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Usage note: when

  • 1 Usage note : when

    when can very often be translated by quand in time expressions:
    when did she leave?
    = quand est-ce qu’elle est partie? or elle est partie quand? or quand est-elle partie?
    Note that in questions quand on its own requires inversion of the verb and subject:
    when are they arriving?
    = quand arrivent-ils?
    but when followed by est-ce que needs no inversion: quand est-ce qu’ils arrivent?
    Occasionally a more precise time expression is used in French:
    when’s your birthday?
    = quelle est la date de ton anniversaire?
    when did he set off?
    = à quelle heure est-il parti?
    Remember that the future tense is used after quand if future time is implied:
    tell him when you see him
    = dis-le-lui quand tu le verras
    It is often possible to give a short neat translation for a when clause if there is no change of subject in the sentence:
    when I was very young, I lived in Normandy
    = tout jeune, j’habitais en Normandie
    when he was leaving, he asked for my address
    = en partant, il m’a demandé mon adresse
    In expressions such as the day when, the year when, où is used:
    the day when we got married
    = le jour où nous nous sommes mariés
    For examples of the above and further uses of when, see the entry when.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : when

  • 2 Usage note : be

    The direct French equivalent of the verb to be in subject + to be + predicate sentences is être:
    I am tired
    = je suis fatigué
    Caroline is French
    = Caroline est française
    the children are in the garden
    = les enfants sont dans le jardin
    It functions in very much the same way as to be does in English and it is safe to assume it will work as a translation in the great majority of cases.
    Note, however, that when you are specifying a person’s profession or trade, a/an is not translated:
    she’s a doctor
    = elle est médecin
    Claudie is still a student
    = Claudie est toujours étudiante
    This is true of any noun used in apposition when the subject is a person:
    he’s a widower
    = il est veuf
    But
    Lyons is a beautiful city
    = Lyon est une belle ville
    For more information or expressions involving professions and trades consult the usage note Shops, Trades and Professions.
    For the conjugation of the verb être see the French verb tables.
    Grammatical functions
    The passive
    être is used to form the passive in French just as to be is used in English. Note, however, that the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject:
    the rabbit was killed by a fox
    = le lapin a été tué par un renard
    the window had been broken
    = la fenêtre avait été cassée
    their books will be sold
    = leurs livres seront vendus
    our doors have been repainted red
    = nos portes ont été repeintes en rouge
    In spoken language, French native speakers find the passive cumbersome and will avoid it where possible by using the impersonal on where a person or people are clearly involved : on a repeint nos portes en rouge.
    Progressive tenses
    In French the idea of something happening over a period of time cannot be expressed using the verb être in the way that to be is used as an auxiliary verb in English.
    The present
    French uses simply the present tense where English uses the progressive form with to be:
    I am working
    = je travaille
    Ben is reading a book
    = Ben lit un livre
    The future
    French also uses the present tense where English uses the progressive form with to be:
    we are going to London tomorrow
    = nous allons à Londres demain
    I’m (just) coming!
    = j’arrive!
    I’m (just) going!
    = j’y vais!
    The past
    To express the distinction between she read a newspaper and she was reading a newspaper French uses the perfect and the imperfect tenses: elle a lu un journal/elle lisait un journal:
    he wrote to his mother
    = il a écrit à sa mère
    he was writing to his mother
    = il écrivait à sa mère
    However, in order to accentuate the notion of describing an activity which went on over a period of time, the phrase être en train de (= to be in the process of) is often used:
    ‘what was he doing when you arrived?’
    ‘he was cooking the dinner’
    = ‘qu’est-ce qu’il faisait quand tu es arrivé?’ ‘il était en train de préparer le dîner’
    she was just finishing her essay when …
    = elle était juste en train de finir sa dissertation quand …
    The compound past
    Compound past tenses in the progressive form in English are generally translated by the imperfect in French:
    I’ve been looking for you
    = je te cherchais
