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Present progressive passive voice in french
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I was curious as to how such a voice would be rendered in french.
I.e. i think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
This one is the most confusing because I know the french don't use a progressive tense so I wanted to confirm that language makes no meaningful distinction between "they were being told...when..." and "they were told....when"
It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé.
I was also wondering if such sentences would be used in thr passive voice or if another construction is more apt.
grammaire temps-grammatical
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
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up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I was curious as to how such a voice would be rendered in french.
I.e. i think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
This one is the most confusing because I know the french don't use a progressive tense so I wanted to confirm that language makes no meaningful distinction between "they were being told...when..." and "they were told....when"
It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé.
I was also wondering if such sentences would be used in thr passive voice or if another construction is more apt.
grammaire temps-grammatical
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I was curious as to how such a voice would be rendered in french.
I.e. i think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
This one is the most confusing because I know the french don't use a progressive tense so I wanted to confirm that language makes no meaningful distinction between "they were being told...when..." and "they were told....when"
It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé.
I was also wondering if such sentences would be used in thr passive voice or if another construction is more apt.
grammaire temps-grammatical
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
I was curious as to how such a voice would be rendered in french.
I.e. i think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
This one is the most confusing because I know the french don't use a progressive tense so I wanted to confirm that language makes no meaningful distinction between "they were being told...when..." and "they were told....when"
It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé.
I was also wondering if such sentences would be used in thr passive voice or if another construction is more apt.
grammaire temps-grammatical
grammaire temps-grammatical
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
asked 5 hours ago
user18084
212
212
That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago
That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago
That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
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3
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- I think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
It seems, first, that this sentence in English expresses typically the fact that people in question are being abused in some way.If you wanted to say that someone is using something you'd say more naturally "I think someone's using them." or "I think they are using them." or "I think there are people using them."
I think they are being used. -- Je crois que quelqu'un les manipule. (1)
I think someone's using them. -- Je crois que quelqu'un s'en sert or (entirely equivalent) Je crois que quelqu'un est en train de s'en servir. (2)
- they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
The translation of the first verb form can only be "On leur donnait" or "on était en train de leur donner"; moreover the context as elicited from the English sentence is a very unlikely one: to give an order takes very little time and therefore can't be expressed by a progressive form; What would you say of "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth was breaking."? (broke). Next is the translation;
On était en train de leur donner l'ordre de ne pas entrer dans la maison quand il a eu une perte de connaissance. (3)
3.It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé. (4)
That one is almost correct except for the auxiliary verb: it's "avoir" not "être"; "hasn't been used" is not a progresive tense; it is a passive voice present perfect (They have used it for years.); prog: not used, it would be "it has not been being used".
(…que ça n'a pas été utilisé)
(1) Je crois qu'il sont manipulés par quelqu'un.
(2) (3) (4) No passive form
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
For an explicit present progressive, it is generally recommended to use être en train de..., in which case "I think they are being used", in the sense of "I think they are in the process of being used", would be rendered as je crois qu'ils sont en train de s'utiliser, or je crois qu'ils sont en train d'être utilisés for an explicit emphasis on the "beingness" of the utilisation.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
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up vote
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The first answer to your question (by user168676) is quite right, so I will not repeat what it says.
Still, I have to stress a mistake you made in your translation of
"It hasn't been used in years". The translation:
"ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé"
is wrong, because "été utilisé" is a "passé composé" in the passive form, and it must be used with "avoir" and not with "être", so you should have written:
ça fait longtemps que ça n'a pas été utilisé
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
- I think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
It seems, first, that this sentence in English expresses typically the fact that people in question are being abused in some way.If you wanted to say that someone is using something you'd say more naturally "I think someone's using them." or "I think they are using them." or "I think there are people using them."
