French Expression 11 - " Et alors ! " - and then, so what , so

French Expression 11

Et alors ? -  So what ? And then ? So ?

Certain expressions in French can not be understood just by looking into the dictionary meaning of words which occur in the concerned expression . It takes much efforts to understand and appreciate certain expressions and their nuances. One such expression is " Et alors ? "

Observe the following dialogue .

Ravi tells me that he won't be attending your daughter's marriage .

So what ?

In the above dialogue,  by saying " so what ? " , the speaker expresses his feeling that he does not care whether Ravi attends his daughter's wedding or not. It is not of much consequence to him. Now go through the French version of the above dialogue .

Ravi me dit qu'il ne peut pas assister au mariage de votre fille.

Et alors ?

Another example

Demain il faut être à la classe à 9 heures .

Et alors ?

Tomorrow you should be in the class at 9 am .

And then ?

Can you make out that the student who is irritated with the teacher's order reacts by asking " and then ? ".

One more example

Ton comportement ne me plaît pas , Martin.
Et alors ?

I don't like your behavior , Martin .
So ?

The expression " et alors ? ( so ) means  that Martin does not care when the speaker tells him that he does not like his behavior .

I think I have conveyed the sense of " et alors " to you. Please listen carefully when native French talk to each other ( films, YouTube videos etc ) and from the contexts understand the use of this expression .

À bientôt !

T. K. Jayaraman
29/07/2015
Bangalore

French Expression 10 " du coup " - so, therefore

French Expression 10 " du coup " - so, therefore"

Informal Expression!

Have you noticed that when French nationals speak , they very often use the expression " du coup" at the beginning of a sentence. What does it mean ? Simple ! It means so, therefore, consequently , hence  and so on.  There is another word for it " donc". But I hear more of  " du coup" and less of " donc ". Go through the following examples.

Je suis fatigué . Du coup, je ne vais pas au bureau.

I am tired. So , I am not going to the office.

Il pleut à verse. Du coup, je peux pas du tout sortir .

It is pouring. Therefore, I can not at all go out.

Elle a oublié son porte- monnaie . Du coup, je lui ai prêté de l'argent .

She forgot her purse. So , I lent her money .

There are several idiomatic expression in French containing the word " coup " . In course of time, I will deal with each of them.

Il y a beaucoup d'expressions contenant le mot " coup". Si je les explique d'un seul coup, vous vous ennuierez . Du coup, je m'arrête .

There are many expressions containing thé word " coup". If I explain all of them in one go,you will get bored. So, I stop myself.

À bientôt !

T.K. Jayaraman
29/07/2015
Bangalore

French Note 85 - " de" preposition

 


FRENCH NOTE 85 - De - preposition

This is a continuation of the previous note 84. Let us observe the different ways in which the preposition "de" is used in French language.

1. Possession

C' est la voiture de mon ami.

This is my friend 's car.

Où est la maison du professeur ? ( de +le= du)

Where is the professor 's house ?

2. Expressing the contents of a container.

Apportez ce sac de pommes de terre .

Bring  that potato bag ?

Donnez-moi un verre d'eau ?

Give me a glass of water ?

3. Telling age

Alice est une fille de 20 ans.

Alice is a twenty year old girl.

4. Qualification / in the sense of an adjective

Ce fou de Jean vient.

That mad John is coming .

5. In French names , the nobility is expressed after the preposition "de"

Charles de Gaulle

Jean d'Ormesson

Madame de Sévigny

6. Introducing a complement after a verb.

Le patron nous empêche de parler pendant le travail.

The boss prevents us from talking during work.

C'est tout !

T. K. Jayaraman
28/07/2015
Bangalore

French Expression 9 - En avoir marre de - To be fed up with -

French Expression 9

" En avoir marre de "- to be fed up with

Today  I am dealing with a popular / colloquial expression in French. Quite useful in your daily conversations. This expression is an exact equivalent of the English expression " to be fed up with "

J'en ai marre de tes conseils , Maman.

I am fed up with your advice, Mum.

Sometimes young girls talk to their mothers like that.

On en a marre des promesses du gouvernement .

We are fed up with the promises of the government .

J'en ai marre de résoudre ce problème .

I am fed up with solving this problem.

Remember to conjugate " avoir " suitably. After the preposition " de" you may either use a noun , a thing with which you are fed up or the infinitive of a verb indicating some action with which you are fed up.

Hope the use of this expression is clear to you.

Bonne journée !

Vous n'en avez pas marre de moi ?

You are not fed up with me ?

T. K. Jayaraman
27/07/2015
Bangalore 

French Expression 8 " être fatigué (e) " - to be tired

French Expression 8 " être fatigué "- to be tired

How to express the fact that one is tired. Very easy. Use the expression " être fatigué( e)"

" fatigué" means tired. It is an adjective.

Jean dit , " Je suis fatigué "

John says , " I am tired "

Hélène dit, " Je suis fatiguée "

Helen says " I am tired"


Note the difference between the two statements though the meaning is same . Why that extra " e " when Helen makes the statement . When a girl makes the statement , the adjective " fatigué " should agree in number and gender with the subject . Hence " fatiguée ". We are adding an " e" - marker of feminine gender in French.

Nous sommes fatiguées. ( when nous refers to a group of females )

Nous sommes fatigués . ( when nous refers to a group of males  or a mixed group)

Ils / elles sont fatigué(e)s

Some more examples

Comme je suis fatigué , je vais dormir .

As I am tired, I am going to sleep.

I hope this simple phrase is clear to you now.

Est-ce que vous êtes fatigué(e)s ?
Are you tired ?
Je vous laisse maintenant.
I leave you now.

T. K. Jayaraman
26/07/2015
Bangalore

FRENCH NOTE 84 ON " DE" - Preposition.

 French Note on " De " -preposition

Every student of French language should have a clear understanding of the use of the preposition " de ". It is worthwhile to spend some time on it.

The basic meaning of this preposition is " of " or " de ".

Let us see the different contexts in which " de " is used in French.

1. A starting point or origin in space.

On arrive de Delhi.

We are arriving from Delhi . ( De = from )

2. Expressing cause

Elle souffre de l'estomac .

She suffers from stomach problem .

3. Expressing a method or use of instrument

Je pousse la porte du pied. ( du = de + le )

I push the door  with foot.

4. Expressing Agent in passive voice .


Le professeur est respecté de tous.

The teacher is respected by all.  ( note the use of " de" in the sense of " by" in English.)

5. Expressing manner of doing something

Martin parle d' une façon impolie. ( de + une= d'une)

Martin talks in an impolite manner.

6. Expressing duration

On s'est habitué à travailler de nuit.

We are used to working in the night.

7. Expressing progressions in the following expressions

De jour en jour - day by day

De temps en temps - from time to time

De temps en temps, elle me demande de l'argent.

I will continue this subject in another note.

Happy learning .

T. K. Jayaraman

French Expression 7 Être + à + noun/ stressed pronoun

 French Expression 7

Être à + noun / stressed pronoun

Today let us learn how to express possession by using " être ". It is very simple. All learners of French Language should know this.  Observe the following sentences.

Ce livre est à moi.

This book is mine. / This book belongs to me.

Ce cravate est à toi.

This tie is yours./ This tie belongs to you.

Est-ce que ce stylo est à vous ?

Does this pen belong to you ?/ is this pen yours ?

Ces voitures sont à Pierre.

These cars belong to Peter.

Hope you remember the tonic / stressed pronouns of French. They are as follows.

Moi. Toi lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles

C'est tout.

Happy learning !

T. K. Jayaraman
26/07/2015
Bangalore