    For progressive forms + for and since (I’ve been waiting for an hour, I had been waiting for an hour, I’ve been waiting since Monday etc.) see the entries for and since.
    Obligation
    When to be is used as an auxiliary verb with another verb in the infinitive ( to be to do) expressing obligation, a fixed arrangement or destiny, devoir is used:
    she’s to do it at once
    = elle doit le faire tout de suite
    what am I to do?
    = qu’est-ce que je dois faire?
    he was to arrive last Monday
    = il devait arriver lundi dernier
    she was never to see him again
    = elle ne devait plus le revoir.
    In tag questions
    French has no direct equivalent of tag questions like isn’t he? or wasn’t it? There is a general tag question n’est-ce pas? (literally isn’t it so?) which will work in many cases:
    their house is lovely, isn’t it?
    = leur maison est très belle, n’est-ce pas?
    he’s a doctor, isn’t he?
    = il est médecin, n’est-ce pas?
    it was a very good meal, wasn’t it?
    = c’était un très bon repas, n’est-ce pas?
    However, n’est-ce pas can very rarely be used for positive tag questions and some other way will be found to express the extra meaning contained in the tag: par hasard ( by any chance) can be very useful as a translation:
    ‘I can’t find my glasses’ ‘they’re not in the kitchen, are they?’
    = ‘je ne trouve pas mes lunettes’ ‘elles ne sont pas dans la cuisine, par hasard?’
    you haven’t seen Gaby, have you?
    = tu n’as pas vu Gaby, par hasard?
    In cases where an opinion is being sought, si? meaning more or less or is it? or was it? etc. can be useful:
    it’s not broken, is it?
    = ce n’est pas cassé, si?
    he wasn’t serious, was he?
    = il n’était pas sérieux, si?
    In many other cases the tag question is simply not translated at all and the speaker’s intonation will convey the implied question.
    In short answers
    Again, there is no direct equivalent for short answers like yes I am, no he’s not etc. Where the answer yes is given to contradict a negative question or statement, the most useful translation is si:
    ‘you’re not going out tonight’ ‘yes I am’
    = ‘tu ne sors pas ce soir’ ‘si’
    In reply to a standard enquiry the tag will not be translated:
    ‘are you a doctor?’ ‘yes I am’
    = ‘êtes-vous médecin?’ ‘oui’
    ‘was it raining?’ ‘yes it was’
    = ‘est-ce qu’il pleuvait?’ ‘oui’
    Probability
    For expressions of probability and supposition ( if I were you etc.) see the entry be.
    Other functions
    Expressing sensations and feelings
    In expressing physical and mental sensations, the verb used in French is avoir:
    to be cold
    = avoir froid
    to be hot
    = avoir chaud
    I’m cold
    = j’ai froid
    to be thirsty
    = avoir soif
    to be hungry
    = avoir faim
    to be ashamed
    = avoir honte
    my hands are cold
    = j’ai froid aux mains
    If, however, you are in doubt as to which verb to use in such expressions, you should consult the entry for the appropriate adjective.
    Discussing health and how people are
    In expressions of health and polite enquiries about how people are, aller is used:
    how are you?
    = comment allez-vous?
    ( more informally) comment vas-tu?
    are you well?
    = vous allez bien?
    how is your daughter?
    = comment va votre fille?
    my father is better today
    = mon père va mieux aujourd’hui
    Discussing weather and temperature
    In expressions of weather and temperature faire is generally used:
    it’s cold
    = il fait froid
    it’s windy
    = il fait du vent
    If in doubt, consult the appropriate adjective entry.
    Visiting somewhere
    When to be is used in the present perfect tense to mean go, visit etc., French will generally use the verbs venir, aller etc. rather than être:
    I’ve never been to Sweden
    = je ne suis jamais allé en Suède
    have you been to the Louvre?
    = est-ce que tu es déjà allé au Louvre?
    or est-ce que tu as déjà visité le Louvre?
    Paul has been to see us three times
    = Paul est venu nous voir trois fois
    Note too:
    has the postman been?
    = est-ce que le facteur est passé?
    For here is, here are, there is, there are see the entries here and there.
    The translation for an expression or idiom containing the verb to be will be found in the dictionary at the entry for another word in the expression: for to be in danger see danger, for it would be best to … see best etc.
    This dictionary contains usage notes on topics such as the clock, time units, age, weight measurement, days of the week, and shops, trades and professions, many of which include translations of particular uses of to be.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : be

