Le français interactif - French Accent Magazine

Nr 33 – October - November 2011
Le français interactif — How to Speak
Like a French Person, Not Like a Foreigner,
Part 4
The essential key expressions, idioms and verbs
To add to our previous lists of expressions in issues 25, 28 and 31 of French Accent
Magazine where we provided some “do's” and “don'ts” of typical mistakes that
frequently result from making a direct and literal translation from English to French,
we have come up with an additional list. These common errors are what differentiate a
French native speaker from a foreign French speaker. As was the case last time, we
carefully chose those we hear most often and which will make a difference to the French
native’s ear.
1) The opportunity
There is a direct translation for the word opportunity which is l’opportunité but it is used
mostly in a professional context.
Example:
Chez Siemens, j’ai eu l’opportunité de lancer un nouveau projet = At Siemens, I had the
opportunity to launch a new project.
However, when you wish to express the word opportunity in a social or casual context; then it
will sound a bit awkward to use l’opportunité. Best would be to say la possibilité or
l’occasion.
Examples:
J’ai eu l’occasion de rencontrer la femme de Laurent = I had the opportunity to meet
Laurent’s wife.
Avec mon voisin, j’ai l’occcasion (ou j’ai la possibilité) de parler en français =With my
neighbor, I have the opportunity to speak French.
L’occasion will be used when referring to a lucky type of opportunity while la possibilité
communicates that you have a distinct and possible opportunity in a professional sense.
Don’t Say: J’ai eu l’opportunité d’aller faire du ski dans les Alpes françaises.
Say: J’ai eu l’occasion/la possibilité de faire du ski dans les Alpes françaises = I had the
opportunity to go skiing in the French Alps.
2) Second hand/ used
It’s only natural to move on to this topic as this is giving us the occasion (the opportunity) to
elaborate about the word occasion!
We learned in point 1 above that occasion can be used to replace the word opportunité. You
will also notice that this same word is also used for second hand or used things.
Examples:
J'ai acheté une voiture d’occasion = I bought a used car.
Idem with used books: des livres d’occasion; used furniture: des meubles d’occasion, etc.
If you are in France, you’ve probably seen it many times on signs. Notice also that we do not
use the word usé for old or second hand because that would give the object a negative
connotation. Usé means that is has been used a lot and it is no longer in a good shape or worn
out.
Don’t Say: J’ai acheté une voiture usée.
Say: J’ai acheté une voiture d’occasion.
3) Complete
During our French lessons, we often hear the word complet used in many contexts from our
students. It’s understandable that it sounds a bit awkward to the French ear, especially after
hearing it so often.
So when do we use the word complet?
Mostly to indicate that a hotel is full or a concert hall is sold out.
Example:
L’hôtel est complet = The hotel is full.
In regards to the French verb compléter, we can use it when filling out documents, even
though we use the verb remplir even more… You can hear either: Pouvez-vous compléter ce
document? or: Pouvez-vous remplir ce document?
We mostly use compléter when we’re adding something for improvement.
Examples:
Je complète ma formation avec un stage en cuisine = I’m completing (rounding off or
supplementing) my training with a an internship in cooking (this tells you that you’re adding
more training to improve your overall abilities).
Je complète ce livre avec des photos = I’m completing this book with pictures. In other
words, I’m adding pictures to this book.
Otherwise, each time you want to say that you’ve completed something in a context that
you’ve finished it, you should use the verb terminer.
Examples:
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J’ai terminé mes études à Paris il y a 5 ans = I completed my studies in Paris 5 years ago.
On a terminé le projet hier soir = We completed the project last night.
Don’t say: J’ai complété mes études.
Say: J’ai terminé mes études.
4) To bring someone to a place
Are you picking up or taking a friend to the airport? The verbe prendre can mislead you. We
cannot use the verb prendre when telling someone that you’re taking them to a place. You
need to use the verb amener which means to bring.
Important: If you use the verb prendre, you’re saying that you’re picking up this person!
Therefore, you could be communicating the opposite action. Think that you’re bringing
someone to a place (instead of taking), and you’ll be safe.
Example:
J’amène mon fils à l’école = I’m bringing my son to school (in English, we often say “we
drive our kids to school” as in French, once more, we really use the verb amener and not so
much the verb conduire).
Don’t say: Je prends mon père à l’aéroport = I’m picking up my father at the airport.
Say: J’amène mon père à l’aéroport = I’m bringing my father to the airport.
Note: The verb amener is mostly used to bringing people to a place but you will also hear the
French say it for bringing things.
Example:
J’amène le vin ce soir = I’m bringing the wine tonight.
Many French students ask the difference between amener and apporter: in general, we use
amener for bringing people and apporter for bringing things.
5) To pick up someone vs to pick up things
We want to clarify the usage of two French verbs which both mean “to pick up”: ramasser et
aller chercher.
First, ramasser means to pick up or gather things from the ground such as mushrooms in the
forest, clothes on the floor, leaves on the lawn, etc… We cannot use ramasser to pick up
someone.
