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Hela Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Meaning for translation
Dear teachers,
Would you please tell me which meaning have the following English sentences ?
1) He refused to move so that the police had to carry him away.
SO THAT here introduces a) a conséquence ? b) an aim ? c) could be both ?
2) Him, talk to Sandra? They couldn't even discuss the weather these days without it turning into an argument.
the combination of the past COULD with THESE DAYS isn't odd ? should it not have been "those days" instead ? My question is "should the unability COULD NOT be translated in the present or the past tense?"
Thank you in advance for your help.
Kind regards,
Hela
Would you please tell me which meaning have the following English sentences ?
1) He refused to move so that the police had to carry him away.
SO THAT here introduces a) a conséquence ? b) an aim ? c) could be both ?
2) Him, talk to Sandra? They couldn't even discuss the weather these days without it turning into an argument.
the combination of the past COULD with THESE DAYS isn't odd ? should it not have been "those days" instead ? My question is "should the unability COULD NOT be translated in the present or the past tense?"
Thank you in advance for your help.
Kind regards,
Hela
Top answer
I see what you mean about (1); we would interpret it as ( a ) on probability; context would determine the real meaning, however. )' Conditional II -- non-past improbable/impossible: they are not in fact speaking to each other.
- I see what you mean about (1); we would interpret it as ( a ) on probability; context would determine the real meaning, however.
- )' Conditional II -- non-past improbable/impossible: they are not in fact speaking to each other.
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5 Answers
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I see what you mean about (1); we would interpret it as ( a ) on probability; context would determine the real meaning, however.
'They would not be able to discuss the weather these days (if they had/were to have a conversation about it today or tomorrow.)' Conditional II -- non-past improbable/impossible: they are not in fact speaking to each other.
'They would not be able to discuss the weather these days (if they had/were to have a conversation about it today or tomorrow.)' Conditional II -- non-past improbable/impossible: they are not in fact speaking to each other.
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Dear teachers who also speak French / Dear CalifJim,
Taking consideration of what Mr Micawber told me about sentence #2 above, should I translate it by :
Lui, parler à Sandra ? Ces jours-ci, ils ne SERAIENT (and not SONT) même pas capables de parler de la pluie et du beau temps sans que cela ne tourne/tournât au vinaigre / sans qu’ils ne se disputent.
Sorry for this
Taking consideration of what Mr Micawber told me about sentence #2 above, should I translate it by :
Lui, parler à Sandra ? Ces jours-ci, ils ne SERAIENT (and not SONT) même pas capables de parler de la pluie et du beau temps sans que cela ne tourne/tournât au vinaigre / sans qu’ils ne se disputent.
Sorry for this
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"seraient", yes! Not "sont"!
the "-ould" words in English (would, could, should) often serve the same purpose in English that the conditional mood/tense of French serves in French. Not in every case, but very often.
(You might just as well include Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.)
[I liked "tourner au vinaigre" better than "se disputer"!
the "-ould" words in English (would, could, should) often serve the same purpose in English that the conditional mood/tense of French serves in French. Not in every case, but very often.
(You might just as well include Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.)
[I liked "tourner au vinaigre" better than "se disputer"!
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Thanks Jim,
May I ask you questions about translation sometimes ?
Best regards,
hela
May I ask you questions about translation sometimes ?
Best regards,
hela
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Of course! As you can well imagine, I'm better at translating from French to English than the other way around. I often translate articles from LeMonde, in fact.
CJ
CJ
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