  • 3 Usage note : it

    When it is used as a subject pronoun to refer to a specific object (or animal) il or elle is used in French according to the gender of the object referred to:
    ‘where is the book/chair?’ ‘it’s in the kitchen’
    = ‘où est le livre/la chaise?’ ‘il/elle est dans la cuisine’
    ‘do you like my skirt?’ ‘it’s lovely’
    = ‘est-ce que tu aimes ma jupe?’ ‘elle est très jolie’
    However, if the object referred to is named in the same sentence, it is translated by ce (c’ before a vowel):
    it’s a good film
    = c’est un bon film
    When it is used as an object pronoun it is translated by le or la (l’ before a vowel) according to the gender of the object referred to:
    it’s my book/my chair and I want it
    = c’est mon livre/ma chaise et je le/la veux
    Note that the object pronoun normally comes before the verb in French and that in compound tenses like the perfect and the past perfect, the past participle agrees with it:
    I liked his shirt - did you notice it?
    = j’ai aimé sa chemise - est-ce que tu l’as remarquée? or l’as-tu remarquée?
    In imperatives only, the pronoun comes after the verb:
    it’s my book - give it to me
    = c’est mon livre - donne-le-moi (note the hyphens)
    When it is used vaguely or impersonally followed by an adjective the translation is ce (c’ before a vowel):
    it’s difficult
    = c’est difficile
    it’s sad
    = c’est triste
    But when it is used impersonally followed by an adjective + verb the translation is il:
    it’s difficult to understand how…
    = il est difficile de comprendre comment …
    If in doubt consult the entry for the adjective in question.
    For translations for impersonal verb uses (it’s raining, it’s snowing) consult the entry for the verb in question.
    it is used in expressions of days of the week (it’s Friday) and clock time (it’s 5 o’clock). This dictionary contains usage notes on these and many other topics. For other impersonal and idiomatic uses see the entry it.
    When it is used after a preposition in English the two words (prep + it) are often translated by one word in French. If the preposition would normally be translated by de in French (e.g. of, about, from etc.) the prep + it = en:
    I’ve heard about it
    = j’en ai entendu parler
    If the preposition would normally be translated by à in French (e.g. to, in, at etc.) the prep + it = y:
    they went to it
    = ils y sont allés
    For translations of it following prepositions not normally translated by de or à (e.g. above, under, over etc.) consult the entry for the preposition.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : it

  • 4 Usage note : as

    When as is used as a preposition or a conjunction to mean like it is translated
    by comme:
    dressed as a sailor
    = habillé comme un marin
    as usual
    = comme d’habitude
    as often happens
    = comme c’est souvent le cas
    As a conjunction in time expressions, meaning when or while, as is translated by comme:
    as she was coming down the stairs
    = comme elle descendait l’escalier
    However, where a gradual process is involved, as is translated by au fur et à mesure que:
    as the day went on, he became more anxious
    = au fur et à mesure que la journée avançait il devenait plus inquiet
    As a conjunction meaning because, as is translated by comme or puisque:
    as he is ill, he can’t go out
    = comme il est malade or puisqu’il est malade, il ne peut pas sortir
    When used as an adverb in comparisons, as…as is translated by aussi…que:
    he is as intelligent as his brother
    = il est aussi intelligent que son frère
    But see category J in the entry as for as much
    as and as many as.
    Note also the standard translation used for fixed similes:
    as strong as an ox
    = fort comme un bœuf
    as rich as Croesus
    = riche comme Crésus
    Such similes often have a cultural equivalent rather than a direct translation. To find translations for English similes, consult the entry for the second element.
    When as is used as a preposition to indicate a person’s profession or position, it is translated by comme:
    he works as an engineer
    = il travaille comme ingénieur
    Note that the article a/an is not translated.
    When as is used with a preposition to mean in my/his capacity as, it is translated by en tant que:
    as a teacher I believe that…
    = en tant qu’enseignant je crois que…
    For more examples, particular usages and phrases like as for, as from, as to etc. see the entry as.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : as

  • 5 Usage note : may

    When may (or may have) is used with another verb in English to convey possibility, French will generally use the adverb peut-être ( perhaps) with the equivalent verb:
    it may rain
    = il pleuvra peut-être
    we may never know what happened
    = nous ne saurons peut-être jamais ce qui s’est passé
    he may have got lost
    = il s’est peut-être perdu
    Alternatively, and more formally, the construction il se peut que + subjunctive may be used: il se peut qu’il pleuve ; il se peut que nous ne sachions jamais. For particular usages, see 1 in the entry may1.
    peut-être is also used in French to convey concession:
    he may be slow but he’s not stupid
    = il est peut-être lent mais il n’est pas bête
    you may think I’m crazy but …
    = tu penses peut-être que je suis fou mais…
    When may is used to convey permission, the French equivalent is pouvoir:
    you may close the door
    = vous pouvez fermer la porte
    Note that the polite question may I…? is translated by puis-je…?:
    may I make a suggestion?
    = puis-je faire une suggestion?
    For particular usages, see 2 in the entry may1.
    When may is used in rather formal English to convey purpose in the construction in order that + may, the French equivalent is pour que + subjunctive:
    in order that he may know
    = pour qu’il sache
    When may is used with another verb to express a wish, the French uses que + subjunctive:
    may they be happy!
    = qu’ils soient heureux!
    long may it last!
    = que ça dure!
    When may well + verb is used to convey likelihood, the French uses il est fort possible que + subjunctive:
    he may well have gone elsewhere
    = il est fort possible qu’il soit allé ailleurs
    But note:
    that may well be but…
    = c’est possible mais…
    In the phrase may as well, may is used interchangeably with might, which is more frequently used. For translations see the entry might1.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : may

