got milk?
#12

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,075
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omitting subject pronouns: sure, in Spanish. It was a little tricky when I was in Paris this Spring, to remember to say je & tu, I & you respectively. "Tu" is also the familiar "you" in Spanish, and I rarely use it. "quieres cafe? Do you want coffee? I don't believe you can do that in French- anyone know about Italian? I would say "comprendo" meaning, "I understand" in Spanish, but I think I would have to say je comprends and io capisco for French and Spanish respectively.
Also, I am confusing myself- do I have to capitalize the names of the lanuages? the people? is it French or french? Got grammar?
Also, I am confusing myself- do I have to capitalize the names of the lanuages? the people? is it French or french? Got grammar?
#14
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
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Ninasdream-This is EXACTLY the point I was making (albeit in a somewhat long-winded way) in the previous post about "how do you say it in Italian" You DO have to use the personal pronouns in French and Italian, but NOT in Spanish-in fact, in Spanish it sounds stilted-and you are taught in Spanish that the subject pronouns can be dropped, that the conjugated verb forms absent the personal pronoun work just fine. Also in German, as in English, personal pronouns are not omitted from conversation, unless in a very casual or colloquial way.
#16

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
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When writing in English, you must capitalize the names of foreign languages and peoples (French, the French, a French waiter). When writing in French, you do not (anglais, les américains, une maison américaine). I believe that is the rule in all romance languages.
In German, all nouns get capitalized, which makes me nuts. It doesn't look like prose, it looks like architecture!
In German, all nouns get capitalized, which makes me nuts. It doesn't look like prose, it looks like architecture!
#17
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
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Sure, a few, right off the top of my head: Personal names are cap'ized, "Colette" as are place names "Chamonix" " Hotel Plaza Athenee"
Salutations-"Ma Cherie" "Mon Cheri" "Monsieur le Maire" "Mon Cher Roger" "Ma Chere Denise"
also in closings: "Veuillez agreer, Monsieur, mes sinceres salutations" (please accept, Sir, my sincere greetings) (accent marks deleted)
"Embrasse tout le monde pour moi" (give my love to everyone)
Salutations-"Ma Cherie" "Mon Cheri" "Monsieur le Maire" "Mon Cher Roger" "Ma Chere Denise"
also in closings: "Veuillez agreer, Monsieur, mes sinceres salutations" (please accept, Sir, my sincere greetings) (accent marks deleted)
"Embrasse tout le monde pour moi" (give my love to everyone)
#18
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
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I think what St. Cirq is saying is correct-about foreign languages and peoples in romance languages-but place names-cities and countries- ARE capitalized. Also, in French, you do not capitalize the months of the year, whereas in English you do: "le 5 avril" "April 5th"
#19

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,075
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My question was simply: in English, do we capitalize the words "french" "spanish" "italian" & if so, when? When referring the the French people? french, as in the language? I have gotten lots of mixed answers on this in the past, ans thought I'd try my luck here.


