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Usage note: you

  • 1 Usage note : you

    In English you is used to address everybody, whereas French has two forms: tu and vous. The usual word to use when you are speaking to anyone you do not know very well is vous. This is sometimes called the polite form and is used for the subject, object, indirect object and emphatic pronoun:
    would you like some coffee?
    = voulez-vous du café?
    can I help you?
    = est-ce que je peux vous aider?
    what can I do for you?
    = qu’est-ce que je peux faire pour vous?
    The more informal pronoun tu is used between close friends and family members, within groups of children and young people, by adults when talking to children and always when talking to animals ; tu is the subject form, the direct and indirect object form is te (t’ before a vowel) and the form for emphatic use or use after a preposition is toi:
    would you like some coffee?
    = veux-tu du café?
    can I help you?
    = est-ce que je peux t’aider?
    there’s a letter for you
    = il y a une lettre pour toi
    As a general rule, when talking to a French person use vous, wait to see how they address you and follow suit. It is safer to wait for the French person to suggest using tu. The suggestion will usually be phrased as on se tutoie? or on peut se tutoyer?
    Note that tu is only a singular pronoun and vous is the plural form of tu.
    Remember that in French the object and indirect object pronouns are always placed before the verb:
    she knows you
    = elle vous connaît or elle te connaît
    In compound tenses like the present perfect and the past perfect, the past participle agrees in number and gender with the direct object:
    I saw you on Saturday
    (to one male: polite form)
    = je vous ai vu samedi
    (to one female: polite form)
    = je vous ai vue samedi
    (to one male: informal form)
    = je t’ai vu samedi
    (to one female: informal form)
    = je t’ai vue samedi
    (to two or more people, male or mixed)
    = je vous ai vus samedi
    (to two or more females)
    = je vous ai vues samedi
    When you is used impersonally as the more informal form of one, it is translated by on for the subject form and by vous or te for the object form, depending on whether the comment is being made amongst friends or in a more formal context:
    you can do as you like here
    = on peut faire ce qu’on veut ici
    these mushrooms can make you ill
    = ces champignons peuvent vous rendre malade or ces champignons peuvent te rendre malade
    you could easily lose your bag here
    = on pourrait facilement perdre son sac ici
    Note that your used with on is translated by son/sa/ses according to the gender and number of the noun that follows.
    For verb forms with vous, tu and on see the French verb tables.
    For particular usages see the entry you.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : you

  • 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 : 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

  • 5 Usage note : of

    In almost all its uses the preposition of is translated by de. Exceptions to this are substances ( made of gold), uses with a personal pronoun (that’s kind of you), proportions (some of us, of the 12 of us…) and time expressions ( of an evening). For translations of these, see the entry of. Remember that de + le always becomes du and that de + les always becomes des.
    To find translations for phrases beginning with of (of course, of all, of interest, of late, of old) you should consult the appropriate noun etc. entry (course, all, interest, late, old etc.).
    of also often appears as the second element of a verb (consist of, deprive of, die of, think of). For translations, consult the appropriate verb entry.
    of is used after certain nouns, pronouns and adjectives in English (a member of, a game of, some of, most of, afraid of, capable of, ashamed of). For translations, consult the appropriate noun, pronoun or adjective entry.
    When of it or of them are used for something already referred to, they are translated by en:
    there’s a lot of it
    = il y en a beaucoup
    there are several of them
    = il y en a plusieurs
    Note, however, the following expressions used when referring to people:
    there are six of them
    = ils sont six
    there were several of them
    = ils étaient plusieurs
    For particular usages see the entry of.
    This dictionary contains usage notes on such topics as Age, Capacity measurement, Dates, Illnesses, Length measurement, Quantities, Towns and cities, and Weight measurement, many of which use of.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : of

