{"id":22040,"date":"2015-05-20T14:30:18","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T12:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=22040"},"modified":"2017-10-23T15:18:14","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T13:18:14","slug":"sorry-for-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/sorry-for-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorry For Le Temps: Lessons From Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many fautes<\/a><\/strong> (mistakes) that francophones<\/strong> make in French that are useful<\/a>. The complicated conjugations<\/a> also hide how easy things are. Cependant<\/strong> (however), there\u2019s another easy French lesson that is often overlooked!<\/p>\n

When francophones<\/strong> speak English, they make fautes<\/strong> that show how they are thinking in French and directly translating their thoughts into English. This always happens when you speak a foreign langauge, but what’s important is how these silly mistakes can be free lessons!<\/p>\n

Ces fautes<\/strong> are a look into how the speaker organizes their ideas in their native language!<\/p>\n

Voici quelques exemples<\/strong> :<\/p>\n

I proposed to him\u2026 \u2013 Je lui ai propos\u00e9\u2026
\nFaute<\/em>: Proposer \u2013 To offer
\nProposer<\/em> is a false friend that means \u201cto offer\u201d in French.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m learning you French \u2013 Je t\u2019apprends le fran\u00e7ais
\nFaute<\/em>: apprendre \u2013 To teach
\nApprendre<\/em> can mean both to teach and to learn in French.<\/p>\n

I am agree \u2013 Je suis d\u2019accord
\nFaute<\/em>: \u00catre d\u2019accord \u2013 To agree
\n\u201cI agree\u201d in French uses an adjectif rather than just being a verb.<\/p>\n

Mail address \u2013 adresse mail
\nFaute<\/em>: Mail \u2013 Email
\nMail<\/em> in French means Email<\/em>, so your adresse mail<\/strong> is your Email address<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Happen? \u2013 Qu\u2019est-ce qui se passe ?
\nFaute<\/em>: Present \u2013 Present progressive
\nThe present progressive (ing verbs) isn\u2019t used very often in French. Le pr\u00e9sent simple<\/strong><\/a> is used instead.<\/p>\n

Can you explain me? \u2013 Est-ce que vous pouvez m\u2019expliquer ?
\nFaute<\/em>: M\u2019expliquer \u2013 Explain to me
\nThe verb expliquer<\/em> doesn\u2019t need une pr\u00e9position<\/strong> in French, but in English it does.<\/p>\n

Ces fautes<\/strong> sometimes show up when high profile French politicians speak to the press, often resulting in all of France feeling embarrassed.<\/p>\n

Here are some famous examples from former president Sarkozy:<\/p>\n

\u201c[We want] to make some money with you for us.\u201d – Nous voulons faire de l\u2019argent avec vous pour<\/em> nous<\/em>.
\nA direct translation of la phrase fran\u00e7aise<\/strong> (the French sentence).<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry for the time.\u201d – D\u00e9sol\u00e9 pour le temps.<\/em>
\nLe temps <\/em>means both time and weather in French.<\/p>\n

Sometimes ces fautes<\/strong> are a bit harder to understand. The famous phrase<\/strong> said by Jean-Pierre Raffarin is a perfect example:<\/p>\n

\u201cWin, the \u2018yes\u2019 needs the \u2018no\u2019 to win, against the \u2018no\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n