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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 16, 2008 18:21:29 GMT -5
Grammatically could some one explain je l'ai -prounounced jo-le and what is the difference with "ja les" incorrect spelling but it sound like "ja les". Thanks
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 16, 2008 19:50:25 GMT -5
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Post by GitteK on Jul 17, 2008 1:07:32 GMT -5
First: for pronounciation there is NO better help than Alain and Juliette in this website: PRONOUNCIATION GUIDEThe "le" (or: l' ) and "les" figure as objects in the combination in question. Try typing in the above pronounciation guide Où est le macaron ? Je l'ai mangé. (Where is the macaron ? I have eaten it) "Je l'ai + xxxxx" (transitive verb) means "I have xxxxx it" "Je les ai + xxxxx (transitive verb) means "I have xxxxx them" Then try typing: Où sont les macarons ? Je les ai mangés (Where are the macarons ? I have eaten them) Note that when the auxiliary verb is "avoir" and the object (macarons) comes before the participium (mangés), then there must be congruity between the participium and the object (hence the plural -s). But if the object comes after the participium, there is no congruity: J'ai mangé une pomme ~ BUT ~ je l'ai mangée J'ai mangé tous les macarons ~ BUT ~ je les ai mangés.
Fascinating, right ?? ;D
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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 17, 2008 17:26:49 GMT -5
fascinating yes a very useful guide to pronounciation. Merci However the other "zha le" is perhaps another animal altogether and unfortunately unable to explain myself properly cause I don't have the correct spelling. it sound like the "A" in apple , ZH"A" les and becky very good c ;)all on my username after sept 2008!
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 18, 2008 0:48:46 GMT -5
Hmmm........perhaps you're referring to the passe simple tense of "aller", which means "go". The first person singular form would be "J'allez", which sounds like what you said.
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Post by GitteK on Jul 18, 2008 4:36:26 GMT -5
Apart from the spelling (ahem........... ;D) choo-choo could be right:
j'allais (imparfait) = I went j'allai (passé simple, which is mostly used in literature, for historic descriptions or in more "high-brow" language)
That would sound a bit like "zha-lay", I suppose.
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 18, 2008 8:54:46 GMT -5
Oops! After Gitte pointed it out, I now realize that I was way off base regarding the spelling. My apologies to the French language, but it's been decades since I was in a classroom learning French.
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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 18, 2008 15:24:47 GMT -5
Merci a toute. Problem finally solved. Yes it is the imperfect of aller. It was driving me nuts! Hooray
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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 18, 2008 15:35:35 GMT -5
so as an example
Si j'allais en france en september, j'achetèrai un crème de glacée de Bertillion.
Correct?
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Post by luckyluc on Jul 18, 2008 15:58:04 GMT -5
Almost. Si j'allais en France en septembre, j'achetèrai une crème glacée de chez Bertillon. (except you would have to buy two and eat the second thinking of Shoesy...it a rule on this board!)
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Post by Shoesy on Jul 18, 2008 17:16:12 GMT -5
Well said, Luc.
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Post by firsttimeinparis on Jul 18, 2008 17:20:07 GMT -5
LOL you guys are just HILARIOUS! Love it, alright I'll buy two.
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