Observation. When the impersonal verb, it is, it was, &c. is followed by a noun or pronoun in the third person plural, it may be put either in the singular or plural; yet if the sentence be interrogative, the singular is sometimes preferred before eux, for the sake of euphony. Ex. C'est eux or ce sont eux qui me l'ont rapporté ; Sont-ce là des signes d'opulence ou d'indigence? Est-ce eux qui l'ont fait ? it is they who have related it to me. are these proofs of opulence or of indigence? is it they who have done it? Sont-ce eux qui l'ont fait, would be unpleasant to the ear. EXERCISE. It is prosperity which commonly makes men haughty généralement rendre prospérité, f. hautains and proud; but it is adversity that makes them wise.— orgueille It was the custom among the Spartans to inure coutume, f. chez Spartiate, m. de endurcir de bonne heure travail, m. pl. It is not I who occasioned the quarrel, it is you who began avez commencée querelle, f. causer it.-It was pret. def. envie, f. causer it is Miss Rose's sister. If you do not succeed, it will not be réussir, my fault. If you (were to lose) the friendship of your perdiez faute, f. parents, it would be the greatest could happen to you.-Speak to my pût misfortune that ever malheur, m. jamais brothers, for it is they who have done it.-Why do you not accuse my sisters? Pourquoi It is they who have done all the mischief.-You blame my mal, m. blâmer aunts; but is it they who have offended you ?-Is it they who (are in the wrong?)-Is it those gentlemen who have ont tort? insulted you? The verb être, to be, becomes impersonal, whenever it is followed by a noun adjective which does not relate to any object mentioned before; in which case the verb is to be preceded by the pronoun il. Ex. Il est étonnant de vous voir si gai au milieu de tant de sujets de chagrin ; it is surprising to see you so cheerful in the midst of so many causes of grief. But if the adjective, without qualifying any preceding noun or pronoun, relates to something mentioned before, the English pronoun it must be translated into French by ce or cela. Ex. Avez-vous ouï dire que Monsieur have you heard that Mr. RicaNon ; mier is ruined? No; it is almost incredible. c'est presque incroyable; or cela est presque incroyable; The verb to be, when used in English to denote the state of the weather, must be rendered in French by the third person singular of the verb faire, to make, to do, which verb then becomes impersonal. Ex. Il fait beau temps ; Ne fait-il pas chaud? Ne faisait-il pas froid? it is fine weather. is it not hot? how is the weather? it is windy. was it not cold? EXERCISE. It is surprising to see you so lazy and inattentive after étonnant de après having been punished severely for these faults.--It is sévèrement de always dangerous (to keep company with) people without de fréquenter des gens any principle of religion.-Do you know that Lord L. aucun principe savoir (is not expected to live ?)-Yes, I do; and it is surprising, est mourant? for he was so well yesterday.-Does it rain? No, Sir, se porter Monsieur, it is fine weather.-Is it not very cold? It is neither cold nor hot; there is a high wind, and I think it will soon ni penser bientôt grand freeze. It is not so cold as it was (at the) beginning of this month.-Do you think it is warmer in Italy than here? (subj.) Falloir, to be necessary, must. The verb falloir is impersonal in French, but its English equivalent must is not. Moreover, the verb which follows falloir must be put in the subjunctive mood, whereas again the infinitive is used, after must, in English. From all this there arises a difficulty in construction, which will be better solved by examples than by rules. The Impersonal Verb, Falloir, to be needful, to be necessary. INFINITIVE MOOD. Pres. Falloir, to be needful. INDICATIVE MOOD. Il faut que je fasse ; Present. I must do *. you must arrive. they must make haste. Learners must be attentive. * Observe that these sentences might be turned: it is necessary that I should do; it is necessary that John should come; which is the way they are construed in French. This verb takes the auxiliary avoir in its compound Ex. tenses. Il a fallu ; il avait fallu ; il eut fallu, &c. 1. When the verb falloir is in the present or in the future of the indicative mood, it governs the next verb in the present of the subjunctive. 2. When it is in the imperfect, preterite, or conditional present of the indicative mood, the verb it governs must be put in the imperfect of the subjunctive. Ex. Il faut que je fasse ; Il faudra que je fasse ; Il fallait, or il fallut que je parlasse; Il faudrait que je vendisse ; I must do. I shall be obliged to do. I should be obliged to sell. 3. When speaking by way of advice or recommendation, or when the necessity of the action is not personal, the infinitive is used instead of the subjunctive mood. Ex. to-morrow. You may go to London this morning, but pouvoir remember that you must (be back) at three o'clock.-You être de retour heures. must get up to-morrow morning at four o'clock.-Custom se lever must not always prevail over reason. l'emporter sur -Shall I be obliged to take them there?-Must I not show you my work?—If mener montrer ouvrage, m. he wished to pay his debts, he would be obliged to sell all vouloir dette, m. his property. If your brothers do not bien, m. falloir cease to quarrel, it cesser de quereller, will be necessary for them to part.-Your friends must se séparer. help you.-Princes must not be haughty. aider hautains. |