Here and Now – More useful French expressions Posted by Tim Hildreth on Feb 12, 2019 in Grammar, Vocabulary
Last June I wrote a post with common terms for describing où et quand (where and when) things happen. This week we’ll explore some more useful time and place terms (and enjoy a new song from the French musician/group Yelle).
Ici ou ailleurs
Français | English |
ici Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
here |
là Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
there (or here, depending on the context) |
là-bas Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
there / over there |
ailleurs Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Elsewhere / somewhere else |
n’importe* où Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
anywhere |
nulle part Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
nowhere |
As noted, là can mean either here or there. It is actually used for here even more commonly than ici which is reserved, generally, for locations very close to the speaker and that can be shown. The expression là-bas on the other hand, is used for indicating things that are further away or to show direction.
Let’s look at some examples.
Français | English |
Viens ici pour que je te montre mon nouveau livre. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Come here so I can show you my new watch. |
Qui est là ? Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Who’s there? |
Je suis là. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
I am here. |
J’adore Paris. Je veux retourner là-bas bientôt. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
I love Paris. I want to go back there soon. |
J’aime bien le New Hampshire, mais parfois j’aimerais bien vivre ailleurs. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
I like New Hampshire, but sometimes I’d like to live somewhere else. |
– Ou est-ce que tu veux manger ? – N’importe où. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
– Where do you want to eat? – Anywhere |
La voiture qui a percuté le piéton est arrivé de nulle part ! Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
The car that hit the pedestrian came out of nowhere! |
Maintenant ou jamais
Français | English |
maintenant Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
now |
jamais Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
never |
n’importe quand Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Whenever / anytime |
à n’importe quel moment Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
at any moment |
Let’s look at some examples.
Français | English |
Avant j’avais un chien, mains maintenant j’ai un chat. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Before I had a dog, but now I have a cat. |
Pierre ne mange jamais ses légumes ! Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Peter never eats his vegetables! |
Viens n’importe quand. On sera là tout le week-end. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Come anytime. We’ll be home all weekend. |
Range ta chambre ! Mamie pourrait arriver à n’importe quel moment. Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). A valid URL was not provided. |
Clean your room! Grammie could show up at any moment. |
Et pour finir / Finally
Sometimes life feels like just a little trop / too much. Est-ce que ça vous arrive à vous de vous sentir comme ça des fois?!! (Do you ever have those days when you feel like this?)
* n’importe is a useful expression all by itself. The indefinite expression which means no matter can be used with interrogative pronouns (qui, que), interrogative adjectives (quel, quelle, quels, quelles), and interrogative adverbs (quand, comment, pourquoi, ou, combien) to make all sorts of useful phrases like n’importe qui (no matter who/anyone), n’importe lequel (no matter which), or n’importe comment (no matter how/anyway).
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