Two sentences

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Frank on November 21, 2009 at 10:39pm

Croire en l'immortalité de l'âme.

Well, the English version would be "to believe that we have an immortal soul" then.

If you want to use the imperative form, it should rather be "crois/croyons/croyez en l'immortalité de l'âme".

Le héros est dépeint comme une âme noble et généreuse.

dépeint = depict, portrayed

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 1:38pm

Frank
There is a difference between 'believe' and ' believe in'.

I believe Frank is an honest man.
I believe what Frank tells me in this forum.

I believe in God.
.......................................................................-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Croire en l'immortalité de l'âme.
Could you write the above in English?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Frank on November 22, 2009 at 6:00pm

Could you write the above in English?

To believe that we have an immortal soul.

Does the infinitive tense sound weird here? It is. So is it in French...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 6:49pm

I think it is fine.

People believe that we have ...
One believes that we have ...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crack1 on November 22, 2009 at 8:52pm

Frank
Can you accept my English translation?
Le héros est dépeint comme une âme noble et généreuse.
The hero is considered a noble and generous human being.

I think it can't 'the heros' because the absences of the article.
I mean it should be 'Les héros'.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Frank on November 22, 2009 at 8:58pm

Hi Crack,

Well, it's what he is depicted as, but it might be at odds with the reality.
It's why translating "dépeint" as "considered" can be somewhat dangerous.

"The hero is described as a noble and generous human being" would be closer to the original meaning.

• ▶ Reply