#dea_k

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

cursive chasmBOT
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Please be patient

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

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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.

surreal hatch
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Faire bouillir (and other uses of faire + infinitive) is a causative construction (causing something to happen).

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Faire bouillir
To make boil -> To boil.

static frost
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For « faire bouillir », that's because you're not the one doing the boiling, the fire or heat source is the one doing it. What you did was just turn on the stove so you're not boiling the water, you're 'making' it boil.
As for « faire couper les cheveux », you're not the one actually cutting your own hair, the barber/stylist is doing that. What you did was go to the barbershop/salon so you're not cutting your hair, you're 'having' it cut.

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Casca's link is great but doesn't explain why these two are causative.

foggy ridge
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And then in english do you translate it with faire or just say boil?

static frost
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just say boil

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‘I’m boiling the water’
« Je fais bouillir l’eau »