Quoique. Sans que. Without. Soit que. Whether. Supposé que. Supposing that. Sa philosophie fut adoptée, quoiqu'on s'y opposât d'abord. His philosophy was adopted, though they opposed it at first. Cela pourrait arriver, sans qu'il méritât des reproches. That might take place, without his deserving reproaches. Soit qu'il parte ou qu'il demeure. Whether he sets out or remains. Quel fruit en retirerez-vous, supposé qu'il y consente? What will you gain by it, supposing that he consent to it? NOTE. The following modes of cxpression, having de, instead of que, require the verb in the infinitive only. A(à) la charge de On condition of. Afin de. Lest, for fear of. De peur de. Je lui ai vendu ma terre, à la charge de payer mes créanciers. I sold him my estate, on condition of his paying Il est allé le trouver, afin d'obtenir sa grâce. The troops fortified themselves where they were Nous avons fait venir du blé, de peur d'en manquer. We have caused corn to be bought, for fear of wanting it. CONVERSATION XV. ON THE INTERJECTION.' Scholar. What are the interjections? Master. They are sounds which serve to pourtray, in a lively manner, the affections of the soul, whether in joy, pain, trouble, despair, indignation, admiration, surprise, &c.; but those sounds are sometimes equivalent to whole sentences. S. Please to acquaint me with the principal French interjections, exemplified in sentences. M. With pleasure. They are as follow: ah! ha! aïe ! eh! bé! fi! O! oh! ouf! hum! hom! hon! hélas! hi, hi, hi! Ah! expresses remorse, wrath, admiration, or joy. Ah! si tu l'avais vu, le poignard dans le sein, VOLTAIRE. Ha! expresses nothing but surprise, and is used only in this sense: Aie! expresses pain. Ha! vous voilà. Aie! Aie! voilà mes douleurs qui me reprennent. Eh! expresses mercy, pity, or tenderness. Jouis-Je le ferai-Mais quand donc? dès demain, LAFONTAINE. Eh! seigneur, excusez sa jeunesse imprudente. Eh! mon père, oubliez votre rang à ma vue. VOLTAIRE. RACINE. Hé! serves chiefly to call. It is used also with bien in interrogation, and then it expresses no passion. O! expresses inward and profound grief, despair, love, or indig nation. O douleur, & regrets; 0 vieillesse pesante! VOLTAIRE Oh! parbleu, je vous tiens. Oh! expresses indignation, as in Oh! vieillesse facile! Oh! jeunesse imprudente ! COLARDEAU. GRESSET. Oh! is sometimes followed by que, and then expresses desire; as, Oh! que le ciel, soigneux de notre poésie, Oh! que si cet hiver un rhune salutaire. BOILEAU. Ouf, expresses suffocation, excess of fatigue. Ouf! ne m'étrangle pas-Ouf! je n'en puis plus. Hum, hom, hon, express doubt, interrogation, and astonishment: Helas! expresses grief and complaint : Hilas. plus je lui parle, et plus il m'interesse. Hélas! petits moutons, que vous êtes heureux! Hi, hi, hi, expresses laughing: VOLTAIRE. MADAME DESHOULIÈRES. Hi, hi, hi, comme vous voilà bâti! Vous êtes si plaisant que je ne saurais m'empêcher de rire, hi, hi, hi, MOLIÈRE. OF SYNTAX. Peu de règles et beaucoup d'exemples, voilà la clef des arts et des sciences 'DUCLOS. LESSON THE FIRST. Scholar. WHAT is the meaning of syntax? Master. Syntax is the right ordering of words when united to express thoughts, and is founded on the polite custom of the language of which it treats. S. Instead of so many phrases, why did you not first teach me the laws and rules of syntax, according to the plan indicated by every writer on French grammar, for the use of the English pupil ? M. For one reason only, but which is irresistible. Those very phrases constitute the language with which I wish you to be acquainted; while all the rules of the language, put together, do not yield a jot. These principles have guided me in the course of your instruction in French. What is the consequence? You are now, owing to the numerous phrases and modes of expression with which your memory is stored, not only able to speak and understand French, but even to understand and relish the poets, although, a few months ago, you knew not a single word of the language. Moreover, from the plan pursued with you, besides the advantage of acquiring, in an amazingly short space, a sufficient knowledge of the French language, you have derived another, equally precious, that of improving the faculty of thinking: nor is this to be at all wondered at, considering that the true teachers of all things, Nature and Analysis, have been our only guide in this mode of tuition. 185 LESSON THE SECOND ON THE ARTICLE. M, The rules concerning the article being many, and it being contrary, in almost every instance, to the genius of the French language, to use a noun as a subject or object in a sentence, without preceding Please to give particular it by the article, I shall begin with it. attention therefore to the following rules. RULE I. The article, though often omitted in English, in French precedes the noun, in almost every instance, and accords with it in gender and number.---EXAMPLES: man. La crainte de la mort est naturelle The fear of death is natural to à l'homme La paix ramène le repos, la tran-Peace restores rest, tranquillity, quillité, et les richesses. and wealth. Il apprend le dessin, la danse, et les He is learning drawing, dancing, and mathematics. mathématiques. L'ignorance est la mère de l'admi-Ignorance is the mother of admiraration, de l'erreur, du scrupule, de l'irrésolution, de la superstition, des ridicules, et des préventions de toute espèce. tion, error, scruple, irresolution, superstition, ridicule, and prejudices of all kinds. Les Egyptiens accoutumaient leurs The Egyptians trained up their enfans à l'obéissance, au travail, à la sobriété, au desintéressement, à l'amour des arts ou des lettres, et au désir de l'honneur. children to obedience, labour, sobriety, disinterestedness, the love of arts or of letters, and the thirst of honour. Apportez-moi un essuie-main, un Bring me a towel, tumbler, knife, verre, un couteau, une fourchette, une assiette, et une serviette. J'ai besoin d'un manteau, d'un pa-I rapluie, et d'une paire de bottes. fork, plate, and napkin. want a cloak, an umbrella, and a pair of boots. RULE II. Although proper names of men and cities, in general, do not require the article, proper names of countries, seas, rivers, and mountains, always admit it before them. diterranean. La France est au nord de la Mé-France lies to the north of the Mediterranée. J'ai passé par la Hollande, l'Alle-I have passed through Holland, magne, et la Pologne. Germany, and Poland. J'ai traversé plusieurs fois la Ta-I have crossed the Thames several mise en bateau. times in a boat. |