Example:
Thierry a ramassé beaucoup de coquillages sur la plage = Thierry picked up lots of shells on
the beach.
If you need to pick up someone, then you should use aller chercher (to go pick up). Note that
it’s important to add the verb aller; if you forget to add it, then you are changing the meaning
of the action since the verb chercher by itself means “to look for”.
Example:
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Je vais chercher mon fils à l’école = I’m going to pick up my son at school.
Don’t say: Je ramasse mon mari au travail.
Say: Je vais chercher mon mari au travail.
6) Evidence
We need more evidence before judging someone! The French word évidence is a false friend
and cannot be used in this context.
Evidence in English = une preuve, which really means “a proof”.
Example:
Nous ne pouvons pas juger cette personne correctement, nous n’avons pas assez de preuves =
We cannot judge this person rightfully, we don’t have enough evidence.
So what is the meaning of évidence in French? We use it when something is obvious.
Example:
C’est une évidence qu’il est innocent = it’s an obviousness that he is innocent.
Evident which is the adjective form, is widely used in France:
C’est évident = it’s obvious!
Don’t say: Il me faut plus d’évidences.
Say: Il me faut plus de preuves = it’s necessary to have more evidence.
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Scénario : Quoi de neuf ?
Deux amis se parlent au téléphone.
Two friends are speaking on the
telephone.
Zoé : Salut Thierry, c’est Zoé.
Thierry : Salut ! Quoi de neuf ?
Zoé : Ben, pas grand-chose. Enfin,
heureusement les nouvelles parlent un peu
d’autre chose que de DSK en ce moment ! La
rentrée des classes amène de nouveaux
sujets.
Thierry : Comme tu dis… Alors tu penses
qu’il est coupable ?
Zoé : En partie, je pense que oui, mais il
faudrait plus de preuves. Je pense qu’il y a eu
aussi un peu de manipulation. De toute
façon, c’est évident qu’il a démontré de
grandes faiblesses !
Thierry : C’est vrai. Dis-moi, c’est toujours
bon pour aller au cinéma ce soir ?
Zoé : Oui, puis après, on peut rentrer chez
moi manger un morceau.
Thierry : Super, ça va si j’amène Roland ? Il
veut vraiment revoir ce film.
Zoé : Oui, bien sûr ! C’est super qu’ils le
rejouent en ce moment, j’avais raté
l’occasion de le voir quand il est sorti.
Thierry : J’apporterai une bonne bouteille de
vin. Je passe te prendre à quelle heure ?
Zoé : Viens me chercher vers 18h. Ça
marche ?
Thierry : OK, super. A plus !
Zoé: Hi Thierry, it’s Zoé.
Thierry: Hi! What’s new?
Zoé: Well, not much. Finally, the news is
finally speaking about something other than
DSK! The return to school is bringing in
new subjects.
Thierry: That’s right… So, do you think
that he’s guilty?
Zoé: Partly, I think so but we need to have
more evidence. I think that there was a bit of
manipulation as well. Anyway, it’s obvious
that he has shown some definite weaknesses!
Thierry: That’s true. Tell me, are we still on
to go the movies tonight?
Zoé: Yes, and afterwards, we can come back
to my place and have a bite to eat.
Thierry: Great, is it Ok if I bring Roland?
He really wants to see this movie again.
Zoé: Yes, of course! It’s so great that it’s
playing again; I missed the opportunity to
see it when it first came out.
Thierry: I’ll bring a good bottle of wine. At
what time, should I pick you up?
Zoé: Come to pick me up at 6pm. Does that
work?
Thierry: Ok, great! See you!
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Retour aux bases / Back to Basics
Est-ce que tu te laves les dents après manger? Do you wash your teeth by yourself after
eating? What a strange question to ask someone! Clearly, most people can wash their
teeth by themselves. When translating literarily some everyday chores from French to
English, the sentences do sound awkward because some of these verbs require, in
French, a reflexive pronoun:
Myself = me
Yourself = te
Himself = se
Herself = se
Yourselves = vous
Themselves = se
These pronouns are placed before the verb and immediately following the subject pronoun.
For example:
Je me lave les dents après le repas de midi = I wash my teeth after lunch. Notice how the
pronoun me is placed before the verb lave. Here, you are literally saying: I wash my teeth by
myself after lunch. In simplified terms, reflexive verbs really indicate that the action of the
verb is done to the subject of the sentence.
Here is the full conjugation of the verb se laver (to wash oneself) in the present tense with
its appropriate pronoun:
Je me lave= I wash myself
Tu te laves = You wash yourself
Il/elle se lave = He/she washes him/herself
Nous nous lavons = We wash ourselves
Vous vous lavez = You wash yourselves
Ils/elles se lavent = They wash themselves
There is no great logic on how the verbs were chosen to be classified as “reflexive verbs” but
some English verb expressions which are preceded by the verb “to get” or are followed by the
word “up” are considered reflexive in French:
Je me reveille = I wake up
Tu te lèves = You get up
Elle s’habille = She gets dressed
Il se lave = He washes
Nous nous préparons = We’re getting ready
Ils s’entendent = They’re getting along
Je me marie = I’m getting married
Il s’ennuie = He’s getting bored (He is bored)
Notice how the pronoun se (himself, herself or themselves) contracts to s’ if the word which
follows starts with a vowel or an “h”.
