Placement of 'certain'
- « Back to Q&A Forum
- « Previous questionNext question »
JoakimKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Placement of 'certain'
One B1 exercise has us translate "There is some risk". I think the translation depends on where you put the stress: "There is SOME risk" i.e. some uncertainty about the risk: Il y a un certain risque. Or alternatively "There IS some risk". Now the risk is certain: Il y a un risque certain.
Asked 6 years ago
Bonjour Joakim,
C'est exact. It depends on the placement of certain, before or after, risque whether it means some risk or a sure risk.
This is similar to un grand homme or un homme grand. In the first, un grand homme could be used thusly: DeGaulle était un grand homme --> DeGaulle was a great man. (I used this example with no political intent) But, secondarily, un homme grand could be: Il est un homme grand --> He is a tall or big man.
J'espère que cela vous aiderait.
Ron (un locuteur non natif)
C'est exact. It depends on the placement of certain, before or after, risque whether it means some risk or a sure risk.
This is similar to un grand homme or un homme grand. In the first, un grand homme could be used thusly: DeGaulle était un grand homme --> DeGaulle was a great man. (I used this example with no political intent) But, secondarily, un homme grand could be: Il est un homme grand --> He is a tall or big man.
J'espère que cela vous aiderait.
Ron (un locuteur non natif)
Joakim asked:View original
Placement of 'certain'
One B1 exercise has us translate "There is some risk". I think the translation depends on where you put the stress: "There is SOME risk" i.e. some uncertainty about the risk: Il y a un certain risque. Or alternatively "There IS some risk". Now the risk is certain: Il y a un risque certain.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Ask a question
Find your French level for FREE
Test your French to the CEFR standard
Find your French level