OU ... connaisse ça (it depends on what you're talking about) => sache + connaisse = subjonctif [b]I know, I should have done this long ago.[/b] => je sais, j'aurais dû faire ça il y a longtemps [b]You should have visited a doctor[/b] => tu aurais dû aller voir un médecin => aurais dû = conditionnel passé I hope this can help you :) I think I should send you a correction of the email you sent me the other day. You made some mistakes with the subjonctif. You often use subjonctifs when there's no need to use them. I'll do that later :) | |