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A few other important verbs to remember which are also reflexive:
Je m’appelle Caroline = My name is Caroline
Tu te brosses les cheveux = You’re brushing your hair
Elle se couche = She goes to bed
Il se promène = He’s taking a walk
Nous nous amusons = We’re having fun
Vous vous occupez de la maison = You’re taking care of the house.
Ils s’inquiètent = They’re worrying (are worried)
Je me baigne = I’m going for a swim
Important note: If the action is not done to the subject of the sentence but to someone else,
then the pronoun is dropped and the verb is no longer reflexive!
Examples:
1) Je me lave = I am washing myself.
Je lave mon bébé = I am washing my baby (the reflexive pronoun me has been dropped).
2) Elle s’appelle Caroline = Her name is Caroline
Elle appelle Caroline pour rentrer à la maison = She is calling Caroline to come inside
(notice in this sentence that the reflexive pronoun se or s’ has been removed).
Deux exercices
1) Conjugate the verbs in parentheses:
Il est tôt mais je _________ (se lever) toujours à 6h 15. Je _________ (s’habiller) d’abord.
Ensuite, je _________ (préparer) un café et je _________ (s’occuper) de mon chien. Il
_________ (s’amuser) avec mes chaussons. Puis je _________ (se préparer). Je _________
(se laver) les cheveux et je _________ (se brosser) les dents. Je _________ (se sécher) les
cheveux et après je _________ (se reposer) un peu.
2) Translate the following sentences:
1. I am getting up now.
2. I wake up at 7 am and I wake my son up at 8 am.
3. What's your name?
4. She is taking a walk with the dog. She is walking the dog.
5. He gets along very well with his friend.
6. Carlos is getting married tomorrow.
7. The kids are having fun in the swimming pool.
8. Our son is bored.
(Solutions page 28)
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Le coin des branchés
The verb casser (= to break) is used in many, and very different, idiomatic expressions,
or slang, in French. Here are the most commonly used ones:
Se casser (familiar) = to leave, to go, to flee.
Casse-toi (slang) = get out of here! Since President Sarkozy said this to a man who refused to
shake hands while he was visiting the Agricultural Fair in Paris (Casse-toi, pauvre con !), the
French always think of this incident when using this expression, which usually makes
everyone laugh...
Se casser la pipe (familiar) = 1) to fall; 2) to die.
Se casser la figure (familiar) = 1) to fall; 2) to fail at something.
Se casser la gueule (slang) = idem, but more vulgar.
Se casser le dos/les reins (familiar) = to make such a physical effort that we feel (or risk
feeling) a pain in the back.
Se casser la tête = to think a lot in order to find a solution to something, to rack one's brain,
or to do everything perfect.
Être casse-tête = to be difficult.
Être casse-cou = to have a tendency to take physical risks, to ignore danger. Je dois toujours
surveiller mon fils, il est tellement casse-cou ! = I must constantly watch my son, he ignores
danger so much!
Être casse-pieds (familiar) = to be annoying, insistant (for a person); qu’est-ce qu’il est
casse-pieds, ce client, il demande toujours des choses impossible ! = How annoying this
client is, he always asks for impossible things!
Être casse-couilles (slang) = idem, but much more vulgar; coquilles = bollocks...
Être casse-bonbons (slang) = idem, but a little more polite (bonbons is another way, more
correct, to talk about bollocks).
Casser la croûte, casser la graine (familiar) = to eat; suggests a quick lunch or a sandwich
during the day.
Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu’un (familiar) = to slander somebody.
Ne pas casser des barres, ne rien casser (familiar) = to be not very good, of not great
quality, etc. Il ne casse pas des barres, ce gâteau au chocolat = it is not very good, this
chocolate cake.
Casser la baraque (slang) = to bring the efforts made by someone to nothing by doing better,
or by saying something that renders his plans useless ; lit.: to break the barrack. Ma fille m’a
appelée maman devant ce jeune homme qui me plaisait bien, elle m’a cassé la baraque ! =
My daughter called me mum in front of this young man that I kind of liked, she destroyed my
chances with him.
Ça casse (slang) = that hurts, that nullifies every effort one makes. Used by young people
when they talk about their parents, their teachers; ça casse quand tu reçois une note comme ça
! = It hurts when you get a grade like that (at school).
Ça passe ou ça casse (familiar) = either things work out, or everything will fail.
À tout casser = wonderful, great, extraordinary. On a fait une fête à tout casser ! = We had a
great party!
Faire un casse (slang) = to do a hold-up or a burglary (notice that casse is masculine in this
usage).
Il y a eu de la casse (familiar) = there was damage.
Mettre une voiture à la casse = to bring a car to the wrecking yard.
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On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des oeufs = One doesn’t do something without taking
risks/causing a little damage; lit.: one doesn't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
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