Search results for 'tag:Translation tag:Modals' matching tags 'Translation' and 'Modals'

Re: might vs might have and Passive versions of both

CalifJim — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:29:40 GMT

Why didn't you take it? There was no one around!

1 - You [might/could] have stolen it!<-- You had a chance to steal it, you had the ability to steal it, you were allowed to steal it, but you didn't. were allowed is a less probable paraphrase.
An additional paraphrase is You should have stolen it. Why didn't you? (might have and could have can be used as mild reprimands, but you need the right intonation.)

Mother: You just ran off with your friends without saying where you were going or when you'd be back. You might/could have let me know! (Translation: You should have let me know.)

2 - You could steal it! <-- You had (No. have.) a chance to steal it, you had the ability to steal it, you were allowed to steal it After the set-up above, even with its past tense Why didn't ... was no one, this is not a possible response. You need the modal perfect to get the counterfactual across.
Compare the factual:
-- You took his wallet! What has come over you? You don't need the money. Why did you do it?
-- Because I could. Just because I could.¹ (Just because I had the opportunity.)
-- You've got a problem.

3 - You might steal it! <-- same as #2 same as #2, not possible, has to be might have, but there's no factual version in this case -- only the modal perfect to indicate the counterfactual.

CJ

¹Compare President Clinton's response regarding the Monica Lewinsky affair.
People ask why I did it. I think it's just because I could. (Not an exact quote.)

translation into English: "Excuse me Miss"

Hela — Sat, 12 May 2007 11:20:37 GMT

Dear teachers,

Would you please have a look at my work when you have time?

Â« Excusez-moi mademoiselle, puis-je vous poser une question, s'il vous plaÃ®t ? Pourriez-vous me dire oÃ¹ se trouve la gare ?
- Bien sÃ»r monsieur; d'ailleurs je dois y aller moi-mÃªme, voyez-vous. Je devrais mÃªme y Ãªtre dÃ©jÃ car je prends un train dans un quart d'heure.
- Eh bien je vous accompagne si vous le permettez.
- Volontiers, vous partez aussi ? Vous ne devez pas aller trÃ¨s loin, je suppose; vous n'avez aucun bagage !
- Non, non, je ne pars pas, je vais seulement chercher une vieille amie qui doit arriver ce soir des Ãtats Unis.
- Vous avez dit ce soir ? Mais il n'est que dix heures du matin ! Vous n'avez certainement pas besoin de vous presser !

- En effet, mais vous ne pouvez pas vous imaginer Ã quel point je suis heureux de la revoir. Je n'habite pas ici et je suis parti de bonne heure afin d'Ãªtre ici Ã l'heure. AprÃ¨s quinze ans, vous vous rendez compte ?
- Vous deviez Ãªtre trÃ¨s jeune et elle doit avoir beaucoup changÃ© !
- Non, c'est impossible ! Elle a plus de soixante ans et elle a toujours Ã©tÃ© jeune. Je ne peux pas croire qu'elle ait changÃ©.
- Cela se pourrait, pourtant. Moi, j'ai une amie, comme Ã§a. Elle refuse de vous dire son Ã¢ge. Elle doit avoir Ã peu prÃ¨s le mÃªme Ã¢ge. Je pense qu'elle doit avoir peur de vieillir.
- Vous n'auriez pas peur, vous, Ã son Ã¢ge ? En tout cas, ce dont vous n'avez pas peur, c'est d'Ãªtre en retard ! Vous devriez vous presser un peu, non ?