  • 6 Usage note : her

    When used as a direct object pronoun, her is translated by la (l’ before a vowel). Note that the object pronoun normally comes before the verb in French and that, in compound tenses like perfect and past perfect, the past participle agrees with the pronoun:
    I know her
    = je la connais
    I’ve already seen her
    = je l’ai déjà vue
    In imperatives, the direct object pronoun is translated by la and comes after the verb:
    catch her!
    = attrape-la!
    (note the hyphen)
    When used as an indirect object pronoun, her is translated by lui:
    I’ve given her the book
    = je lui ai donné le livre
    I’ve given it to her
    = je le lui ai donné
    In imperatives, the indirect object pronoun is translated by lui and comes after the verb:
    phone her
    = téléphone-lui
    give them to her
    = donne-les-lui
    (note the hyphens)
    After prepositions and after the verb to be the translation is elle:
    he did it for her
    = il l’a fait pour elle
    it’s her
    = c’est elle
    When translating her as a determiner ( her house etc.) remember that in French possessive adjectives, like most other adjectives, agree in gender and number with the noun they qualify ; her is translated by son + masculine singular noun ( son chien), sa + feminine singular noun ( sa maison) BUT son + feminine noun beginning with a vowel or mute ‘h’ ( son assiette), and ses + plural noun ( ses enfants).
    For her used with parts of the body ⇒ The human body.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : her

  • 7 Usage note : not

    When not is used without a verb before an adjective, an adverb, a verb or a noun, it is translated by pas:
    it’s a cat not a dog
    = c’est un chat pas un chien
    not at all
    = pas du tout
    not bad
    = pas mal
    For examples and particular usages see the entry not.
    When not is used to make the verb be negative (it’s not a cat) it is translated by ne…pas in French ; ne comes before the verb or the auxiliary in compound tenses and pas comes after the verb or auxiliary: ce n’est pas un chat ;
    she hasn’t been ill
    = elle n’a pas été malade.
    When not is used with the auxiliary do to make a verb negative (he doesn’t like oranges) do + not is translated by ne…pas in French: il n’aime pas les oranges.
    When not is used in the present perfect tense (I haven’ t seen him, she hasn’t arrived yet), ne…pas is again used in French on either side of the appropriate auxiliary ( avoir or être): je ne l’ai pas vu, elle n’est pas encore arrivée.
    When not is used with will to make a verb negative (will not, won’t), ne…pas is used with the future tense in French:
    she won’t come by car
    = elle ne viendra pas en voiture
    When used with a verb in the infinitive, ne…pas are placed together before the verb:
    he decided not to go
    = il a décidé de ne pas y aller
    you were wrong not to tell her
    = tu as eu tort de ne pas le lui dire
    When not is used in question tags, the whole tag can usually be translated by the French n’est-ce pas, e.g.
    she bought it, didn’t she?
    = elle l’a acheté, n’est-ce pas?
    For usages not covered in this note see the entry not.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : not