I think they are being used. -- Je crois que quelqu'un les manipule. (1)
I think someone's using them. -- Je crois que quelqu'un s'en sert or (entirely equivalent) Je crois que quelqu'un est en train de s'en servir. (2)
- they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
The translation of the first verb form can only be "On leur donnait" or "on était en train de leur donner"; moreover the context as elicited from the English sentence is a very unlikely one: to give an order takes very little time and therefore can't be expressed by a progressive form; What would you say of "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth was breaking."? (broke). Next is the translation;
On était en train de leur donner l'ordre de ne pas entrer dans la maison quand il a eu une perte de connaissance. (3)
3.It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé. (4)
That one is almost correct except for the auxiliary verb: it's "avoir" not "être"; "hasn't been used" is not a progresive tense; it is a passive voice present perfect (They have used it for years.); prog: not used, it would be "it has not been being used".
(…que ça n'a pas été utilisé)
(1) Je crois qu'il sont manipulés par quelqu'un.
(2) (3) (4) No passive form
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
- I think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
It seems, first, that this sentence in English expresses typically the fact that people in question are being abused in some way.If you wanted to say that someone is using something you'd say more naturally "I think someone's using them." or "I think they are using them." or "I think there are people using them."
I think they are being used. -- Je crois que quelqu'un les manipule. (1)
I think someone's using them. -- Je crois que quelqu'un s'en sert or (entirely equivalent) Je crois que quelqu'un est en train de s'en servir. (2)
- they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
The translation of the first verb form can only be "On leur donnait" or "on était en train de leur donner"; moreover the context as elicited from the English sentence is a very unlikely one: to give an order takes very little time and therefore can't be expressed by a progressive form; What would you say of "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth was breaking."? (broke). Next is the translation;
On était en train de leur donner l'ordre de ne pas entrer dans la maison quand il a eu une perte de connaissance. (3)
3.It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé. (4)
That one is almost correct except for the auxiliary verb: it's "avoir" not "être"; "hasn't been used" is not a progresive tense; it is a passive voice present perfect (They have used it for years.); prog: not used, it would be "it has not been being used".
(…que ça n'a pas été utilisé)
(1) Je crois qu'il sont manipulés par quelqu'un.
(2) (3) (4) No passive form
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
- I think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
It seems, first, that this sentence in English expresses typically the fact that people in question are being abused in some way.If you wanted to say that someone is using something you'd say more naturally "I think someone's using them." or "I think they are using them." or "I think there are people using them."
I think they are being used. -- Je crois que quelqu'un les manipule. (1)
I think someone's using them. -- Je crois que quelqu'un s'en sert or (entirely equivalent) Je crois que quelqu'un est en train de s'en servir. (2)
- they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
The translation of the first verb form can only be "On leur donnait" or "on était en train de leur donner"; moreover the context as elicited from the English sentence is a very unlikely one: to give an order takes very little time and therefore can't be expressed by a progressive form; What would you say of "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth was breaking."? (broke). Next is the translation;
On était en train de leur donner l'ordre de ne pas entrer dans la maison quand il a eu une perte de connaissance. (3)
3.It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé. (4)
That one is almost correct except for the auxiliary verb: it's "avoir" not "être"; "hasn't been used" is not a progresive tense; it is a passive voice present perfect (They have used it for years.); prog: not used, it would be "it has not been being used".
(…que ça n'a pas été utilisé)
(1) Je crois qu'il sont manipulés par quelqu'un.
(2) (3) (4) No passive form
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
- I think they are being used: je crois qu'ils sont utilisés
It seems, first, that this sentence in English expresses typically the fact that people in question are being abused in some way.If you wanted to say that someone is using something you'd say more naturally "I think someone's using them." or "I think they are using them." or "I think there are people using them."
I think they are being used. -- Je crois que quelqu'un les manipule. (1)
I think someone's using them. -- Je crois que quelqu'un s'en sert or (entirely equivalent) Je crois que quelqu'un est en train de s'en servir. (2)
- they were being told not to enter the house when he collapsed: "ils étaient donné l'ordre de ne pas entrer la maison quand il a eu une perte de conscience."
The translation of the first verb form can only be "On leur donnait" or "on était en train de leur donner"; moreover the context as elicited from the English sentence is a very unlikely one: to give an order takes very little time and therefore can't be expressed by a progressive form; What would you say of "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth was breaking."? (broke). Next is the translation;
On était en train de leur donner l'ordre de ne pas entrer dans la maison quand il a eu une perte de connaissance. (3)
3.It hasn't been used in years: ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé. (4)
That one is almost correct except for the auxiliary verb: it's "avoir" not "être"; "hasn't been used" is not a progresive tense; it is a passive voice present perfect (They have used it for years.); prog: not used, it would be "it has not been being used".
