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Chantal Savignat replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"Yes I didn't think about that, but I think all "path" nouns can be used with "être" or "avoir". But often some of them are more used with "être" and others with "avoir". These two…"

Oct 15

EducatorGeorge Hunt replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"I imagine your last examples would work and have a different sense to what they would have using "about. For example it seems to me like you might be hopping of the ladder rather than using it in the normal way. And as regards the…"

Oct 14

michael rivers replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"Thank you for your explanation. I think I understand now. So, regarding point "2)", you could never say : "J'ai descendu la table (sur le sol)", as it's impossible to walk from the table to the ground. The "Avoir…"

Oct 14

EducatorGeorge Hunt replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"That was nicely explained."

Oct 13

Chantal Savignat replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"Hello J'ai descendu l'escalier, la colline => OK J'ai descendu l'échelle => not always. "Je suis descendu de l'échelle" is right too. J'ai descendu l'arbre. => never…"

Oct 12

EducatorGeorge Hunt replied to michael rivers's discussion avoir descendu l'arbre

"You are right.It is a bit mystifying. When things are complicated I try to just remember the particular examples and hope that it becomes second nature eventually. There must be rules involved but I am not sure how useful they would be.Perhaps there…"

Oct 11

michael rivers posted a discussion

avoir descendu l'arbre

Why is the above sentence considered incorrect to translate 'I climbed/came down the tree'? I am of the understanding that 'Descendre de l'arbre' is the right translation, but I can't understand why.You can sayJ'ai descendu l'escalier, la colline, echelle etc.But notJ'ai descendu l'arbreEqually, I find it hard to understand why to translate 'to get off/ out of the (car,plane)' must be 'Je suis descendu de la voiture/avion' rather than 'J'ai descendu la voiture/avionYou are taught that when a…See More

Oct 10

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Chantal Savignat replied to Jodie's discussion Why can't I learn?

"Hi George. Thank you very much. It was very helpful for me to read and write in English. When you say something like "maybe "start a thread/topic" rather than "open a subject"", I think "oh yes of course." But…"

Oct 10

EducatorGeorge Hunt replied to Jodie's discussion Why can't I learn?

"I didn't realize you were trying to improve your English Chantal. In that case you should say "make mistakes" .Otherwise all good except perhaps you might have said "write some sentences" instead…"

Oct 8

EducatorGeorge Hunt replied to Jodie's discussion Why can't I learn?

" I didn't realize you were trying to improve your English Chantal. In that case you should say "make mistakes" .Otherwise all good except perhaps you might have said "write some sentences" instead of "make…"

Oct 8

Crack1 replied to Crack1's discussion How to say live or lived in a country?

"Thanks Chantal Yes, en ce moment sounds fine to my ears though I have a smattering of French.. He lives in France. He is living in France is also correct. However, this connotes, for me, you are on the run. Sometimes in France. Sometimes in another…"

Oct 7

Chantal Savignat replied to Crack1's discussion How to say live or lived in a country?

"we add precisions : "Il voyage beaucoup, en ce moment il reste en France" "Il voyage beaucoup mais là il est en France" "Sa résidence principale est en France mais il voyage beaucoup""

Oct 7

Crack1 replied to Crack1's discussion How to say live or lived in a country?

"Thanks Chantal He lives in France/Germany. He is living in France/Germany is also correct. But this has some connotation of itinerant aspects. Probably for your job you travel in several countries. If this is the case, we use the -ing…"

Oct 4

Chantal Savignat replied to Crack1's discussion How to say live or lived in a country?

"I translate "country of domicile" in french by "pays de résidence"."

Oct 4

Crack1 replied to Crack1's discussion How to say live or lived in a country?

"Thanks Chantal. So French is different than English. It is always live in English. I live in France/Germany/the US etc. I live in Paris, London, Tokyo etc, The word domicile is also used to some extent. You may have heard the words…"

Oct 3

Chantal Savignat replied to Jodie's discussion Why can't I learn?

"Hello Jodie. I have the same problem... but in english. And I have to speak english in my job. It's the reason why I am on this site. I try to answer in english. It's not good. But the first time I did't know how to begin…"

Oct 3

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