  • 8 Usage note : for

    When for is used as a preposition, followed by a noun or pronoun, it is translated by pour:
    for my sister
    = pour ma sœur
    for the garden
    = pour le jardin
    for me
    = pour moi
    For particular usages see the entry for.
    When for is used as a preposition indicating purpose followed by a verb it is translated by pour + infinitive:
    for cleaning windows
    = pour nettoyer les vitres
    When for is used in the construction to be + adjective + for + pronoun + infinitive the translation in French is être + indirect pronoun + adjective + de + infinitive:
    it’s impossible for me to stay
    = il m’est impossible de rester
    it was hard for him to understand that…
    = il lui était difficile de comprendre que…
    it will be difficult for her to accept the changes
    = il lui sera difficile d’accepter les changements
    For the construction to be waiting for sb to do see the entry wait.
    For particular usages see the entry for.
    In time expressions
    for is used in English after a verb in the progressive present perfect tense to express the time period of something that started in the past and is still going on. To express this French uses a verb in the present tense + depuis:
    I have been waiting for three hours (and I am still waiting)
    = j’attends depuis trois heures
    we’ve been together for two years (and we’re still together)
    = nous sommes ensemble depuis deux ans
    When for is used in English after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the imperfect + depuis:
    I had been waiting for two hours (and was still waiting)
    = j’attendais depuis deux heures
    for is used in English negative sentences with the present perfect tense to express the time that has elapsed since something has happened. To express this, French uses the same tense as English (the perfect) + depuis:
    I haven’t seen him for ten years (and I still haven’t seen him)
    = je ne l’ai pas vu depuis dix ans
    In spoken French, there is another way of expressing this: ça fait or il y a dix ans que je ne l’ai pas vu.
    When for is used in English in negative sentences after a verb in the past perfect tense, French uses the past perfect + depuis:
    I hadn’t seen him for ten years
    = je ne l’avais pas vu depuis dix ans, or (in spoken French) ça faisait or il y avait dix ans que je ne l’avais pas vu
    for is used in English after the preterite to express the time period of something that happened in the past and is no longer going on. Here French uses the present perfect + pendant:
    last Sunday I gardened for two hours
    = dimanche dernier, j’ai jardiné pendant deux heures
    for is used in English after the present progressive tense or the future tense to express an anticipated time period in the future. Here French uses the present or the future tense + pour:
    I’m going to Rome for six weeks
    = je vais à Rome pour six semaines
    I will go to Rome for six weeks
    = j’irai à Rome pour six semaines
    Note, however, that when the verb to be is used in the future with for to emphasize the period of time, French uses the future + pendant:
    I will be in Rome for six weeks
    = je serai à Rome pendant six semaines
    he will be away for three days
    = il sera absent pendant trois jours
    For particular usages see A13, 14, 15 and 16 in the entry for.
    for is often used in English to form a structure with nouns, adjectives and verbs (weakness for, eager for, apply for, fend for etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate noun, adjective or verb entry (weakness, eager, apply, fend etc.).

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : for

  • 9 Usage note : them

    When used as a direct object pronoun, referring to people, animals or things, them is translated by les:
    I know them
    = je les connais
    Note that the object pronoun normally
    comes before the verb in French and that in compound tenses like the present perfect and past perfect, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the direct object pronoun:
    He’s seen them
    ( them being masculine or of mixed gender)
    = il les a vus
    ( them being all feminine gender)
    = il les a vues
    In imperatives, the direct object pronoun is translated by les and comes after the verb:
    catch them!
    = attrape-les! (note the hyphen)
    When used as an indirect object pronoun, them is translated by leur:
    I gave them it or I gave it to them
    = je le leur ai donné
    In imperatives, the indirect object pronoun is translated by leur and comes after the verb:
    phone them!
    = téléphone-leur! (note the hyphen)
    After prepositions and the verb to be, the translation is eux for masculine or mixed gender and elles for feminine gender:
    he did it for them
    = il l’a fait pour eux or pour elles
    it’s them
    = ce sont eux or ce sont elles
    For particular usages see the entry them.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : them

  • 10 Usage note : by

    When by is used with a passive verb, it is translated by par:
    he was killed by a tiger
    = il a été tué par un tigre
    she was horrified by the news
    = elle a été horrifiée par la nouvelle
    For particular usages, see the entry by.
    When by is used with a present participle to mean by means of, it is translated by en:
    she learned French by listening to the radio
    = elle a appris le français en écoutant la radio
    For particular usages, see the entry by.
    When by is used with a noun to mean by means of or using, it is translated by par:
    by telephone
    = par téléphone
    to hold something by the handle
    = tenir quelque chose par la poignée
    Note, however:
    to travel by bus/train/plane
    = voyager en bus/train/avion
    In time expressions by is translated by avant:
    it must be finished by Friday
    = il faut que ce soit fini avant vendredi
    For particular usages, see the entry by.
    by often appears as the second element in phrasal verbs (get by, put by, stand by etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate verb entry (get, put, stand etc.).
    For translations of fixed phrases and expressions such as to learn something by heart, to deliver something by hand etc. consult the appropriate noun entry (heart, hand etc.).
    For all other uses of by see the entry by.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : by