  • 6 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

  • 7 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

  • 8 Usage note : might

    Although usage shows that may and might are interchangeable in many contexts, might indicates a more remote possibility than may. French generally translates this element of possibility using peut-être with the appropriate verb tense:
    it might snow
    = il va peut-être neiger
    (It is also possible to translate this more formally using il se peut + subjunctive: il se peut qu’il neige). For particular examples see might1 1.
    It is possible to translate might differently depending on the nature of the context and the speaker’s point of view:
    he might not come
    = il risque de ne pas venir
    implies that this is not a desirable outcome for the speaker ;
    he might not come
    = il pourrait ne pas venir or il se peut qu’il ne vienne pas
    however, is neutral in tone. Where there is the idea of a possibility in the past which has not in fact occurred (see might1 2), French uses the past conditional of the verb (which is often pouvoir):
    it might have been serious (but wasn’t in fact)
    = ça aurait pu être grave
    This is also the case where something which could have taken place did not, thus causing annoyance:
    you might have said thanks!
    = tu aurais pu dire merci!
    (see might1 7).
    might, as the past tense of may, will automatically occur in instances of reported speech:
    he said you might be hurt
    = il a dit que tu serais peut-être blessé
    For more examples see the entry might1 and bear in mind the rules for the agreement of tenses.
    Where there is a choice between may and might in making requests, might is more formal and even rather dated. French uses inversion (je peux = puis-je?) in this context and puis-je me permettre de…? (= might I…?) is extremely formal.
    Might can be used to polite effect - to soften direct statements: you might imagine that…or to offer advice tactfully: it might be wise to…In both cases, French uses the conditional tense of the verb: on pourrait penser que… ; ce serait peut-être une bonne idée de… The use of well in phrases such as he might well be right etc. implies a greater degree of likelihood.
    For translations of might well, may well, see B2 in the entry well1.
    For translations of the phrase might as well ( we might as well go home), see well1 B2.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : might

  • 9 Usage note : which

    In questions
    When which is used as a pronoun in questions it is translated by lequel, laquelle, lesquels or lesquelles according to the gender and number of the noun it is referring to:
    there are three peaches, which do you want?
    = il y a trois pêches, laquelle veux-tu?
    ‘Lucy’s borrowed three of your books’ ‘which did she take?’
    = ‘Lucy t’a emprunté trois livres’ ‘lesquels a-t-elle pris?’
    The exception to this is when which is followed by a superlative adjective, when the translation is quel, quelle, quels or quelles:
    which is the biggest (apple)?
    = quelle est la plus grande?
    which are the least expensive (books)?
    = quels sont les moins chers?
    In relative clauses as subject or object
    When which is used as a relative pronoun as the subject of a verb, it is translated by qui:
    the book which is on the table
    = le livre qui est sur la table
    the books which are on the table
    = les livres qui sont sur la table
    When which is the object of a verb it is translated by que (qu’ before a vowel or mute ‘h’):
    the book which Tina is reading
    = le livre que lit Tina
    Note the inversion of subject and verb ; this is the case where the subject is a noun but not where the subject is a pronoun:
    the book which I am reading
    = le livre que je lis
    In compound tenses such as the present perfect and past perfect, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the noun que is referring to:
    the books which I gave you
    = les livres que je t’ai donnés
    the dresses which she bought yesterday
    = les robes qu’elle a achetées hier
    In relative clauses after a preposition
    Here the translation is lequel, laquelle, lesquels or lesquelles according to the gender and number of the noun referred to:
    the road by which we came or the road which we came by
    = la route par laquelle nous sommes venus
    the expressions for which we have translations
    = les expressions pour lesquelles nous avons une traduction
    Remember that if the preposition would normally be translated by à in French (to, at etc.), the preposition + which is translated by auquel, à laquelle, auxquels or auxquelles:
    the addresses to which we sent letters
    = les adresses auxquelles nous avons envoyé des lettres
    With prepositions normally translated by de (of, from etc.) the translation of the preposition which becomes dont:
    a blue book, the title of which I’ve forgotten
    = un livre bleu dont j’ai oublié le titre
    However, if de is part of a prepositional group, as for example in the case of près de meaning near, the translation becomes duquel, de laquelle, desquels or desquelles:
    the village near which they live
    = le village près duquel ils habitent
    the houses near which she was waiting
    = les maisons près desquelles elle attendait
    The translation duquel etc. is also used where a preposition + noun precedes of which:
    a hill at the top of which there is a house
    = une colline au sommet de laquelle il y a une maison
    As a determiner
    In questions
    When which is used as a determiner in questions it is translated by quel, quelle, quels or quelles according to the gender and number of the noun that follows:
    which car is yours?
    = quelle voiture est la vôtre?
    which books did he borrow?
    = quels livres a-t-il empruntés?
    Note that in the second example the object precedes the verb so that the past participle agrees in gender and number with the object.
    For translations of which as a determiner in relative clauses see B2 in the entry which.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : which