(…que ça n'a pas été utilisé)
(1) Je crois qu'il sont manipulés par quelqu'un.
(2) (3) (4) No passive form
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
edited 3 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
answered 4 hours ago
user168676
2,006115
2,006115
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
Thanks. Regarding your second point, is the reason my example doesn't work due to the fact that the passive voice must suggest a subject which does the action. I.e. "they were being given orders" doesn't indicate who is giving them but in french, this element must be included? I was also hoping you could clarify something you mentioned in the same section. "He was eating bread when suddenly one of his teeth broke" is a coherent sentence but I'm unsure why you gave this example in relation to mine. Finally, what are your thoughts on Carl Masens comment - is his also a sound translation?
– user18084
35 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
For an explicit present progressive, it is generally recommended to use être en train de..., in which case "I think they are being used", in the sense of "I think they are in the process of being used", would be rendered as je crois qu'ils sont en train de s'utiliser, or je crois qu'ils sont en train d'être utilisés for an explicit emphasis on the "beingness" of the utilisation.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
For an explicit present progressive, it is generally recommended to use être en train de..., in which case "I think they are being used", in the sense of "I think they are in the process of being used", would be rendered as je crois qu'ils sont en train de s'utiliser, or je crois qu'ils sont en train d'être utilisés for an explicit emphasis on the "beingness" of the utilisation.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
For an explicit present progressive, it is generally recommended to use être en train de..., in which case "I think they are being used", in the sense of "I think they are in the process of being used", would be rendered as je crois qu'ils sont en train de s'utiliser, or je crois qu'ils sont en train d'être utilisés for an explicit emphasis on the "beingness" of the utilisation.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
For an explicit present progressive, it is generally recommended to use être en train de..., in which case "I think they are being used", in the sense of "I think they are in the process of being used", would be rendered as je crois qu'ils sont en train de s'utiliser, or je crois qu'ils sont en train d'être utilisés for an explicit emphasis on the "beingness" of the utilisation.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
answered 5 hours ago
Carl Masens
212
212
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Carl Masens is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The first answer to your question (by user168676) is quite right, so I will not repeat what it says.
Still, I have to stress a mistake you made in your translation of
"It hasn't been used in years". The translation:
"ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé"
is wrong, because "été utilisé" is a "passé composé" in the passive form, and it must be used with "avoir" and not with "être", so you should have written:
ça fait longtemps que ça n'a pas été utilisé
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The first answer to your question (by user168676) is quite right, so I will not repeat what it says.
Still, I have to stress a mistake you made in your translation of
"It hasn't been used in years". The translation:
"ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé"
is wrong, because "été utilisé" is a "passé composé" in the passive form, and it must be used with "avoir" and not with "être", so you should have written:
ça fait longtemps que ça n'a pas été utilisé
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
The first answer to your question (by user168676) is quite right, so I will not repeat what it says.
Still, I have to stress a mistake you made in your translation of
"It hasn't been used in years". The translation:
"ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé"
is wrong, because "été utilisé" is a "passé composé" in the passive form, and it must be used with "avoir" and not with "être", so you should have written:
ça fait longtemps que ça n'a pas été utilisé
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
The first answer to your question (by user168676) is quite right, so I will not repeat what it says.
Still, I have to stress a mistake you made in your translation of
"It hasn't been used in years". The translation:
"ça fait longtemps que ça n'est pas été utilisé"
is wrong, because "été utilisé" is a "passé composé" in the passive form, and it must be used with "avoir" and not with "être", so you should have written:
ça fait longtemps que ça n'a pas été utilisé
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
answered 35 mins ago
BBBreiz
1,09849
1,09849
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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That should be alors qu'on leur disait de ne pas entrer dans la maison, il perdit connaissance. and ça fait des années que ça n'a pas été utilisé.
– jlliagre
5 hours ago