  • 11 Usage note : let

    When let is used in English with another verb in order to make a suggestion (let’s do it at once), the first person plural - ons of the appropriate verb can generally be used to express this in French: faisons-le tout de suite. (Note that the verb alone translates let us do and no pronoun appears in French.)
    In the spoken language, however, which is the usual context for such suggestions, French speakers will use the much more colloquial on + present tense or si on + imperfect tense:
    let’s do it at once
    = on le fait tout de suite? or si on le faisait tout de suite?
    let’s go to the cinema tonight
    = si on allait au cinéma ce soir?
    let’s go!
    = allons-y! or on y va!
    These translations can also be used for negative suggestions:
    let’s not take or don’t let’s take the bus - let’s walk
    = on ne prend pas le bus, on y va à pied or ne prenons pas le bus, allons-y à pied
    For more examples and particular usages see A1 in the entry let1.
    When let is used in English with another verb to express defiance or a command (just let him try!) French uses the structure que + present subjunctive:
    just let him try!
    = qu’il essaie!
    don’t let me see you here again!
    = que je ne te revoie plus ici!
    For more examples and particular usages see A2 in the entry let1.
    When let is used to mean allow, it is generally translated by the verb laisser. For examples and particular usages see A3 in the entry let1.
    For translations of expressions such as let fly, let loose, let slip etc., consult the entry for the second word (fly, loose, slip etc.).

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : let

  • 12 Usage note : like

    When like is used as a preposition (like a child, do it like this) it can generally be translated by comme.
    Note however that be like and look like meaning resemble are translated by ressembler à:
    she’s like her father or she looks like her father
    = elle ressemble à son père
    like is used after certain other verbs in English to express particular kinds of resemblance (taste like, feel like, smell like etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate verb entry.
    When like is used as a conjunction it is translated by comme:
    songs like my mother sings
    = des chansons comme celles que chante ma mère
    When like is used to introduce an illustrative example ( big cities like London) it can be translated by either comme or tel/telle/tels/ telles que: les grandes villes comme Londres or les grandes villes telles que Londres.
    For particular usages of like as a preposition or conjunction and for noun and adverb uses, see the entry like1.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : like

  • 13 Usage note : at

    When at is used as a straightforward preposition it is translated by à:
    at the airport
    = à l’aéroport
    at midnight
    = à minuit
    at the age of 50
    = à l’âge de 50 ans
    Remember that à + le always becomes au and
    à + les always becomes aux (au bureau, aux bureaux).
    When at means at the house, shop, etc. of, it is translated by chez:
    at Amanda’s
    = chez Amanda
    at the hairdresser’s
    = chez le coiffeur
    If you have doubts about how to translate a phrase or idiom beginning with at (at the top of, at home, at a guess etc.) you should consult the appropriate noun entry (top, home, guess etc.). This dictionary contains usage notes on such topics as age, the clock, length measurement, games and sports etc. Many of these use the preposition at.
    at also often appears in English as the second element of a phrasal verb (look at, aim at, etc.). For translations, look at the appropriate verb entry (look, aim etc.).
    at is used after certain nouns, adjectives and verbs in English (her surprise at, an attempt at, annoyed at etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate noun, adjective or verb entry (surprise, attempt, annoy etc.).
    In the entry at, you will find particular usages and idiomatic expressions which do not appear elsewhere in the dictionary.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : at

  • 14 Usage note : before

    When before is used as a preposition in expressions of time or order of sequence or importance, it is translated by avant:
    before the meeting
    = avant la réunion
    she left before me
    = elle est partie avant moi
    For more examples and particular usages, see A1, 2, 3 in the entry before.
    When before is used as a preposition meaning in front of (when you are talking about physical space) or in the presence of, it is translated by devant:
    before our eyes
    = devant nos yeux
    he declared before his mother that …
    = il a déclaré devant sa mère que …
    When before is used as an adjective after a noun, it is translated by précédent/-e:
    the time before
    = la fois précédente
    the one before is translated by le précédent or la précédente:
    no, I’m not talking about that meeting but the one before
    = non, je ne parle pas de cette réunion-là mais de la précédente
    For particular usages see B in the entry before.
    When before is used as an adverb meaning beforehand, it is translated by avant in statements about the present or future:
    I’ll try to talk to her before
    = j’essaierai de lui en parler avant
    you could have told me before
    = tu aurais pu me le dire avant
    When before means previously in statements about the past, it is translated by auparavant:
    I had met her two or three times before
    = je l’avais rencontrée deux ou trois fois auparavant
    When before means already it is translated by déjà:
    I’ve met her before
    = je l’ai déjà rencontrée
    you’ve asked me that question before
    = tu m’as déjà posé cette question
    In negative sentences before is often used in English simply to reinforce the negative. In such cases it is not translated at all:
    I’d never eaten snails before
    = je n’avais jamais mangé d’escargots
    you’ve never told me that before
    = tu ne m’as jamais dit ça
    For particular usages see C in the entry before.
    When before is used as a conjunction, it is translated by avant de + infinitive where the two verbs have the same subject:
    before he saw her he recognized her voice
    = il a reconnu sa voix avant de la voir
    before I cook dinner I’m going to phone my mother
    = avant de préparer le dîner je vais appeler ma mère
    Where the two verbs have different subjects, the translation is avant que + subjunctive:
    Tom wants to see her before she leaves
    = Tom veut la voir avant qu’elle parte
    Some speakers and writers add ne before the verb: Tom veut la voir avant qu’elle ne parte, but this is simply a slightly precious effect of style and is never obligatory. For particular usages see D in the entry before.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : before