  • 10 Usage note : do

    The direct French equivalent of the verb to do in subject + to do + object sentences is faire:
    she’s doing her homework
    = elle fait ses devoirs
    what are you doing?
    = qu’est-ce que tu fais?
    what has he done with the newspaper?
    = qu’est-ce qu’il a fait du journal?
    faire functions in very much the same way as to do does in English and it is safe to assume it will work in the great majority of cases. For the conjugation of the verb faire, see the French verb tables.
    Grammatical functions
    In questions
    In French there is no use of an auxiliary verb in questions equivalent to the use of do in English.
    When the subject is a pronoun, the question is formed in French either by inverting the subject and verb and putting a hyphen between the two ( veux-tu?) or by prefacing the subject + verb by est-ce que (literally is it that):
    do you like Mozart?
    = aimes-tu Mozart? or est-ce que tu aimes Mozart?
    did you put the glasses in the cupboard?
    = as-tu mis les verres dans le placard? or est-ce que tu as mis les verres dans le placard?
    When the subject is a noun there are again two possibilities:
    did your sister ring?
    = est-ce que ta sœur a téléphoné? or ta sœur a-t-elle téléphoné?
    did Max find his keys?
    = est-ce que Max a trouvé ses clés? or Max a-t-il trouvé ses clés?
    In negatives
    Equally, auxiliaries are not used in negatives in French:
    I don’t like Mozart
    = je n’aime pas Mozart
    you didn’t feed the cat
    = tu n’as pas donné à manger au chat
    don’t do that!
    = ne fais pas ça!
    In emphatic uses
    There is no verbal equivalent for the use of do in such expressions as I DO like your dress. A French speaker will find another way, according to the context, of expressing the force of the English do. Here are a few useful examples:
    I DO like your dress
    = j’aime beaucoup ta robe
    I DO hope she remembers
    = j’espère qu’elle n’oubliera pas
    I DO think you should see a doctor
    = je crois vraiment que tu devrais voir un médecin
    When referring back to another verb
    In this case the verb to do is not translated at all:
    I don’t like him any more than you do
    = je ne l’aime pas plus que toi
    I live in Oxford and so does Lily
    = j’habite à Oxford et Lily aussi
    she gets paid more than I do
    = elle est payée plus que moi
    I haven’t written as much as I ought to have done
    = je n’ai pas écrit autant que j’aurais dû
    ‘I love strawberries’ ‘so do I’
    = ‘j’adore les fraises’ ‘moi aussi’
    In polite requests
    In polite requests the phrase je vous en prie can often be used to render the meaning of do:
    do sit down
    = asseyez-vous, je vous en prie
    do have a piece of cake
    = prenez un morceau de gâteau, je vous en prie
    ‘may I take a peach?’ ‘yes, do’
    = ‘puis-je prendre une pêche?’ ‘je vous en prie’
    In imperatives
    In French there is no use of an auxiliary verb in imperatives:
    don’t shut the door
    = ne ferme pas la porte
    don’t tell her anything
    = ne lui dis rien
    do be quiet!
    = tais-toi!
    In tag questions
    French has no direct equivalent of tag questions like doesn’t he? or didn’t it? There is a general tag question n’est-ce pas? (literally isn’t it so?) which will work in many cases:
    you like fish, don’t you?
    = tu aimes le poisson, n’est-ce pas?
    he lives in London, doesn’t he?
    = il habite à Londres, 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 meaning contained in the tag: par hasard can often be useful as a translation:
    Lola didn’t phone, did she?
    = Lola n’a pas téléphoné par hasard?
    Paul doesn’t work here, does he?
    = Paul ne travaille pas ici par hasard?
    In many cases the tag is not translated at all and the speaker’s intonation will convey what is implied:
    you didn’t tidy your room, did you? (i.e. you ought to have done)
    = tu n’as pas rangé ta chambre?
    In short answers
    Again, there is no direct French equivalent for short answers like yes I do, no he doesn’t etc. Where the answer yes is given to contradict a negative question or statement, the most useful translation is si:
    ‘Marion didn’t say that’ ‘yes she did’
    = ‘Marion n’a pas dit ça’ ‘si’
    ‘they don’t sell vegetables at the baker’s’ ‘yes they do’
    = ‘ils ne vendent pas les légumes à la boulangerie’ ‘si’
    In response to a standard enquiry the tag will not be translated:
    ‘do you like strawberries?’ ‘yes I do’
    = ‘aimez-vous les fraises?’ ‘oui ’
    For more examples and particular usages, see the entry do.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : do

