General problems
- You can’t always translate French into English and English into French word for word. While occasionally it is possible to do this, often it is not. For example:
- English phrasal verbs (verbs followed by a preposition or adverb), for example, to run away, to fall down, are often translated by ONE word in French.
| continuer | to go on |
| tomber | to fall down |
| rendre | to give back |
- Sentences which contain a verb and preposition in English, might NOT contain a preposition in French.
| payer quelque chose | to pay for something |
| regarder quelqu’un/quelque chose | to look at somebody/something |
| écouter quelqu’un/quelque chose | to listen to somebody/something |
- Similarly, sentences which contain a verb and preposition in French, might NOT contain a preposition in English.
| obéir à quelqu’un/quelque chose | to obey somebody/something |
| changer de quelque chose | to change something |
| manquer de quelque chose | to lack something |
- The same French preposition may be translated into English in different ways.
| parler de quelque chose | to talk about something |
| sûr de quelque chose | sure of something |
| voler quelque chose à quelqu’un | to steal something from someone |
| croire à quelque chose | to believe in something |
- A word which is singular in English may not be in French.
| les bagages | luggage |
| ses cheveux | his/her hair |
- Similarly, a word which is singular in French may not be in English.
| un short | shorts |
| mon pantalon | my trousers |
- In English, you can use ’s to show who or what something belongs to; in French, you have to use de.
| la voiture de mon frère | my brother’s car |
| la chambre des enfants | the children’s bedroom |
Specific problems
1 -ing
- The -ing ending in English is translated in a number of different ways in French:
- to be …-ing is translated by a verb consisting of one word.
| Il part demain. | He’s leaving tomorrow. |
| Je lisais un roman. | I was reading a book. |
- Note that when you are talking about somebody’s or something’s physical position, you use a past participle.
| Elle est assise là-bas. | She’s sitting over there. |
| Il était couché par terre. | He was lying on the ground. |
- -ing can also be translated by:
- an infinitive
| J’aime aller au cinéma. | I like going to the cinema. |
| Arrêtez de vous disputer! | Stop arguing! |
| Avant de partir… | Before leaving… |
- a present participle
| Étant plus timide que moi, elle… | Being shyer than me, she… |
- a noun
| Le ski me maintient en forme. | Skiing keeps me fit. |
2 to be
- The verb to be is generally translated by être.
| Il est tard. | It’s late. |
| Ce n’est pas possible! | It’s not possible! |
- When you are talking about the physical position of something, se trouver may be used.
| Où se trouve la gare? | Where’s the station? |
- In certain set phrases which describe how you are feeling or a state you are in, the verb avoir is used.
| avoir chaud | to be warm |
| avoir froid | to be cold |
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir peur | to be afraid |
| avoir tort | to be wrong |
| avoir raison | to be right |
- When you are describing what the weather is like, use the verb faire.
| Quel temps fait-il? | What’s the weather like? |
| Il fait beau. | It’s lovely. |
| Il fait mauvais. | It’s miserable. |
| Il fait du vent. | It’s windy. |
- When you are talking about someone’s age, use the verb avoir.
| Quel âge as-tu? | How old are you? |
| J’ai quinze ans. | I’m fifteen. |
- When talking about your health, use the verb aller.
| Comment allez-vous? | How are you? |
| Je vais très bien. | I’m very well. |
3 it is, it’s
- it is and it’s are usually translated by il est or elle est when referring to a noun.
| ‘Où est mon parapluie?’ – ‘Il est là, dans le coin.’ | ‘Where’s my umbrella?’ – ‘It’s there, in the corner.’ |
| Descends la valise si elle n’est pas trop lourde. | Bring the case down if it isn’t too heavy. |
- When you are talking about the time, use il est.
| ‘Quelle heure est-il?’ – ‘Il est sept heures et demie.’ | ‘What time is it?’ – ‘It’s half past seven.’ |
- When you are describing what the weather is like, use the verb faire.
| Il fait beau. | It’s lovely. |
| Il fait mauvais. | It’s miserable. |
| Il fait du vent. | It’s windy. |
- If you want to say, for example, it is difficult to do something or it is easy to do something, use il est.
| Il est difficile de répondre à cette question. | It is difficult to answer this question. |
- In ALL other phrases and constructions, use c’est.
| C’est moi qui ne l’aime pas. | It’s me who doesn’t like him. |
| C’est Charles qui l’a dit. | It’s Charles who said so. |
| C’est ici que je les ai achetés. | It’s here that I bought them. |
| C’est parce que la poste est fermée que… | It’s because the post office is closed that… |
4 there is, there are
- Both there is and there are are translated by il y a.
| Il y a quelqu’un à la porte. | There is someone at the door. |
| Il y a cinq livres sur la table. | There are five books on the table. |
5 can, to be able
- If you want to talk about someone’s physical ability to do something, use pouvoir.
| Pouvez-vous faire dix kilomètres à pied? | Can you walk ten kilometres? |
- If you want to say that you know how to do something, use savoir.
| Elle ne sait pas nager. | She can’t swim. |
- When can is used with verbs to do with what you can see or hear, you do NOT use pouvoir in French.
| Je ne vois rien. | I can’t see anything. |
| Il les entendait. | He could hear them. |
6 to
- The preposition to is generally translated by à.
| Donne le livre à Patrick. | Give the book to Patrick. |
- When you are talking about the time, use moins.
| dix heures moins cinq | five to ten |
| à sept heures moins le quart | at a quarter to seven |
- If you want to say (in order) to, use pour.
| Je l’ai fait pour vous aider. | I did it to help you. |
| Il va en ville pour acheter un cadeau. | He’s going into town to buy a present. |