  • 15 Usage note : lot

    When a lot is used as a pronoun (they buy a lot, he spends a lot), it is translated by beaucoup: ils achètent beaucoup, il dépense beaucoup. For particular usages, see A1 in the entry lot1.
    When a lot is used to mean much in negative expressions (they didn’t have a lot) it is translated by pas grand-chose: ils n’avaient pas grand-chose. For particular usages, see A1 in the entry lot1.
    When the lot is used as a pronoun ( they took the lot), it is usually translated by tout: ils ont tout pris. For particular usages, see A2 in the entry lot1.
    When a lot of is used as a quantifier ( a lot of money) it is translated by beaucoup de. For particular usages, see B1 in the entry lot1.
    For translations of lots of, see C in the entry lot1.
    When a lot is used as an adverb (a lot stronger, he’s changed a lot) it is translated by beaucoup: beaucoup plus fort, il a beaucoup changé. For particular usages, see E in the entry lot.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : lot

  • 16 Usage note : nothing

    When nothing is used alone as a reply to a question in English, it is translated by rien:
    ‘what are you doing?’ ‘nothing’
    = ‘que fais-tu?’ ‘rien’
    nothing as a pronoun when it is the subject of a verb is translated by rien ne in French:
    nothing changes
    = rien ne change
    nothing has changed
    = rien n’a changé
    nothing as a pronoun when it is the object of a verb is translated by ne rien ; ne comes before the verb, and before the auxiliary in compound tenses, and rien comes after the verb or auxiliary:
    I see nothing
    = je ne vois rien
    I saw nothing
    = je n’ai rien vu
    When ne rien is used with an infinitive the two words are not separated:
    I prefer to say nothing
    = je préfère ne rien dire
    For examples and particular usages, see A in the entry nothing.
    For translations of nothing as an adverb (it’s nothing like as difficult) and for the phrases nothing but, nothing less than, nothing more than, see B, E, F and G respectively in the entry nothing.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : nothing

  • 17 Usage note : less

    When less is used as a quantifier ( less money) it is translated by moins de: moins d’argent. For examples and particular usages, see A in the entry less.
    When less is used as a pronoun ( you should have taken less), it is translated by moins: tu aurais dû en prendre moins.
    less than is usually translated by moins que and even less by encore moins. For examples and particular usages of these see B in the entry less.
    When less is used as an adverb followed by a verb, an adjective, or another adverb (to eat less, less interesting, less often) it is translated by moins: manger moins, moins intéressant, moins souvent. For examples and particular usages see C in the entry less.
    For less used as a preposition (less 10%) see D in the entry less.
    For the phrase less and less see E in the entry less.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : less

  • 18 Usage note : have

    When used as an auxiliary in present perfect, future perfect and past perfect tenses, have is normally translated by avoir:
    I have seen
    = j’ai vu
    I had seen
    = j’avais vu
    However, some verbs in French, especially verbs of movement and change of state (e.g. aller, venir, descendre, mourir), take être rather than avoir in these tenses:
    he has left
    = il est parti
    In this case, remember the past participle agrees with the subject of the verb:
    she has gone
    = elle est allée
    Reflexive verbs (e.g. se lever, se coucher) always conjugate with être:
    she has fainted
    = elle s’est évanouie
    For translations of time expressions using for or since (he has been in London for six months, he has been in London since June), see the entries for and since.
    For translations of time expressions using just (I have just finished my essay, he has just gone), see the entry just1.
    to have to meaning must is translated by either devoir or the impersonal construction il faut que + subjunctive:
    I have to leave now
    = il faut que je parte maintenant or je dois partir maintenant
    In negative sentences, not to have to is generally translated by ne pas être obligé de e.g.
    you don’t have to go
    = tu n’es pas obligé d’y aller
    For examples and particular usages see the entry have.
    When have is used as a straightforward transitive verb meaning possess, have (or have got) can generally be translated by avoir, e.g.
    I have (got) a car
    = j’ai une voiture
    she has a good memory
    = elle a une bonne mémoire
    they have (got) problems
    = ils ont des problèmes
    For examples and particular usages see entry ; see also got.
    have is also used with certain noun objects where the whole expression is equivalent to a verb:
    to have dinner = to dine
    to have a try = to try
    to have a walk = to walk
    In such cases the phrase is very often translated by the equivalent verb in French (dîner, essayer, se promener). For translations consult the appropriate noun entry (dinner, try, walk).
    had is used in English at the beginning of a clause to replace an expression with if. Such expressions are generally translated by si + past perfect tense, e.g.
    had I taken the train, this would never have happened
    = si j’avais pris le train, ce ne serait jamais arrivé
    had there been a fire, we would all have been killed
    = s’il y avait eu un incendie, nous serions tous morts
    For examples of the above and all other uses of have see the entry.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : have