  • 11 Usage note : will

    When will is used to express the future in French, the future tense of the French verb is generally used:
    he’ll come
    = il viendra
    In spoken and more informal French or when the very near future is implied, the present tense of aller + infinitive can be used:
    I’ll do it now
    = je vais le faire tout de suite
    If the subject of the modal auxiliary will is I or we, shall is sometimes used instead of will to talk about the future. For further information, consult the entry shall in the dictionary.
    Note that would and should are treated as separate entries in the dictionary.
    Tag questions
    French has no direct equivalent of tag questions like won’t he? or will they? There is a general tag question n’est-ce pas? which will work in many cases:
    you’ll do it tomorrow, won’t you?
    = tu le feras demain, n’est-ce pas?
    In cases where an opinion is being sought, non? meaning is that not so? can be useful:
    that will be easier, won’t it?
    = ce sera plus facile, non?
    In many other cases the tag question is simply not translated at all and the speaker’s intonation will convey the implied question.
    Short answers
    Again, there is no direct equivalent for short answers like no she won’t, yes they will etc. Where the answer yes is given to contradict a negative question or statement, the most useful translation is si:
    ‘they won’t forget’ ‘yes they will’
    = ‘ils n’oublieront pas’ ‘si’ or (for more emphasis) bien sûr que si
    Where the answer no is given to contradict a positive question or statement, the most useful translation is bien sûr que non:
    ‘she’ll post the letter, won’t she?’ ‘no she won’t’
    = ‘elle va poster la lettre?’ ‘bien sûr que non’
    In reply to a standard enquiry the tag will not be translated:
    ‘you’ll be ready at midday then?’ ‘yes I will’
    = ‘tu seras prêt à midi?’ ‘oui’
    For more examples and other uses, see the entry will.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : will

  • 12 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

  • 13 Usage note : go

    go as a simple intransitive verb is translated by aller:
    we’re going to Paris
    = nous allons à Paris
    where are you going?
    = où vas-tu?
    Sasha went to London last week
    = Sasha est allée à Londres la semaine dernière
    Note that aller conjugates with être in compound tenses. For the conjugation of aller see the French verb tables. For more examples and particular usages see the entry go. The verb go produces a great many phrasal verbs in English (go up, go down, go out, go back etc.). Many of these are translated by a single verb in French (monter, descendre, sortir, retourner etc.). The phrasal verbs are listed separately at the end of the entry go.
    As an auxiliary verb
    When go is used as an auxiliary to show intention, it is also translated by aller:
    I’m going to buy a car tomorrow
    = je vais acheter une voiture demain
    I was going to talk to you about it
    = j’allais t’en parler
    he’s not going to ask for a rise
    = il ne va pas demander d’augmentation
    For more examples and particular usages see A23 in the entry go.
    For all other uses see the entry go.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : go

