emenem

[weary knot]

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.

[hexed topaz]

They're prepositions, so it's going to depend on the context, verb, etc

[azure bramble]

for example?

[zenith spire]

« Est-ce que tu parlais de la chute du gouvernement syrien ? (Were you talking about the fall of the Syrian government?) »
« Au sujet de cette tâche, je m'attends à ce que vous la complétiez. (On the subject of/Regarding/About this task, I expect you all to complete it.) »
« Hermione est partie. Elle voulait chercher des livres sur Nicolas Flamel. (Hermione left. She wanted to look for books about Nicolas Flamel). »
« Pourquoi est-ce que tu penses encore à ton ex ? Oublie-la ! (Why are you still thinking about your ex? Forget about her!) »
« Qu'est-ce que tu penses de ces nouvelles bottes ? Tu les aimes ? (What do you think about these new boots? Do you like them?) »

For the last two, there's a nuance there. « penser à qqch/qqn » is having something/someone in your head whereas « penser de qqch/qqn » is asking for an opinion.

[azure bramble]

hmm.. still don't get it

i'll take the book one, sometimes i saw ppl use de instead of sur

[zenith spire]

The point is that there’s no one translation for ‘about’

[zenith spire]

de would imply ownership

« des livres sur Nicolas Flamel »
books that talk about Nicolas Flamel

« des livres de Nicolas Flamel »
books written by Nicolas Flamel

Unless you insert « parler »

« … chercher des livres qui parlent de Nicolas Flamel »
‘… look for books that talk about Nicolas Flamel’

[azure bramble]

that's clear

aight, thanks sir

[azure bramble]

may i ask one more?

[zenith spire]

One more what

[azure bramble]

when you said "est-ce que parlais de...", why not "sur"?

[zenith spire]

Because « parler » takes « de »

That’s what Albatros meant by prepositions being dependant on verbs

As an example, both prepositions in « penser à qqch » and « parler de qqch » are translated with English ‘about’ even though they’re different prepositions

Prepositions just don’t translate

A different but related example, why does ‘to hear’ direct transitive in English (I hear someone) but ‘to listen’ is indirect transitive (I listen to someone)? Why the inconsistency? French at least keeps it consistent as both « entendre » and « écouter » are direct transitive verbs

There’s not a reason other than that’s just how it works

[azure bramble]

i see