When three or four Infinitives, one after another, are dissonant, their number should be lessened by using another Mood. Thus, instead of saying, Je crois pouvoir m'attendre à le voir arriver; it were better to say, Je crois que je puis m'attendre à le voir arriver. I think I may hope to see him arrive yet. TURN INTO FRENCH. I have sometimes wished that I could see him. He did not like to see the-boy-running.' I should like to see the-shipsinking. The child would like the-ass-to-bray. I fear I shall let-the-opportunity-escape of seeing you. 4 3 I wish I could share mine with you. I wanted to get up to make them believe I was desirous of accompanying them. I wish to speak to him, and-entreat-him to come and see me. Must-I go and tell him to come and put up the curtains? I am afraid I shall be obliged to-summonR him. I think I can go for him. I wish I were able to-join-in' the conversation. She thinks she can go and take a walk. She-thought she heard something move." I would not advise you to attempt' depreciating such a poet. 10 12 1. Courir l'enfant.-2. Couler le navire.-3. Entendre braire l'âne.— 4. Laisser échapper l'occasion.-5. Accroire.-6. Pour le prier de.7. Me faut-il.-8. Faire assigner.-9. Me joindre à.-10. Il lui a semblé. -11. Remuer.-13. De vouloir. X.-After Voir, entendre, écouter, sentir, the Present or the Past Participle, used in English, is translated by the Infinitive. Je voyais se dessiner sur la muraille l'ombre des gens qui allaient et qui venaient. I saw delineated on the wall the shadows of people who were going and coming. J'ai entendu raconter des choses qui tiennent du prodige. I have heard some things related which sound miraculous. Je vois luire dans le sable quelque chose qui ressemble à de l'or. I see in the sand something glittering like gold. Il sentait la force lui revenir. He felt returning health and vigour. TURN INTO FRENCH. Do you see the swallows skimming' over the surface of the lake, the rays of the sun dispersing the mist, the sea breaking on the beach, the sheep grazing in the meadows? 3 I have seen little William from-next-door2 loitering aboutin3 our garden, near the apricot tree. I heard him calling you. I hear the bell ringing. He saw them dying, one-afteranother. Do you hear the lambs bleating? I Have you seen the horses sold? Have you seen the river crossed by a good swimmer? Will you buy the duet we heard sung? Do you pity the poor wretch whom we have heard sentenced? I heard them blamed by their masters. must pay my taxes, if I-do-not-want my furniture seized. In-proportion-as' you felt the wind rising and the waves. swelling, did you not feel your heart beat? I felt my heart rending. Have you heard drunkards sing? I heard them coming, bawling, laughing, and singing. Towards the middle of autumn, the-swallows-are seen 10 assembling, fluttering, and holding a sort of council. 8 I heard him groaning all night. One might hear serpents hissing. The water is seen springing-up" on all sides. I perceived a constant 12 passing and repassing of men. I felt myself gradually drooping. The Dutch fleet had been seen sailing-up 13 the Thames. We heard the winds and the waves roaring.15 whispering.16 I hear a 1. Raser.-2. D'à côté.-3. Dans.-4. Les uns après les autres.5. Vouloir voir.-6. Meubles.-7. à mesure que.-8. Se soulever.-9. Se déchirer.-10. On voit les hirondelles.-11. Sourdre.-12. Sans cesse.13. Remonter.-14. On.-15. Rugir.-16. Chuchoter ou parler bas. XI.--After Comment, que, où, pourquoi, à quoi bon, the Infinitive has the Verb it depends upon left out. Un lièvre en son gite songeait, (car que faire en un gite, à moins que l'on ne songe?) A hare in her form was musing (for what else but muse could she do there?) A quoi bon se mettre en colère? discutons de sangfroid. What signifies getting into passion? let us reason coolly. Comment donc lui faire entendre raison? How shall we make him listen to reason? The English language sometimes, but seldom, admits of the same construction. Que faire de ces livres? What to do with these books? TURN INTO FRENCH. 