seb47 Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 We've heard this phrase so many times recently, but are struggling to understand it.Help please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 It's present subjunctive of être - 'Whatever may be...' M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted March 6, 2008 Share Posted March 6, 2008 Not sure if this is right , but I think its the youth saying:Whatever !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seb47 Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 Yes - that makes sense now I think about it! Stupid me. Thanks both of you. Just watching Jamie Oliver - maybe he'll finish off with 'quel que soit'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourangelle Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 unlikely, it is quite posh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 It may be the Jamie Oliver "whatever" but it's much more useful than that : as M says -il travaille dans le jardin quel que soit le tempshe works in the garden whatever the weather or whatever the weather may be or in all kinds of weathertu ne peux pas faire ça ici, quelle que soit la raisonyou can't do that here, whatever the reason or no matter what the reason is or for any reason at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seb47 Posted March 7, 2008 Author Share Posted March 7, 2008 Thanks Allanb - that's a really clear explanation. I'll be trying to fit that phrase in as much as possible - and more important - I will remember what it means.Any follow on with commonly met colloquial phrases? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourangelle Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 It is really not the Jamie Oliver whatever, because you can't say it on its own. Before anybody tells me that you are not supposed to say whatever on its own either, that's not the point, "whatever" is said by others than J Oliver but quel que soit really can't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 If you wanted to say the equivalent of "whatever" (as used in as dismissive manner), you could say "n'importe quoi!", which is short for "tu racontes n'importe quoi!"meaning "you're talking complete rubbish" or "you'd say anything". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchie Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 When I'm in England and I want to say " N'importe quoi!!" I can never find an equivalent... So .... I say it in French .. [:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 What next ! could be similar, but it is difficult to find the equivalent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 [quote user="Frenchie"]When I'm in England and I want to say " N'importe quoi!!" I can never find an equivalent... So .... I say it in French .. [:$][/quote] "no matter what" or " no matter" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Since we're on the subject, I have often wondered what the "final" whatever actually means. It seems unfair to blame it on J Oliver, but I think it really means I'm getting bored with this conversation but I can't think of any intelligent way to end it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seb47 Posted March 8, 2008 Author Share Posted March 8, 2008 [quote user="Clair"]If you wanted to say the equivalent of "whatever" (as used in as dismissive manner), you could say "n'importe quoi!", which is short for "tu racontes n'importe quoi!"meaning "you're talking complete rubbish" or "you'd say anything".[/quote]Clair, and allanb "I'm getting bored with this conversation but I can't think of any intelligent way to end it"So dare I say that when Agen CPAM phone us to say they actually do want 2006 revenue and not 2007 as previously indicated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 [quote user="seb47"][quote user="Clair"]If you wanted to say the equivalent of "whatever" (as used in as dismissive manner), you could say "n'importe quoi!", which is short for "tu racontes n'importe quoi!"meaning "you're talking complete rubbish" or "you'd say anything".[/quote]Clair, and allanb "I'm getting bored with this conversation but I can't think of any intelligent way to end it"So dare I say that when Agen CPAM phone us to say they actually do want 2006 revenue and not 2007 as previously indicated?[/quote]You only can decide whose need is more important... yours or theirs? [Www][:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourangelle Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 whatever is a lot more relaxed than n'importe quoi, which could really give offence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 [quote user="seb47"]... allanb "I'm getting bored with this conversation but I can't think of any intelligent way to end it"So dare I say that when Agen CPAM phone us to say they actually do want 2006 revenue and not 2007 as previously indicated?[/quote]You've lost me here. I was referring to the British habit of saying "whatever" at the end of a sentence, with nothing to follow. I can't imagine the CPAM ending a conversation by saying "whatever" in English! What did they actually say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seb47 Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 Sorry Allan - it was just me making a very stupid flippant remark. They haven't actually said anything yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 As I understand it there are several ways of saying whatever (normal tone = nothing important, anything goes etc)at the end of a statement, red or blue whatever (normal tone = it doesn't matter what colour etc)and of course ''what . . ev. .er'' (dismissive, raising tone at end = what you have to say is irrelevant) ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 [quote user="Tourangelle"]whatever is a lot more relaxed than n'importe quoi, which could really give offence![/quote]I'm not sure how n'importe quoi could give offence; it seems to me fairly normal French for "anything at all", "whatever you like", "it doesn't matter what", e.g. -What shall we do this afternoon? - Whatever you like! (or perhaps "whatever" on its own)Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire cet après-midi? - N'importe quoi!What would you like as a Christmas present? - Anything will do!Qu'est-ce que tu voudrais comme cadeau de Noël? - N'importe quoi!You can also use it in a complete sentence, so the second answer could be -Je serai content de recevoir n'importe quoi.I'll be happy to get anything at all.(It may be a foolish thing to say, but I don't think it's offensive.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 In the examples quoted above, there is clearly no offence. However, n'importe quoi can be very offensive in other occasions. Take my word for it [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I'm going to be worried now every time I use it! Can you give an example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 OK...Picture the scene...Teenager being told something 'whatever...) by his mother. He thinks he knows better but does not have the verbal skills (or patience or knowledge) to express his opinion. He shuts down the conversation with "n'importe quoi!" and turns his head towards the telly...or his mother walks away muttering "N'importe quoi..." shaking her head with frustration... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanb Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Ah, well, I 've always realized that there are special rules for communicating with teenagers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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