bizzyliz

Mmmm...............I'll have to find some French translations of English poetry, Vraititi. That will make a change from grammar! Yes, Kat, I appreciate your point. Having taught English as a foreign language for a number of years, I am glad I didn't have to "learn" English.

A Grammar Devil I may be, but just to add that the poem 'Aubaine' has enriched my French vocabulary too. That was a wonderful bonus I wasn't expecting when I broached the topic. I googled Antoine Tabard but didn't get results for him.

Don't know how I managed to type I just wishes......

I just wishes there were a few more language bores around! People don't know what they're missing out on.

I'm afraid it's the unhealthy penchant for dodgy prepositions, plus a genuine love of the French language and a desire to understand it properly. I do do some tuition, mostly young children and adult beginners, but the adults question points of grammar a great deal, and sometimes it's difficult to give totally satisfactory explanations. I wasn't expecting poetry as a reply to my own query! That was lovely, and I really appreciate the time and trouble you have gone to, Vraititi.

It's all fascinating, Vraititi, and the examples you give make a lot more sense to me than the sentences I originally quoted. A hunt in the dictionary brought up another one which was strange to me: 'Croyez-m'en.' I thought that after the imperative 'moi' had to be used, but I didn't think that it could be contracted with the apostrophe. So is the m' short for me? Sorry, I'm probably being diabolique again..... Liz

Thanks Malcolm. It is straightforward when you look at it like that, but what confused me was why 'en' was used as the preposition in the question and 'y' was the pronoun used in the answer. I felt that either both should be 'en' or both should be 'y'. Liz

So, I now have a reputation as a 'diabolique'! Profuse apologies for ruining Saturday afternoons - Saturday is always one of my busiest days, so I don't think of them as lazy times I'm afraid. But I'm extremely grateful for and impressed by the wealth of knowledge and explanations that you have come up with, Vraititi, and very appreciative of Tourangelle's responses too. I'll try not to be quite so 'diabolique' next time! Liz

Thanks - in that case, should the reply be 'Moi, j'en croyais autrefois?' ?? Liz

In a grammar workbook that I use, I came across the line 'Croyez-vous en Dieu? Moi, j'y croyais autrefois.' It is actually in an exercise on the imperfect tense, but I am confused by the use of 'en' in the question and then 'y' in the answer. Wouldn't it be better to say 'Croyez-vous à Dieu?' Liz

According to Chamber's dictionary, galère can be an unpleasant situation or an undesirable group of people.