Vous

22:31 Aug 28, 2000
English to French translations [Non-PRO]
English term or phrase: Vous
Vous prenez votre petit dejeuner ensemble? Ou est-ce que ta famille et toi prenez votre petit dejeuner?
viviane


Summary of answers provided
naYOU
letty
na"Prenez-vous votre petit déjeuner ensemble"
Mary Vernet
nasee below
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
nare previous answer
Nikki Scott-Despaigne


  

Answers


8 mins
YOU


Explanation:
Are you having breakfast together? Where are you and your family having breakfast?

Regardless of "tu" or "vous", in English, it will always be "you".

letty
United States
Local time: 12:52
PRO pts in pair: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Yolanda Broad

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
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1 hr
"Prenez-vous votre petit déjeuner ensemble"


Explanation:
and "A quel endroit prenez-vous votre petit déjeuner vous et votre famille ?" (means in what room, place ?)
As there is no difference in English between "tu" and "vous". We use "vous" which is more polite and respectful.

Mary Vernet
Local time: 18:52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Yolanda Broad

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
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6 hrs
see below


Explanation:
Two things here : the use of 'vous' and the choice of tense.

Taking the last thing first, there are a few possibilities, depending on context. Both of your sentences are in the present indicative form. There is no way of knowing in French without more context whether this would translate back into English in the present coninuous (or progressive) form or the present simple. The coninuous form could be use in your example if you were describing an action which was taking place, that you were commenting or observing a scene.

Present Continuous :
Are you having/eating/taking your breakfast together?
Are you and your family having/eating/takign your breakfast together?

If however, you were intending to talk about a habits, regular occurence, then you have to use the present simple, which gives :

Present simple :
Do you have/eat/take your breakfast together?
Do you and your family have/eat/take your breakfast together?

Four possibilities then depending on quite how you wish to use the French you have cited in reference.

Second point. The use of 'vous'.

'Tu' is always used where your subject (the person doing the action) is singular and is the familiar word for 'you'. You have no choice about that, that's the way it is.

Likewise, if your subject is plural and the context requires a sign of respect, then you should use the 'vous' form. Further, if your subject is plural, then you have no choice but to use 'vous'.

In the second sentence provided in your example, the subject is plural. They comprise 'tu', (the individual to whom you are speaking) and the rest of his/her family (ils (they), them (eux)). Therefore the total number of people involved in the same action is plural, even if in that group you include 'tu', the group still contains two or more individuals, thus you ahve quite correctly put your verb in the 'vous' form with the '-ez' ending.

NB - I have taken the "ou" in your extract to mean "or" and not "où" with the grave accent, in which case you are considering 'where' the event is taking place. I have not dealt with theius possibility in my answer.



Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 18:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 882

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
RENE LOGEAIS

Yolanda Broad

letty
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7 hrs
re previous answer


Explanation:
Forgot to point out that if your sense is present continuous, you could even read a future meaning into the use of the present indicative in the French original.

Thus :
Are you (and your family) having/eating/taking...

Are you (and you family) going to have/eat/take... if your context provides a clear indication that this is the case (eg this morning). However, this would imply an understanding that the (very) near future is concerned.

Nikki

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 18:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 882

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Yolanda Broad

letty
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