âExcuse me Miss, may I ask you something please? Could / May / Might I ask you how to get / the way to the (railway) station?â

âCertainly sir [do you think that "Miss" should be capitalized but not "sir"? If yes, Why? Do I need a comma before "Miss" and "sir"?]. Actually, I have to go / Iâm going there myself [I must go is incorrect because itâs an external obligation â sheâs catching a train ?], you see. I should even (?) be there already because I'm catching a train / Iâve a train to catch in fifteen minutes.â

âWell, Iâll walk with you if I may.â

â âBy all means! Are you leaving too? You can't be going very far [on supprime le I suppose en dÃ©but de phrase ?]; you have no luggage at all!â

â¡ âBy all means! You donât have a bag. Not going far? [or should I suppress Are you leaving too? because it might be thought impolite]

âNo, no [do I need a comma here?] I'm not going anywhere, I'm only going to meet an old friend of mine who is to arrive / is arriving / flying in this evening / tonight from the United States.â

âDid you say this evening? But it's only ten in the morning! You

(a) certainly needn't hurry / needn't huryy at all

(b) certainly donât need to hurry

âYes, you're right, but you can't imagine how happy I am to see her again. I don't live here and I left / set off early this morning so that I could be [a modal is necessary after "so that", right?] here on time. After fifteen years, can you imagine / can you believe it / mind (you) / mark you ?"

âYou must have been very young and she must have changed a lot!â

âNo, it's impossible / No, she can't have! She is over sixty and she has always been young. I can't believe that she can have changed / has changed.â []

âShe might / may / could have, though. I (myself = wrong?) have a friend like that. She refuses to tell you / won't tell you her age. She must be about that age / must be approximately the same age. I believe she must be afraid of getting old.â

âWouldn't you be at her age?â

âAnyway,

(a) you're not afraid of being late, are you?

(b) what you're afraid of is being late = not English?

You should hurry up, shouldn't you?â

- Oui, je suppose que je le devrais, mais je dois vous avouer quelque chose : je ne vais pas Ã la gare et je ne sais mÃªme pas oÃ¹ elle se trouve.
- Mais alors, ces valises ? Vous n'Ãªtes pas obligÃ©e de tout me dire, remarquez.
- Euh ....Pourriez-vous parler plus fort ? Je n'entends pas trÃ¨s bien. Je vous offre un verre ?
- Ce sont normalement les hommes qui invitent les femmes : Je devrais refuser, mais ne le ferai pas. Il se peut que je sois impoli, mais j'accepte avec plaisir.
- Oh, dÃ©solÃ©e ! Je viens de voir quelqu'un que je connais. Je dois vous laisser. Contente de vous avoir rencontrÃ© ! Vous devez me croire. Je suis vraiment navrÃ©e !
- Oui, cela ne m'Ã©tonne pas de vous ! Â»

âYes, I suppose I should, but I ought to [must = wrong ?] tell you something: I'm not going to the station, and I don't even know where it is.â

âSo, what about those suitcases? You needn't tell me everything, mind you / you know.â

âErr... Could you speak a little louder / Could you speak up (a bit)? I can't / don't hear very well. Can / May [shall = wrong ?] I offer you a drink?â

âIt's normally (the?) men who invite (the?) women / It's usually the men who do the asking: I ought to refuse, but I won't. I may / might [pour accentuer le paradoxe] be rude / It may be rude of me, but I accept with pleasure (?).â

âOh, sorry, I've just seen someone I know. I must leave you. Nice to have met you / Nice meeting you! You must believe me. I'm ever so sorry!â

âI bet you are!â

Thanks a lot,
Hela

Re: translation into English: text 11/03 (Patrick)

Hela — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:43:04 GMT

Thank you Mr Pedantic.

So is this the translation you like .

âHow is Patrick?â Catherine asked. âI havenât seen him for weeks.â

âNeither have I. But he is fine,â Thomas answered. âHe called me this morning to tell me he was going to work in Ireland, as soon as he'd finished his exams.â

âReally? But... he has never been abroad and I don't remember ever hearing him talk about anything as adventurous as that. And his English is hopeless!â

âYou don't have to tell everyone what you want to do all the time.

