Obs.: 1. Dimension after an adjective is denoted by de, cf. (1), (5). 2. Substitutes for the adjectival construction of (1) are seen in (2), (3), (4). 3. The verb 'to be' is être, as in (5), or avoir, as in (6), (7), (8). 4. Haut, large, long (but not 'épais,' 'profond ') may be used as nouns, instead of hauteur, largeur, longueur, cf. (3), (7). a. 'By,' of relative dimension=sur; 'by,' after a comparative=de: Cette table a dix pieds de longueur This table is ten feet long by three sur trois de largeur. wide. Plus (moins) grand de deux pouces. Taller (shorter) by two inches. 429. Time of Day. The method of indicating the time of day may be seen from the following: Quelle heure est-il ? Il est une (deux) heure(s). Il est minuit (et) un quart. A trois heures précises. Vers (les) trois heures. What time (o'clock) is it? Ten minutes past three. It is half-past twelve (noon). It is a quarter past twelve (night). At three o'clock precisely. Towards (at about) three o'clock. Obs.: 1. It is (was, etc.)'il est (était, etc.). 2. Heure(s) is never omitted. 3. Et is essential only at the half hour. 4. Demi(e) agrees with heure (f.) or with midi (m.), minuit (m.). 5. Minutes is often omitted. 3. A quarter to,' ' minutes to' is moins before the following hour. 7. Twelve o'clock is never douze heures. Obs.: 1. The construction with avoir is the more common. 2. An(s) may not be omitted in specifying age. 3. 'By'de, after a comparison. THE PREPOSITION. 431. Simple Prepositions. The following list contains. the commoner simple prepositions : tional function, mostly ending in de or à, are numerous : À côté de l'église. Jusqu'à la semaine prochaine. A travers la forêt. Beside the church. Until next week. Through the forest. a. Conjunctive personal pronouns governed by voici, voilà, precede: Me voici; les voilà. En voici quelques-uns. Here I am; there they are. b. Durant is sometimes placed after its noun: Durant sa vie (or sa vie durant). During his life. 434. Repetition. The prepositions à, de, en, are regularly repeated before each governed substantive; the repetition of other prepositions is regular in contrasts, but is elsewhere optional, as in English: Il aime à lire et à écrire. He likes to read and write. The father of John and Mary. By land and sea. IDIOMATIC DISTINCTIONS. 435. Prepositions vary greatly as to idiomatic force in different languages. In the following sections are given some of the various French equivalents of the commoner English prepositions. A quoi pensez-vous? What are you thinking about? 3. In the sense of 'with,' 'about (the person)'=sur : Avez-vous de l'argent sur vous? Have you any money about you ? 4. Denoting approximation = environ, près de, à peu près, vers: Environ (près de, à peu près) deux mille francs; vers (sur les) dix heures; vers 1830. 437. About two thousand francs; about ten o'clock; about 1830. After. 1. Denoting time, rank, order, position=après : Après dîner; le premier après le roi; on met l'adjectif après le nom; courez après lui. After dinner; the first after the king; the adjective is placed after the noun; run after him. 2. In the sense of 'at the end of'au bout de : Au bout de trois siècles. 3. Unclassified: De jour en jour; dessiné d'après Raphaël; le lendemain de son retour; il tient de sa mère. 438. After three centuries. Day after day; drawn after Raphael; the day after his return; he takes after his mother. Among. 1. In the sense of 'in the midst of,' 'surrounded by=parmi, sometimes entre : 1. Denoting place, in the sense of ' in front of,' in the presence of '= devant : 1. Denoting the agent after the passive=par, de (cf. §240) : Elle fut saisie par le voleur; ils sont aimés de tous. She was seized by the robber; they are loved by all. 2. Denoting means, way, etc. =par (usually): Par la poste; par chemin de fer; par ce moyen; par un ami. By post; by railway; by this means; by a friend. |