#fowkys

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

rapid vigilBOT
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Please be patient

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karmic mist
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nothing!
the only difference is that the first one is more formal as it uses inversion ("est-ce que" is technically inversion but not considered as such in terms of formality)

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the second one is impersonal as well btw

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yet another way to say it would be using intonation "il s'est passé quoi ?"
even more informal

soft osprey
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Impersonal phrases in French are quite unique (at least compared to my mother tongue). Can every verb be used in an 'Il + verb' construction?

karmic mist
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nope, that's only for a few select ones. (se passer, falloir, y avoir, pleuvoir, etc)
that said, impersonal "on" also exists and can be used with any verb

soft osprey
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The translation of "il est passé" is not impersonal in portuguese, I'm confused

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Is 'on' impersonal or indefinite?

karmic mist
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"il est passé" uses the verb "passer" which is personal
"il s'est passé" uses the verb "se passer" which is impersonal
they don't mean the same at all

soft osprey
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I meant "Il s'est passé", sorry. It's not impersonal in Portuguese

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Is 'on' impersonal or indefinite?

karmic mist
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"on" can be used several ways

  • to replace "nous"
  • to indicate general rules
  • to refer to someone else
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"on y va" => we're going
"on ne mange pas la bouche pleine" => [you/one] shouldn't speak with [your/their] mouth full
"on frappe à la porte" => [someone] is knocking at the door

soft osprey
karmic mist
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yes

soft osprey
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its different from Portuguese, this sentence would be indefinite. That's why is confusing me

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I got to study this more