Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
seul moyen est de
English translation:
only way to
Added to glossary by
Yolanda Broad
May 16, 2003 18:46
21 yrs ago
French term
the only means is
French to English
Other
FRA: le seul moyen est de...
ENG: the only means is...
Can we use "is" with "means" or is "means" always plural and we should use "are" instead? Thanks for your explanation!
ENG: the only means is...
Can we use "is" with "means" or is "means" always plural and we should use "are" instead? Thanks for your explanation!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 1 +4 | the only way to |
RHELLER
|
| 5 +1 | The only way is to ... OR ... The only way is ... |
Jean-Claude Gouin
|
| 5 | means |
Mario Marcolin
|
| 4 | The only means is... |
Morgane Boëdec
|
| 4 | the only way is to... |
supreme (X)
|
Proposed translations
+4
2 mins
Selected
the only way to
please give entire sentence
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Note added at 2003-05-16 18:50:34 (GMT)
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common usage ; means is used sometimes
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Note added at 2003-05-16 18:51:46 (GMT)
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means. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993
...doing things, is a plural noun, but it can take either a singular or a plural verb: The means is [are] not always justified by the end. It occurs most frequently...
http://www.bartleby.com/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/sitesearch?F...
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Note added at 2003-05-16 18:50:34 (GMT)
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common usage ; means is used sometimes
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-16 18:51:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
means. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993
...doing things, is a plural noun, but it can take either a singular or a plural verb: The means is [are] not always justified by the end. It occurs most frequently...
http://www.bartleby.com/cgi-bin/texis/webinator/sitesearch?F...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Florence Evans
: Agree for that version. You can not say "The only means is". A whole sentence will be useful.
4 mins
|
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merci Florence!
|
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| agree |
swisstell
37 mins
|
|
merci E!
|
|
| agree |
ntouzet (X)
1 hr
|
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merci Nadine!
|
|
| agree |
Sanaa Omrany
: Tres bien, Rita.........
22 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks a lot for this explanation!"
6 mins
Morgane Boëdec
Native in French
Sustainable Translations
Native in: French
Works in: English to French, Arabic to French, Spanish to French
Related KudoZ points
:
4
The only means is...
sounds right to me!
Morgane
Morgane
30 mins
Mario Marcolin
Sweden
Sweden
Native in English
Sweden
Words are forever...
Native in: Swedish 
, English
Works in: English to Swedish, German to Swedish, French to Swedish, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
means
Means av a translation of moyen as in your example;
This noun ends in -s in singular as well as in plural, e.g.
the medium, method, or instrument used to obtain a result or achieve an end
example: a means of communication
(Collins)
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Note added at 2003-05-16 19:19:12 (GMT)
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\"Means\" as a translation of \"moyen\"
This noun ends in -s in singular as well as in plural, e.g.
the medium, method, or instrument used to obtain a result or achieve an end
example: a means of communication
(Collins)
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Note added at 2003-05-16 19:19:12 (GMT)
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\"Means\" as a translation of \"moyen\"
32 mins
supreme (X)
Native in French
&
English
supreme (X)
Native in: French , English
Works in: English to French, French to English
View
the only way is to...
'the only means is' doesn't sound right. The complete sentence would be handy.
+1
7 hrs
Jean-Claude Gouin
Canada
Canada
Native in French
Canada
Subscribe to my newsletter ...
Native in: French
Works in: French to English, English to French, French, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
436
The only way is to ... OR ... The only way is ...
This is a moot point since the asker
has already chosen the answer.
"The only means is" has been translated
by "The only way to"!! From English to
English?
has already chosen the answer.
"The only means is" has been translated
by "The only way to"!! From English to
English?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kvasir
: LOL! yes, that created enough curiosity for me to check out this question too.
9 hrs
|
|
"Nir How" ... I'm glad that somebody else saw the incongruity ...
|
Discussion