Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Dire que ...
English translation:
(And) to think that ...
Added to glossary by
Bianca Jacobsohn
Oct 24, 2005 12:36
18 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
France
Finance & Energy // French & English
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French
Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies.
Homework / test
French to English
Other
Linguistics
Use of infinitive (here)
I'm confused about the use of the infinitive in this short sentence. Some context:
"Mais pour autant dire que la raison fondamentale est le pillage des richesses congolaises, Kampala se tait. Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies. Plus exactement depuis 1998 que ce group armé défi Museveni ..."
So far I've simply translated the sentence as:
"The LRA have been around for decades, since 1988 to be precise when ..."
What I'd really like is an explanation of the use of the infinitive here.
TIA!
"Mais pour autant dire que la raison fondamentale est le pillage des richesses congolaises, Kampala se tait. Dire que la LRA existe depuis des décennies. Plus exactement depuis 1998 que ce group armé défi Museveni ..."
So far I've simply translated the sentence as:
"The LRA have been around for decades, since 1988 to be precise when ..."
What I'd really like is an explanation of the use of the infinitive here.
TIA!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +7 | (And) to think that the LRA has been around for... ! |
PFB (X)
|
| 4 +5 | When you think that... |
Pierre POUSSIN
|
| 3 | I think in this case it is a repetition of the "Pour autant dire"... |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
Proposed translations
+7
5 mins
French term (edited):
Dire que la LRA existe depuis des d�cennies.
Selected
(And) to think that the LRA has been around for... !
A suggestion...
I have to say I don't quite understand the beginning: "Mais pour autant dire..."
I have to say I don't quite understand the beginning: "Mais pour autant dire..."
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sandra C.
7 mins
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Merci Sandra
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| agree |
df49f (X)
24 mins
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Merci df49f
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| agree |
Calou
: oui, aussi
38 mins
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Merci Calou
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| agree |
DocteurPC
: another acceptable version
43 mins
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Merci DocteurPC
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| agree |
Georges Tocco
54 mins
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Merci Georges
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| agree |
sporran
3 hrs
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Merci sporran
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| agree |
Nick Lingris
12 hrs
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Thanks Nick
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Merci Philippe :o)"
+5
4 mins
Pierre POUSSIN
France
France
Native in French
France
Fast and accurate.
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to French, French to English, Latin to French, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
When you think that...
"Dire que..." is colloquial in French.
30 mins
I think in this case it is a repetition of the "Pour autant dire"...
it has just been telescoped for reasons of style.
They might just as well say that it had been around for ever
They might just as well say that it had been around for ever
Discussion