  • 19 Usage note : that

    In French, determiners agree in gender and number with the noun they precede ; that is translated by ce + masculine singular noun ( ce monsieur), cet + masculine singular noun beginning with a vowel or mute ‘h’ ( cet homme) and cette + feminine singular noun ( cette femme) ; those is translated by ces.
    Note, however, that the above translations are also used for the English this (plural these). So when it is necessary to insist on that as opposed to another or others of the same sort, the adverbial tag -là is added to the noun:
    I prefer THAT version
    = je préfère cette version-là
    For particular usages, see the entry that.
    As a pronoun meaning that one, those ones
    In French, pronouns reflect the gender and number of the noun they are referring to. So that is translated by celui-là for a masculine noun, celle-là for a feminine noun and those is translated by ceux-là for a masculine noun and celles-là for a feminine noun:
    I think I like that one (dress) best
    = je crois que je préfère celle-là
    For other uses of that, those as pronouns (e.g. who’s that?) and for adverbial use (e.g. that much, that many) there is no straightforward translation, so see the entry that for examples of usage.
    When used as a relative pronoun, that is translated by qui when it is the subject of the verb and by que when it is the object:
    the man that stole the car
    = l’homme qui a volé la voiture
    the film that I saw
    = le film que j’ai vu
    Remember that in the present perfect and past perfect tenses, the past participle will agree
    with the noun to which que as object refers:
    the apples that I bought
    = les pommes que j’ai achetées
    When that is used as a relative pronoun with a preposition, it is translated by lequel when standing for a masculine singular noun, by laquelle when standing for a feminine singular noun, by lesquels when standing for a masculine plural noun and by lesquelles when standing for a feminine plural noun:
    the chair that I was sitting on
    = la chaise sur laquelle j’étais assise
    the children that I bought the books for
    = les enfants pour lesquels j’ai acheté les livres
    Remember that in cases where the English preposition used would normally be translated by à in French (e.g. to, at), the translation of the whole (prep + rel pron) will be auquel, à laquelle, auxquels, auxquelles:
    the girls that I was talking to
    = les filles auxquelles je parlais
    Similarly, where the English preposition used would normally be translated by de in French (e.g. of, from), the translation of the whole (prep + rel pron) will be dont in all cases:
    the Frenchman that I received a letter from
    = le Français dont j’ai reçu une lettre
    When used as a conjunction, that can almost always be translated by que (qu’ before a vowel or mute ‘h’):
    she said that she would do it
    = elle a dit qu’elle le ferait
    In certain verbal constructions, que is followed by a subjunctive in French. If you are in doubt about the construction to use, consult the appropriate verb entry. For particular usages see the entry that.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : that

  • 20 Usage note : your

    For a full note on the use of the vous and tu forms in French, see the entry you.
    In French, determiners agree in gender and number with the noun they qualify. So your, when addressing one person, is translated by votre, or more familiarly ton, + masculine singular noun ( votre chien or ton chien), by votre or ta + feminine singular noun ( votre maison or ta maison) and by vos or tes + plural noun ( vos enfants or tes enfants). Note that ton is used with a feminine noun beginnning with a vowel or mute ‘h’ ( ton adresse).
    When addressing more than one person, the translation is votre + singular noun and vos + plural noun. When your is stressed, à vous or à toi is added after the noun:
    your house
    = votre maison à vous
    When used impersonally to mean one’s, your is translated by son, sa or ses when you is translated by on:
    you buy your tickets at the door
    = on prend ses billets à l’entrée
    The translation after an impersonal verb in French is son, sa, ses:
    you have to buy your tickets at the door
    = il faut prendre ses billets à l’entrée
    Note, however, the following:
    sweets are bad for your teeth
    = les bonbons sont mauvais pour les dents
    your average student
    = l’étudiant moyen
    For your used with parts of the body ⇒ The human body.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : your

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