What is the best way to translate: "If he is better, the doctor will give him a medical certificate" (to run a marathon)

Andrea N.B2Kwiziq community member

What is the best way to translate: "If he is better, the doctor will give him a medical certificate" (to run a marathon)

I came up with: Si il est mieux, le médicin lui donnera un certificat médical. 

Thanks in advance

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Andrea,

Can I just say that -

donnera/ remettra

is the future tense,  not the conditional.

With si clauses :

 présent -----> futur
S'il va mieux, le médecin lui donnera un certificat médical = If he is better, the doctor will give him a medical pass
imparfait -----> conditionnel
S'il allait mieux , le médecin lui donnerait un certificat médical If he was better, the doctor would give him a medical pass

Hope this helps!

 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Andrea,

I immediately think in English following si (if), we would write "were ...." 

So I'm thinking si imparfait followed by conditional 

but 

Have a look here:-

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/si-clauses-first-conditional/

This should give you the guidance that you are looking for.

Hope it helps.

Jim

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Perhaps "S'il va mieux, le médicin lui remettra un certificat médical (pour courrir le marathon) " ?

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/si-clauses-first-conditional/

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

There are, of course, many ways to skin a cat, but the one suggested by Maarten sounds good. The important parts are:

1) Using present tense in the conditional sentence.

2) Using the phrase "aller mieux"

Andrea N. asked:

What is the best way to translate: "If he is better, the doctor will give him a medical certificate" (to run a marathon)

I came up with: Si il est mieux, le médicin lui donnera un certificat médical. 

Thanks in advance

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