squidge Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 ok........ really simple stupid prob -i've seen so many different versions of how to say 'we have been resident in france since...'1) nous sommes resident en france depuis ...2) nous sommes résidents francais depuis....3) nous avons été résider en France depuis...are they all ok to use?!thanks!squidge x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Well, I think you use the present, for something which you are still doing. Edited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Hi,It seems to me you would say:Nous résidons en France depuis . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickleover Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="squidge"]ok........ really simple stupid prob -i've seen so many different versions of how to say 'we have been resident in france since...'1) nous sommes resident en france depuis ...2) nous sommes résidents francais depuis....3) nous avons été résider en France depuis...are they all ok to use?!thanks!squidge x[/quote]This life is not a rehearsalSo if they understand you Why worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyF Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="mickleover"]This life is not a rehearsalSo if they understand you Why worry [/quote]Because some people actually find satisfaction in doing things properly. French is a beautiful language and it's a shame to mangle it if this can be avoided.Bonne chance, squidge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickleover Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="KathyF"][quote user="mickleover"]This life is not a rehearsalSo if they understand you Why worry [/quote]Because some people actually find satisfaction in doing things properly. French is a beautiful language and it's a shame to mangle it if this can be avoided.Bonne chance, squidge.[/quote]Yes French is beautiful,i would not say different.But can you honestly say,the French do-not mangle it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 This is what I would say but I still have my L plates on so dont lisen to me nous avons été résidents en France depuis Am I right ? [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="Pads"] This is what I would say but I still have my L plates on so dont lisen to me nous avons été résidents en France depuis Am I right ? [:D][/quote]No, I don't believe that is right, because you are still here! Depuis takes the present, if the situation is ongoing: "en francais, dans le cas ou une action commencee dans le passe aboutit a un fait present, on utilise le present:J'attends depuis trois heures : I have been waiting here for three hours."J'habite la france depuis quatres annees : I have lived in France for four yearsNous sommes residents en France depuis... etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [:(] go on pop my bubble [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="Pads"][:(] go on pop my bubble [;-)][/quote]Blame my grammar book (and the French lingo, of course)![:D]EDIT : It also explains why the French have trouble in the reverse. Often, people I meet who are practicing their English who ask me "how long are you living in France?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 So are you saying we are residents in france since...... in stead of we have been resident in france since...... ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="Pads"]So are you saying we are residents in france since...... in stead of we have been resident in france since...... ??[/quote]In effect, yes. If you're still residing here, the French language says that, logically, it is happening in the present as it still applies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="squidge"]i've seen so many different versions of how to say 'we have been resident in france since...'1) nous sommes resident en france depuis ...[/quote]I would use this number 1 but put it like this:Nous sommes résidents en France depuis ...only because it seems right to me.Now where are Frenchie and Clair when you need them ...Sue [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="spg"]Now where are Frenchie and Clair when you need them ... [:)][/quote]I guarantee this will not be the answer you want to hear, but here it is...A French person would most probably say:"Nous habitons en France depuis..." or "On habite en France depuis...."The verb résider is unlikely to be used in everyday conversation in the context discussed here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I had rather assumed that Squidge (way back when) was writing a formal letter about this - in which case, would resider be used, Clair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 In a formal context, you could use "Nous résidons...", "Nous sommes résidents..." or "Nous habitons..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 [quote user="Clair"][quote user="spg"]Now where are Frenchie and Clair when you need them ... [:)][/quote]I guarantee this will not be the answer you want to hear, but here it is...A French person would most probably say:"Nous habitons en France depuis..." or "On habite en France depuis...."The verb résider is unlikely to be used in everyday conversation in the context discussed here.[/quote]Buggar I was going to say that but I thought you would all laugh at me [:(][:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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