Losing the job

1] What would you do, if you lost your job?

The verb ''would" is used because the mood is subjunctive; the condition given is stated as hypothetical, i.e.not likely to happen, at least in the
mind of the questioner.

2] What do you do if you lose your job? I don't know.

This is a mere question in the indicative mood.

3] What will you do if you lose your job?"

Not subjunctive because there is a likely possibility that the job might be lost.

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I am unable to translate the above 3 sentences into French. Please help me.

They are all grammatically correct in English. I have written the explanation.

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EducatorPermalink Reply by stu harris on May 2, 2010 at 5:55pm

1] Que feriez-vous si vous perdrez votre emploi? (conditional)
2] Que fait-on si on perd son emploi? Je ne sais pas (impersonal)
3] Que ferez-vous si vous perdrez votre emploi? (future)

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on May 2, 2010 at 6:32pm

Thanks stu for the reply.

There is a difference between conditional and subjunctive in English.
It is my understanding that you know it better than me.

Now let us consider hypothetical instance in the past.
4] What would you have done, if you had lost your job?
Could you please translate the above too?
I must print out your answers. The French versions are important to me.

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on May 2, 2010 at 9:00pm

Sentences of type (4) work more or less literally:

Qu'est-ce que vous auriez fait si vous aviez perdu votre emploi?

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EducatorPermalink Reply by stu harris on May 2, 2010 at 9:04pm

Neil is likely to be more correct than me, but here's my effort:

Qu'auriez-vous fait, si vous aviez perdu votre emploi?

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on May 2, 2010 at 8:56pm

Careful in (1) and (3):

1] Que feriez-vous si vous perdiez votre emploi? (conditional)
3) Que ferez-vous si vous perdez votre emploi? (future)

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on May 2, 2010 at 9:22pm

I thank both Neil and Stu for the replies.

I know either 'Que faire vous' or Qu'est-ce que vous faire' stands for the English word 'what'.
However, I am horrible at French. I must beg your help when writing French.

Que faites vous dans la vie. [ What do you do for a living?]

Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie. [ What do you do for a living?]

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Permalink Reply by Neil Coffey on May 3, 2010 at 1:26am

Yes, either of these forms can be used. The inverted form (Que faites-vous...?) is fairly formal, while the form with est-ce que is a more "neutral" style (i.e. not particularly formal or informal), and sometimes the est-ce que can be a bit "hesitant", while the form with inversion is more direct or "matter-of-fact". But they essentially mean the same thing.

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on May 3, 2010 at 9:25am

Thanks Neil

Are the following fine? Please tell me.

Que faites vous dans la vie. [ What do you do for a living?]

Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie. [ What do you do for a living?]