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Post by Happygoin on Jun 9, 2009 6:15:41 GMT -5
Can someone help me with my paltry attempts at brushing up on my French? Is there any kind of rule on when you use en and when you use dans?
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 9, 2009 6:52:44 GMT -5
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Post by Megan on Jun 9, 2009 6:56:42 GMT -5
Luc thats a great site - I started with the french tutor last night and I am already stressing - I will study this tonight . I just find it all so hard ! I have HOMEWORK >:(so I will be cheating slightly Merci !
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Post by Jody on Jun 9, 2009 8:02:41 GMT -5
I agree, good site. Thanks Luc
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 9, 2009 8:55:06 GMT -5
Oh lord...I just read that link, Luc. Now the pause pause pause before I use one of them in a sentence will be that much longer I'll keep practicing...
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 9, 2009 9:13:09 GMT -5
I think you better just say it, if you are wrong people will correct you and you will learn from each mistakes. If you stop and think to long that will discourage you from speaking. Just my 2 centimes.
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 9, 2009 9:28:10 GMT -5
I'm sure you're right, Luc. I've always just sort of stumbled along and the French to whom I've spoken are invariably polite. I've always thought the fact that I'm apologetic about my attempts make them sympathetic. Thanks!
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Post by joan1 on Jun 9, 2009 12:34:46 GMT -5
Honestly,, I read a site like that and I just want to throw myself on a knife,,, I never really "get it",, which is why after so many trips, and months even at a time, I can barely grunt out any french at all. I swear,, and I am not exxagerating that I have an absolutely no ability with languages..
"dans" Maine, or "en" Maine,, which is it,,, agggghhhhh!!!!!!!
Thank goodness for sign language,, I can mime really really well,, LOL
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Post by Darcy on Jun 9, 2009 18:10:54 GMT -5
My French is pathetic but I try to think of dans and en like this: You can be dans a house, or dans a paper bag but you cannot be dans Maine or dans Paris or dans a good mood.
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 9, 2009 19:03:32 GMT -5
I got a 35 on the Dans Vs En quiz. Despite listening to my daily French podcast EVERY day on the train... Hmmmm On a related note...parce que Vs Car ??
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 9, 2009 23:13:47 GMT -5
You can be dans a house, or dans a paper bag but you cannot be dans Maine or dans Paris or dans a good mood. Aren't you supposed to say " a Paris"? (Sorry....no accent grave or any other French accent on my keyboard.) Anyway, maybe you can't be "dans Paris", but I certainly plan to danser there. ;D
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Post by Anne on Jun 10, 2009 9:43:55 GMT -5
Sister, car and parce que are the same And one usually says "à Paris" (like in I go to / am in Paris) but "dans Paris" can be used too in a few circumstances (like this is located in Paris) . Actually, when you use "dans" then you can use "à" too, but not the reverse . I know that it's not very clear, but it's very difficult for me to try and work out some rules for current language . And you say dans le Maine .
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 10, 2009 9:56:54 GMT -5
Anne, Do you know when it became fashionable to said "sur Paris" ? "Nous serons sur Paris dans deux semaines" or "Lorsque vous serez sur Paris venez nous voir"
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Post by Anne on Jun 10, 2009 10:27:58 GMT -5
Oh yes, then there is "sur Paris" too ;D ... I don't know where it comes from, I am not sure whether this is perfect French although people do use it too .
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 10, 2009 10:28:34 GMT -5
" Sur Paris" ? That does it ! I'm done trying to learn French prepositions. Whatever I end up saying in Paris will have to suffice! However, I promise to be polite and say "Bonjour Monsieur/Madame", etc. ;D
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 10, 2009 11:28:10 GMT -5
And another thing! Not to hijack my own thread, but why can't they just say poulet instead of volaille and then I have to go look up what it is? I know poulet!
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Post by Anne on Jun 10, 2009 12:38:45 GMT -5
Volaille is poultry, while poulet is specifically chicken . Of course most of the time in a restaurant the volaille will actually be poulet, but I guess that "volaille" has some more appeal than boring "poulet" . At least it sounds more traditional, old-fashion food .
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Post by mossie on Jun 10, 2009 13:08:47 GMT -5
Guess volaille refers to the fact that it is something with wings. And don't the country people automatically shoot at anything that flies, they are not particular so long as it looks edible.
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 10, 2009 13:12:26 GMT -5
Oh Mossie...that was funny (and likely true Thanks, Anne...if for nothing else, letting me kvetch.
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Post by Jody on Jun 10, 2009 13:22:06 GMT -5
Dumb me, I always translated volaille as another name for turkey, in addition to dinde I never order chicken or turkey out , I can cook those at home. Give me a great piece of lamb which I find hard to get in the USA
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