mr.moderino

[frosty lodge]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[idle karma]

literally: The dogs are forbidden less OF 5 meters OF the area OF play

area OF play is just the playground

[idle karma]

well this doesn't really look like proper english, and its hard to read

translating word for word and literally isn't the way to go

and french ≠ english

:P

[vague acorn]

Just so you know flutters, we're continuing the conversation from another thread:
#1271390161921507358 message

[desert terrace]

I've been translating word for word with English for everything. English is all I know so I'm finding its why I overcomplicate French

[idle karma]

oh ptn deso

[vague acorn]

Basically, you can't just translate word for word and that's the case here. 'No dogs here' is considered an order in English but not in French, so you can't translate that into « Pas de chiens / Aucun chien ici » and hope that everyone understood it as an order.

[desert terrace]

First time learning a new language. I'm finding myself measuring and comparing everything with English.

What is the correct/good mindset with adjusting with French

[idle karma]

i get you but you have to put your head in the mindset of "this is how they speak."

[desert terrace]

I'm just wondering, why can't you say ''Pas de chiens/ aucun chien ici'' you said it's not a prohibition earlier

[idle karma]

baby steps and you'll get there :)

[idle karma]

Not dogs and No dogs here (as in, there is no dogs here, describing the amount of dogs there are in a area)

[desert terrace]

I compare it to riding a bike for the first time. I'm checking in with the English way for every single thing. It shocked me with the conjugated verbs and Mange means ''To eat''. I was confused where the extra words were at first

[idle karma]

manger* :)

but yes, its a new language

its like learning to drive in a new country

new rules, new road signs, new driving ettiquette etc.

same here, new rules, new spelling, new ways to say things

[desert terrace]

Right now I'm following this French person on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyfRpRnyXmw&list=PL_bt5rj27IIVuQdKp5vdAFnssCOoeMQ4Z&index=5

[idle karma]

adjust, and baby steps. don't beat yourself up as that doesnt help

[desert terrace]

And Duolingo. And I understand Duolingo isn't perfect, but I find Duolingo fun and easy to get my foot in the door

[idle karma]

there are other apps too you can check out like lingq with stories

[desert terrace]

Ok I understand, it wouldn't make sense to say ''There are no dogs in this park''. Also Google Translate uses that

[idle karma]

google translate isnt 100%

and context too

which google translate doesn't have

[desert terrace]

In the English translation theres no word ''Prohibition'' so in the French version I think they added the prohibiton word: interdits to make it make sense

[desert terrace]

Is it called Pimsleur: Language Learning?

[idle karma]

https://www.lingq.com/

[desert terrace]

I just found it LingQ - Learn French

[idle karma]

oui

[desert terrace]

You prefer LingQ over Duolingo and the others? (I can't get Babbel it costs money)

[idle karma]

lingq because its stories made, written and narrated by real people

[desert terrace]

What should I customize my lesson feed with.

[idle karma]

whatever suits you

[desert terrace]

For reference I'm on Level 7 on the first stage of Duolingo

[idle karma]

duolingo levels arent really translatable to ability

[desert terrace]

When it says Language, that means the french spelling for like Italian and Gemany right?

[idle karma]

what

what do you mean?

[desert terrace]

Topics do you love: Language, history, songs, language

News: Podcasts: Books

[idle karma]

no one can choose these for you

dude just pick whatever

lingq will do the rest ;)

and youll find podcasts and resources

[desert terrace]

thanks i'm in

I think its important to not only use Duolingo but other sources as well

I used to only use Duolingo, but I sometimes wasn't understanding the concepts

[idle karma]

yeah

we see here in #salle-de-classe too many people asking whats the difference between "mange" and "manges" for example

[desert terrace]

1a - Michel est cuisiner, partie 1 (The first level) is kinda whooping me rn, I'll have to get back to you and give an update

[desert terrace]

Mange means ''To eat'' and manges is used with Tu ''Tu manges'' ''You are eating''. I was confused because it means ''You are eating'' but theres no are, but apparently in French its automatically added with Tu manges

[idle karma]

mangeR* is to eat

being the infinitive

but yes you are correct, its just that we've seen it like 10 too many times

[desert terrace]

Mange= eat and Manger= To eat

[idle karma]

kinda but yeah

[desert terrace]

Oof! Apparently I'm limited to 20 Lingq's

I highlighted every word to see what it meant,

[vague acorn]

The context is what differs here: in the English text, there’s also no explicit word saying prohibition, it’s implied. That same implication just doesn’t exist in French. There’s no reason why it happened, it just did; you have to get used to that.

[idle karma]

thats saving the words

[desert terrace]

yeah i saved all of them 👍

I think theres no word for ''it'' as well. It doesn't exist in french i think

[idle karma]

it does not exist

[desert terrace]

what else doesn't exist in french (that exists in english)

[idle karma]

so either we go with the objects gender (elle est belle - it is beautiful, refering to LA voiture)

[desert terrace]

ahhhh

[idle karma]

or default masculine for abstract things like time (il est 13h) or weather (il pleut)

[vague acorn]

It doesn’t because its functions are covered by the subject pronouns « il/elle, ils/elles » and the demonstrative pronoun « ce/ceci/cela/ça »

[desert terrace]

i saw on duolingo if you say they are picking up an orange you say. ''Elle Prends une Orange'' (correct me if im wrong here)

[vague acorn]

Should be « elles prennent » since it’s ‘they’ which marks plural

Unless it’s singular ‘they’ in which case it depends on the word replaced

[idle karma]

singular they doesn't really exist in french, its more of a neopronoun (made after the language's existence, like xey/xem in english )

they made 'iel' portmanteauing il and elle

but thats a whole new story

[vague acorn]

It depends, singular ‘they’ if used in reference to a non-binary person is new but if used to replace an unknown referent it’s been in English since Shakespeare

[desert terrace]

Is Lingq usuable for Free version? I don't have the money to pay for premium. Can I get a legitimate french learning

[idle karma]

yes

[vague acorn]

‘I love Emma D’Arcy, they’re a splendid actor’
—> new usage, doesn’t currently have a parallel in French (iel remains niche)
‘I just saw a person running from the car, they looked suspicious’
—> unknown referent, still in popular usage since the 17th century (I think that’s when ol’ Shakey made his plays)

[desert terrace]

I mean usuable by useful

[idle karma]

give it a try

[desert terrace]

gotchu! great to know. i like the podcast feel and listening

I've noticed I haven't actually been listening to any French. I've just been clicking teh buttons on Duolingo

[idle karma]

for podcasts you can check out easyfrench too

or frenchpod101

[desert terrace]

My pronounciation is unbelievably bad as well.