Acceptable translation?

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on January 10, 2013 at 9:36pm

Hello

Not exactly. (I am native french, my problem is english, so i'm never sure about translation)

if your sentence means that you enjoy yourself, your sentence is

Vous m'avez donné une raison de me réjouir

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Permalink Reply by Robert A on January 10, 2013 at 11:05pm

Hello Chantal,

 

Your translation  would imply that I have a single reason to rejoice. I  am trying to say that there are many reasons to rejoice.... You have given me reason(s) to rejoice. I believe the change in the pronoun from "se" to "me"  is correct.

 

merci,

Robert

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on January 10, 2013 at 11:28pm

ah, ok

so it is " Vous m'avez donné des raisons de me réjouir"

in french all the nouns (except proper nouns) are used with a "déterminant". A noun without a "déterminant" is very very unusual.

but I am thinking ...

except if reason in your sentence is not a noun, if the meaning is "you are right" ?

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Permalink Reply by Robert A on January 10, 2013 at 11:58pm

Reason is a noun... the meaning is a basis or cause for some belief.  The belief I am referring  to is a particular person who has entered my life has caused me joy.... or caused me to rejoice.

 

Robert

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on January 11, 2013 at 12:16am

ok, so it's that

"Vous m'avez donné des raisons de me réjouir"

or if  you went to list after all the reasons, you may say "Vous m'avez donné plusieurs raisons de me réjouir "  or  (better)  "vous m'avez donné tant de raisons de me réjouir"

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Permalink Reply by Robert A on January 11, 2013 at 5:13am

Chantal,

 

 I like all three of your translations.

 

Merci,

Robert

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