沪江博客-冬之心http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/三个字：练，练，练！zh-cnMon, 13 Oct 2008 15:15:16 GMTMon, 13 Oct 2008 15:15:16 GMT60Wrong: Peut-être il a faimhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167433.htmllislelisleWed, 10 Sep 2008 02:11:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167433.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1167433.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167433.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1167433.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1167433.htmlWrong: Peut-être il a faim

Right: Peut-être qu'il a faim / Peut-être a-t-il faim

Explanation: It's grammatically incorrect to follow peut-être (perhaps, maybe) directly by a subject and verb. You must either add que or invert the subject and verb. So to translate "maybe he's hungry," you can say either peut-être qu'il a faim or peut-être a-t-il faim, but you can't say "peut-être il a faim."

The same rule applies to sans doute:

   Certainly, he's hungry.
   Sans doute qu'il a faim. or Sans doute a-t-il faim.
   Not "sans doute il a faim."

lisle 2008-09-10 10:11 发表评论
]]>Expression: Mettre de l'eau dans son vinhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167420.htmllislelisleWed, 10 Sep 2008 02:05:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167420.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1167420.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167420.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1167420.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1167420.htmlExpression: Mettre de l'eau dans son vin

Meanings: to tone it down, to be more moderate

Literal translation: to put water in one's wine

Register: normal

Notes: The French expression mettre de l'eau dans son vin can be used literally or figuratively. The literal meaning - to water down one's wine - is not often used because adding water to wine in order to lessen the alcohol content is no longer a common practice. Figuratively, mettre de l'eau dans son vin has two somewhat related meanings: to tone it down (show less animosity) and to be more moderate (make concessions).

Example:
   Je ne pense pas que les menaces marchent avec lui - il faut mettre de l'eau dans ton vin et essayer une autre tactique.
   I don't think threats work on him - you need to tone it down and try another tack.

lisle 2008-09-10 10:05 发表评论
]]>Chercher - French Expressionshttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167413.htmllislelisleWed, 10 Sep 2008 02:01:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167413.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1167413.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167413.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1167413.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1167413.html阅读全文

lisle 2008-09-10 10:01 发表评论
]]>Expression: Jeter la pierrehttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167395.htmllislelisleWed, 10 Sep 2008 01:40:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167395.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1167395.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167395.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1167395.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1167395.htmlExpression: Jeter la pierre

Meaning: to accuse, blame; to criticize, be hard on

Literal translation: to throw the rock

Register: normal

Notes: The French expression jeter la pierre comes from the Bible:

   Que celui qui n'a jamais péché lui jette la première pierre.
   Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Today, jeter la pierre à quelqu'un can be used for assigning blame as well as for criticizing someone.

Examples:

   Avant de jeter la pierre à Grégoire, demande-lui d'expliquer ce qui s'est passé.
   Before accusing Grégoire, ask him to explain what happened.

   Elle ne comprends pas - ne lui jette pas la pierre.
   She doesn't understand - don't be too hard on her.

lisle 2008-09-10 09:40 发表评论
]]>Wrong: J'ai lui dithttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167391.htmllislelisleWed, 10 Sep 2008 01:34:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167391.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1167391.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1167391.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1167391.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1167391.htmlWrong: J'ai lui dit

Right: Je lui ai dit

Explanation: When you have a direct or indirect object in French, it has to precede the verb: Je lui dis (I'm telling him.) When the verb is in the passé composé or another compound tense, the object has to precede the helping verb (avoir or être). So the correct way to say "I told him" isn't "j'ai lui dit," but rather je lui ai dit. Likewise, "I saw it" is je l'ai vu, not "j'ai le vu."

lisle 2008-09-10 09:34 发表评论
]]>Voir - French Expressionshttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1109891.htmllislelisleWed, 23 Jul 2008 06:25:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1109891.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1109891.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1109891.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1109891.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1109891.html阅读全文

lisle 2008-07-23 14:25 发表评论
]]>Perdre - French Expressionshttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106539.htmllislelisleSun, 20 Jul 2008 04:22:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106539.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1106539.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106539.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1106539.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1106539.html阅读全文

lisle 2008-07-20 12:22 发表评论
]]>Wrong: Je veux que j'aie assez de tempshttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106540.htmllislelisleSun, 20 Jul 2008 04:22:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106540.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1106540.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106540.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1106540.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1106540.htmlWrong: Je veux que j'aie assez de temps

Right: Je veux avoir assez de temps

Explanation: Many French expressions and verbs, such as vouloir (to want) and être content que (to be happy that), require the subjunctive. However, the subjunctive is only used when the two clauses have different subjects, as in je veux que tu aies assez de temps (I want you to have enough time) and je suis content qu'il soit là (I'm happy that he's here). When the two clauses have the same subject, you just use the second verb in the infinitive:

   "Je veux que j'aie assez de temps"
   > Je veux avoir assez de temps.
   I want to have enough time.

   "Je suis content que je sois là"
   > Je suis content d'être là.
   I'm happy to be here.


lisle 2008-07-20 12:22 发表评论
]]>Special Uses of the French Subjunctive:Usages particuliers du subjonctifhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106532.htmllislelisleSun, 20 Jul 2008 04:14:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106532.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1106532.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106532.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1106532.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1106532.html阅读全文

lisle 2008-07-20 12:14 发表评论
]]>Expression: Tu ne manques pas d'airhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106531.htmllislelisleSun, 20 Jul 2008 04:13:00 GMThttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106531.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/1106531.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/articles/1106531.html#Feedback0http://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/comments/commentRss/1106531.htmlhttp://blog.hjenglish.com/lisle/services/trackbacks/1106531.htmlExpression: Tu ne manques pas d'air

Meaning: You've got some nerve/cheek

Literal translation: You don't lack air

Notes: The French expression manquer d'air means "to lack air," as in On manque d'air - il faut ouvrir la fenêtre (It's stuffy / There's no air in here - we need to open a window).

Informally, ne pas manquer d'air is synonymous with avoir du culot and ne pas manquer du culot - to have nerve/cheek.

Example:
   Tu oses revenir après ce que tu as fait ? Tu ne manques pas d'air !
   You dare come back after what you did? You've got some nerve!

lisle 2008-07-20 12:13 发表评论
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