78 Nous leur en avons promis

Pronoun order

📋 1. Basic Pronoun Order (Non-Imperative Sentences)

When you have multiple pronouns in a sentence, they follow a strict sequence:

Pronoun Order:

Examples:

• Je le lui donne. → I give it to him/her.
• Elle m’en parle. → She talks to me about it.

🚫 2. Pronoun Order in Negative Sentences

The order stays the same, but “ne…pas” (or other negatives) wraps around the pronoun-verb combination.

Structure:

🔊 3. Imperative Sentences (Commands)

In affirmative commands, the pronoun order changes:

✅ Affirmative Command Order:

Examples:

• Donne-le-moi ! → Give it to me!
• Parlez-lui-en ! → Talk to him/her about it!

❌ Negative Commands:

The pronoun order reverts to the regular structure:

• Ne me le donne pas ! → Don’t give it to me!
• Ne lui en parle pas ! → Don’t talk to him/her about it!

💡 4. Special Notes

• “Me,” “te” → “moi,” “toi” in affirmative commands, except before “en”, where they become “m’” and “t’”.

  • Ex: Donne-moi ça ! (Give me that!)
  • But: Donne-m’en ! (Give me some!)

• “Y” replaces prepositions like “à,” “chez,” “dans,” “en,” “sur” (referring to places or things).

• “En” replaces “de” + noun (some, any, of it/them).

💬 Examples from the text

• Nous le leur avons proposé mais ils n’étaient pas très chauds.
• Je ne leur en veux pas.
• On les y a souvent emmenés quand ils étaient jeunes.
• Ils s’y sont beaucoup amusés.
• vous pouvez me le prendre ?
• Je le leur ai dit mais ils n’en ont rien à faire et je n’arrive pas à les convaincre.
• Nous leur en avons promis.
• Oui, je connais une boutique qui en vend : nous y en avons déjà acheté pour d’autres amis.
• Ne me le donne pas maintenant ; donne-le-moi à la fin du mois.

être chaud pour

The French expression “être chaud pour” is an informal way to express enthusiasm or readiness for something. It has two main meanings:

1. To be eager or enthusiastic about something In this sense, “être chaud pour” indicates a person’s willingness or excitement to do something. For example:

• Je suis chaud pour aller au cinéma ce soir. (I’m keen on going to the movies tonight.)

2. To be ready or prepared for something This usage suggests being prepared or in the right state for an activity. For example:

• L’équipe est chaude pour le match de demain. (The team is ready for tomorrow’s game.)

However, it’s important to note that this expression can have different connotations depending on the context:

• In some cases, it can mean to hesitate or be undecided about something. For instance, “Ne pas être chaud pour” means to be reluctant or hesitant about doing something.

• In Québécois French, “être chaud” can also mean to be drunk, but this usage is not common in France.

When using this expression, be aware that it’s quite informal and may not be appropriate in all situations. In more formal contexts, alternatives like “être enthousiaste pour” or “être prêt pour” would be more suitable.

Arguable, the expression is used more often in the negative:

• Tu viens ? - Je ne suis pas très chaud. You coming? - I’m not too keen.

(Note: to be hot is avoir chaud)

former la jeunesse

The French phrase “former la jeunesse” translates to “to shape the youth” or “to educate the youth” in English. It goes beyond just teaching academic knowledge—it refers to the comprehensive development of young people, including their skills, values, and character.

📚 Meaning and Context

• Former = to train, to shape, to educate
• La jeunesse = the youth

So, “former la jeunesse” implies the process of guiding, educating, and preparing young people to become responsible, capable, and well-rounded individuals.

🎯 Key Aspects of “Former la Jeunesse”

🌍 When Is This Phrase Used?

1. Educational Context:

   • “L’école a un rôle essentiel dans la formation de la jeunesse.”
     (The school plays an essential role in shaping the youth.)

2. Political or Social Speeches:

   • “Former la jeunesse, c’est préparer l’avenir de notre nation.”
     (Shaping the youth is preparing the future of our nation.)

3. Community & Family Discussions:

   • “Les parents et la société partagent la responsabilité de former la jeunesse.”
     (Parents and society share the responsibility of shaping the youth.)

n’en avoir rien à faire

(idiomatic) not to care or be bothered

• Je le leur ai dit mais ils n’en ont rien à faire et je n’arrive pas à les convaincre. I told them that, but they don’t care and I can’t manage to convince them.
• Ils sont trop occupés ou, peut-être, ils n’en ont rien à faire. They’re too busy, or perhaps they don’t care.

Compare (no en):

• Ils n’ont rien à faire. They have nothing to do.

Qu’importe

The French expression “qu’importe” can be translated as “what does it matter” or “no matter” in English. It’s often used to express indifference or to imply that something is not important.

🗝️ Breakdown:

• “Qu’” = short for “que”, meaning “what”
• “importe” = from the verb “importer”, meaning “to matter” or “to be important”

So, “qu’importe” literally means “what matters”, but in context, it’s usually rhetorical, meaning:

• “What does it matter?”
• “Who cares?”
• “It doesn’t matter.”

📋 Examples in Context:

1. Expression of Indifference:

   • “Qu’importe le résultat, l’important c’est d’avoir essayé.”
     → “No matter the result, what’s important is that we tried.”

2. Rhetorical Question:

   • “Qu’importe si tu es en retard ?”
     → “What does it matter if you’re late?”

3. Poetic/Literary Use:

   • “Qu’importe le temps, l’amour est éternel.”
     → “No matter the time, love is eternal.”

⚠️ Note:

In casual spoken French, people might use simpler expressions like “Peu importe” (“It doesn’t matter”) instead of “Qu’importe”, which sounds a bit more formal or literary.

Vocabulaire