"Neil, I'm assuming you want to say "hollandais" :-)"
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Definite articles: Putting God in a list
Started this discussion. Last reply by Neil Coffey Jan 31. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Definite articles are used tons more in French than in normal written or conversational English, and most of the time I understand that. But I have a little thing that's tripping me up today.I know…Continue
Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Adidas Jan 20. 10 Replies 1 Like
If I should be the only one in whom you have faith, I would love you with all my might.(I know, it's flowery-poetic gooey. But it helps me ask the question.) In other words, If I were able to find a…Continue
Tags: tense, mood, conditional, subjunctive
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Kelly replied to Kelly's discussion Definite articles: Putting God in a list"I know it's getting off-topic, but I'm curious—Where are you when you say "we" (where is the "h" aspirated)? In France or Québec? I don't think I've noticed an aspirated h when I visit QC, but I…"
Charles D replied to Kelly's discussion Definite articles: Putting God in a list"Think of the difference in talking or writing about "God" and "the gods". If I were speaking about "God" with a Big G in your list of "hockey, God, and work" "le hockey, Dieu, et le travail"…"
Grégory replied to Kelly's discussion Definite articles: Putting God in a list"We say 'LE hockey'
For instance 'Je hais le hockey, Dieu et le travail' is correct but unlikely. Actually, it sounds like a figure of speech. "
Kelly replied to Kelly's discussion Definite articles: Putting God in a list"(Oh, I wasn't even worried about alphabetizing, I just meant "God with a capital G" as in, single deity, usually seen capitalized in English.)
So if I understand you correctly—you're saying that in a list such as this, it…"
Kelly posted a discussionDefinite articles: Putting God in a list
Definite articles are used tons more in French than in normal written or conversational English, and most of the time I understand that. But I have a little thing that's tripping me up today.I know that under normal circumstances, in any list of multiple items in French we want to use the definite article for each noun, even though in English this is usually not done except for emphasis. For example,l'hockey, l'étude, et le travail = hockey, studying, and work [job]In a normal sentence, I…See More
"Thanks Erwan. I really thought this <soit> could be translated as
< 'Wouldst that I were alone >
But i'll take yourword for it."
stu harris replied to Kelly's discussion Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?"Neil, I'll give you an English subjunctive which is grammatically correct although it's so formal that it might raise a smirk today:
I'd like a south-facing room ,were that to be available.
But surely, even the perfectly vernacular…"
Erwan replied to Kelly's discussion Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?"If you use "Soit" by this way that means you make a supposition. Then you get this kind of structure "Soit...soit...". I don't think this is what Kelly wants.
Beginning your sentence with "Soit que" is not…"
"Could you not use 'Soit que j'etais la seule...?"
Martha Kalum liked Kelly's discussion Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?Kelly replied to Kelly's discussion Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?"
Thanks, that's what I thought. Simpler than I think—the answer's just No. :) This is why I get confused, I look for exceptions to the rules where there aren't any. I appreciate your help!"
Erwan replied to Kelly's discussion Complicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?"It's impossible to write "Si je sois". The subjonctive is only used with the words "que" or "qui".
Concerning the first part of you phrase, what do you think of "Si je devais…"
Kelly posted a discussionComplicated subjunctive question? or is it simpler than I think?
If I should be the only one in whom you have faith, I would love you with all my might.(I know, it's flowery-poetic gooey. But it helps me ask the question.) In other words, If I were able to find a way to become that person, etc.In English, this looks like subjunctive, subjunctive, conditional. But in French I feel like I'm supposed to go with the imperfect after si, as in:——Si j'étais la seule en qui tu aies foi, je t'aimerais à tour de bras.If I were the only one, etc. To me this implies a…See More
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- How would you rate your level of French?
- Intermediate
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