French language Q&A Forum

Chers amis,

I am not native English-speaking person, but while I was reading this lesson, I made the relations of different types of “leave” in French with my native language which is Greek. In Greek we have different words, as in French, for expressing “leave”, probably there is the same in English with specialized word of meaning “leave”. Some words in English that are synonyms to leave could be for example, depart, go, abscond, exit, vamoose, go away, run off etc. So, maybe, for a native English person could be better explaining the different notions of French “leave” with the right word in English. Is that right? What do you think?

I have noticed that all the phrases use the pronouns, "le or la". As in:

"La fille dont le frere travaillait avec moi..."

"Francois, dont j'ai rencontre la femme..."

Is there any problem with saying the following for example?:

"La fille, dont son frere travaillait avec moi, a gagne le prix"

"La femme, dont son fils j'ai rencontre la semaine derniere..."

"Amelie, dont ses enfants sont venus chez nous, sont bien eleves"

ce gars parle trop vite!

Surely it is le mien? Please explain

why is 'épargner' wrong for 'economiser' - does it not mean 'to save' (as in money)?

I’ve always thought that in a negation the preposition ‘de’ is used, so in « I don’t waste water » I wrote « je ne gaspille pas d’eau » but this was corrected to « je ne gaspille pas l’eau ». My thought pattern was supported in « when I can’t cycle » - « quand je ne peux pas faire de vélo » (given that : to cycle = faire du vélo). Can this be explained ?

avoir des doutes -- > avoir plein de doutes                                                                                              C'est pas comment ça? 

This is a new expression for me for "giving a gift to someone". I know the expression, "faire quelque chose a quelqu'un" can be used in other ways such as "faire un calin a". 

Are there many other similar expressions and is there a lesson on this subject? 

Thank you for your help, as always.

Both of the sentences above are translated as "J'ai du le faire".

BUT the two formulations in English have not-very-subtle differences in meaning.

"I had to..."  implies "I was obligated to.."  or "I was forced to..."  - very definite!

"I must have..."  implies "I may have forgotten to ..."  -- quite indefinite!

How are these different flavors of meaning expressed en francais?