  • 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 : can

    can and could are usually translated by the verb pouvoir. For the conjugation of pouvoir, see the French verb tables.
    he can wait until tomorrow
    = il peut attendre jusqu’à demain
    you can go out now
    = vous pouvez sortir maintenant
    The two notable exceptions to this are as follows:
    When can or could is used to mean know how to, the verb savoir is used:
    she can speak French
    = elle sait parler français
    he could read at the age of four
    = à l’âge de quatre ans il savait lire
    When can or could is used with a verb of perception such as see, hear or feel it is not translated at all:
    I can’t see her
    = je ne la vois pas
    she couldn’t feel anything
    = elle ne sentait rien
    In requests can is translated by the present tense of pouvoir and the more polite could by the conditional tense of pouvoir:
    can you help me?
    = peux-tu m’aider?
    could you help me?
    = pourrais-tu m’aider?
    For particular usages of could when it is not simply the preterite or conditional of can see 13, 15, 16 in the entry can1.
    See also the entry able.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : can

  • 16 Usage note : what

    In questions
    When used in questions as an object pronoun, what is translated by que or qu’est-ce que.
    After que the verb and subject are inverted and a hyphen is placed between them:
    what is he doing?
    = que fait-il? or qu’est-ce qu’il fait?
    When used in questions as a subject pronoun, what is translated by qu’est-ce qui:
    what happened?
    = qu’est-ce qui s’est passé?
    Used with a preposition
    After a preposition the translation is quoi.
    Unlike in English, the preposition must always be placed immediately before quoi:
    with what did she cut it? or what did she cut it with?
    = avec quoi l’a-t-elle coupé?
    To introduce a clause
    When used to introduce a clause as the object of the verb, what is translated by ce que (ce qu’ before a vowel):
    I don’t know what he wants
    = je ne sais pas ce qu’il veut
    When what is the subject of the verb it is translated by ce qui:
    tell me what happened
    = raconte-moi ce qui s’est passé
    For particular usages see A in the entry what.
    As a determiner
    what used as a determiner is translated by quel, quelle, quels or quelles according to the gender and number of the noun that follows:
    what train did you catch?
    = quel train as-tu pris?
    what books do you like?
    = quels livres aimes-tu?
    what colours do you like?
    = quelles couleurs aimes-tu?
    For particular usages see B in the entry what.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : what

  • 17 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

  • 18 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

  • 19 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

  • 20 Usage note : all

    When all is used to mean everything, it is translated by tout:
    is that all?
    = c’est tout?
    all is well
    = tout va bien
    When all is followed by a that clause, all that is translated by tout ce qui when it is the subject of the verb and tout ce que when it is the object:
    all that remains to be done
    = tout ce qui reste à faire
    that was all (that) he said
    = c’est tout ce qu’il a dit
    after all (that) we’ve done
    = après tout ce que nous avons fait
    we’re doing all (that) we can
    = nous faisons tout ce que nous pouvons
    all that you need
    = tout ce dont tu as besoin
    When all is used to refer to a specified group of people or objects, the translation reflects the number and gender of the people or objects referred to ; tous is used for a group of people or objects of masculine or mixed or unspecified gender and toutes for a group of feminine gender:
    we were all delighted
    = nous étions tous ravis
    ‘where are the cups?’ ‘they’re all in the kitchen’
    = ‘où sont les tasses?’ ‘elles sont toutes dans la cuisine’
    For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.
    As a determiner
    In French, determiners agree in gender and number with the noun they precede. So all is translated by tout + masculine singular noun:
    all the time
    = tout le temps
    by toute + feminine singular noun:
    all the family
    = toute la famille
    by tous + masculine or mixed gender plural noun:
    all men
    = tous les hommes
    all the books
    = tous les livres
    and by toutes + feminine plural noun:
    all women
    = toutes les femmes
    all the chairs
    = toutes les chaises
    For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.
    As an adverb
    When all is used as an adverb meaning completely it is generally translated by tout:
    my coat’s all dirty
    = mon manteau est tout sale
    he was all alone
    = il était tout seul
    they were all alone
    = ils étaient tout seuls
    the girls were all excited
    = les filles étaient tout excitées
    However, when the adjective that follows is in the feminine and begins with a consonant the translation is toute/toutes:
    she was all alone
    = elle était toute seule
    the bill is all wrong
    = la facture est toute fausse
    the girls were all alone
    = les filles étaient toutes seules
    For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.
    Phrases such as all along, all but, at all, for all and of all are each treated separately in the entry all.

    Big English-French dictionary > Usage note : all

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