1 What can we do? Why do you stop? Why do you tell me such a thing? How can we suppose that? Where shall we find another man like him? What shall I imagine? What shall I contrive?? How is this to be explained? Where will you find roses without thorns? What-is-to-bedone-to bring down his pride? How can one pass oversuch-abuse? Why do you score one pound more to me? 3 How can we get out of this, and-not be seen? Why do you come back, sir? If he lose the stage, how is he to go back? How could they have-carried-on a war at-such-agreat-distance? Why do you constrain 10 yourself? To whom shall we trust? What-is-the-use-of" telling stories? What use is it to-give-yourself-up-to melancholy? 12 1. S'arrêter.-2. Inventer.-3. Comment s'y prendre pour.-4. De pareilles impertinences.-5. Me mettre.-6. De plus.-7. Sans. 8. Soutenir.-9. Si loin.-10. Se gêner.-11. à quoi bon.-12. S'abandonner à. XII. Sometimes the Infinitive, preceded by De, has also the verb it depends upon left out; in which case it *The words in italics are not to be translated in this exercise. may be resolved by a tense of the Indicative corresponding to that of the preceding verb. Grenouilles aussitôt de sauter, i.e., s'empressent de, se hâtent de. The frogs immediately leaped into the water. Eux de chercher, eux de combattre, i.e., s'empressèrent de. Away they sought, away they fought. As this form of the Infinitive is a little antiquated, I shall merely give a French exercise. TURN INTO ENGLISH. Ainsi parla le loup, et les flatteurs d'applaudir, et la cour d'admirer! Le bruit cesse, on se retire: rats en campagne aussitôt; et le citadin de dire: achevons tout notre rôt. Grenouilles de rentrer dans leurs grottes profondes. Serviteur, dit-il, et de courir. Il y tombe (i.e., dans le filet) en danger de mourir; et mon chat de crier; et le rat d'accourir. L'autre aussitôt de s'excuser. Le fanfaron aussitôt d'esquiver. Aussitôt les ennemis de s'enfuir et de jeter les armes. Il y avait deux cents litières au siège d'Orange, et de rire. Alors hurlements de cesser, larmes comiques de tarir. XIII. To express wonder, indignation, or any vivid feeling of the soul, the Infinitive, in Exclamatory or Interrogative propositions, often begins a sentence, the Verb of the leading proposition being left out. Vous, tenir ce langage! You use such language! Moi, souffrir un pareil affront! Non, jamais. I put up with such an affront! No, never. Moi, vaincue! I conquered! I, THOU, HE, and THEY are then to be translated by moi, toi, lui, eux. TURN INTO FRENCH. To-exercise-sway-over1 men, and give them laws; theseare the cares of authority, not-its3 pleasures! He love my mistress! I betray her! I have not written to you! I deceive the best of my friends! He write French! Why, let him learn English first. What, eat another's' grass! What a dreadful crime ! We commit a mean-action! Whom do you take us for? What! you let yourself be beaten that way!' They put up with an affront like-this!8 They work! they are too fine ladies for that. it. They yield the place to you! Surely you do not think of To steal the fruit himself, and-then-to-lay-it-to-poor William's-charge! I a slave! I born to command! Alas! it is only too true. 1. Commander à.-2. Ce sont là.-3. Ce n'en est pas le.-4. Mais.5. D'autrui.-6. Bassesse.-7. De la sorte.-8. Comme celui-là.-9. Et puis en accuser le pauvre Guillaume. XIV. The passive Infinitive of the English is rendered in French by the active voice, and is generally preceded by the preposition à. Comment fallait-il l'abriter? sheltered? How was it to be C'est un homme à noyer, à pendre. He is fit or deserves to be drowned, to be hanged. However, instances of a similar construction are to be met with in English, as: Cette maison est-elle à louer ou à vendre ? Is this house to let or to sell? TURN INTO FRENCH. The thing is to be done. It is to be remarked. He is to be feared. She is to be blamed. |