3RD person to mean people in general

Lana D.A2Kwiziq community member

3RD person to mean people in general

Ça me dérange quand on fume à côté de moi.It bothers me when people smoke next to me.
is this normal use in French or is the English translation here slightly incorrect?
Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The impersonal third person singular in English is "one". In French it is on.

On ne fume pas. -- One doesn't smoke.

Note, that on is also used as a somewhat colloquial way to say "we".

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

In this context, the most natural translation in English is "people". "On" is being used to mean an unidentified person, i.e. "someone", but because it's a repeated situation (we assume he's always bothered when this happens) we can also say "people". 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Lana,

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/d%C3%A9ranger

Have a look at the link  --  I think it will help.

Bonne continuation.

Jim

3RD person to mean people in general

Ça me dérange quand on fume à côté de moi.It bothers me when people smoke next to me.
is this normal use in French or is the English translation here slightly incorrect?

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