There are lots of people who have grandiose ideas about doing great things and never leave home. As far as his English is concerned, a two-month stay can only improve it.â
âYou're right, of course. But I'm still a bit disappointed. We've known each other such a long time, him and me. He could have told him about it. I would love to work in Ireland, too. He could have given me some information or advice.â
âMaybe he has thought about it. But after all, you are big enough to make your own decisions, aren't you? Come on, cheer up! Maybe he'll call you tonight.â

âIf that's the case, he had better hurry (up) because I'm leaving for the United States in three days. I have found a job as a waitress in a Japanese restaurant in Manhattan. And you? What are you doing this summer?â
Kindest regards

PS: If you have time would you please have a look at this post: "Translation into English: Use of modals", post 345781 sent on 04/11/2007.

Re: translation of modals 2

Marius Hancu — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:26:32 GMT

Seem fine to me at a quick scan.

translation of modals 2

Hela — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:42:32 GMT

Dear teachers,

Here is my other set of translations about modals. Would you please have a look at it?

1. Tun'es pas obligÃ©de m'attendre.

You donât have to wait for me.

2. Mon pÃ¨re a du s'arrÃªter de fumer.

My father had to stop smoking

3. J'ai dÃ» aller Ã l'Ã©cole Ã pied.

I had to walk to school.

4. Je n'ai pas eu Ã utiliser un ordinateur.

I didnât have / need to use a computer.

5. J'ai toujours dÃ©sirÃ© Ãªtre mÃ©decin.

I always wanted to be a doctor.

6. Ma soeur a Ã©tÃ© obligÃ© de dÃ©mÃ©nager le mois dernier.

My sister had to move out last month.

7. Tu devras me tÃ©lÃ©phoner avant 8 heures.

You will have / need to call me (up ?) before 8 oâclock.

8. J'ai rÃ©ussi Ã amÃ©liorer mes performances.

I managed to / was able to improve my performances

9. As-tu Ã©tÃ© obligÃ© d'appeler le docteur?

Did you have to call the doctor ?

10. Devras-tu te lever tÃ´t samedi prochain?

Will you have to get up early next Saturday ?

11. Pourquoi as-tu dÃ» t'occuper de tes frÃ¨res hier soir?

Why did you have to look after your brothers last night ?

12. As-tu rÃ©ussi Ã trouver un travail intÃ©ressant?

Did you manage / Were you able to find an interesting job ?

13. Pourquoi n'as tu pas pu venir plus tÃ´t?

Why werenât you able to / couldnât you come earlier ?

14. Pourras-tu m'aider Ã faire mes devoirs?

Can you help me do my homework ?

15. Pourquoi as-tu dÃ» aller Ã l'hopital?

Why did you have to go to hospital ?

16. Dois-tu travailler ce week-end?

Do you have to work this weekend?

All the best,

Hela

Re: translation of modals

Feebs11 — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:04:14 GMT

Hela wrote:
Dear teachers,

Since you didn't reject my posts on translation, I would be very happy to carry on sending you others. I have a series of translations on modals that I would like to submit you for correction, if you wouldn't mind. Here is my first list:

1. Il ne faut pas que tu oublies d'informatiser les nouvelles donnÃ©es.

You mustn't forget to computerize the new data. (meaning = record the data in the computer ?) input is what I would use

2. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'utiliser votre ticket-restaurant.

You don't have to use / You neednât use your luncheon voucher.

3. Le maire ne doit pas oublier les quartiers dÃ©shÃ©ritÃ©s.

The mayor must not forget the inner-city areas.

4. La police ne doit pas faire de diffÃ©rence entre les groupes ethniques.

The police must not discriminate between ethnic groups.

5. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'emporter de boussole.

You don't have to take / You neednât take a compass (with you = optional ?   yes ).

6) Â« Avez-vous besoin de partir dÃ©jÃ ? Â»

Â« Non, je n'ai pas besoin de le faire. Â»

a) "Do you need / have to leave already?â âNo, I do not.â   right

b) "Is it necessary that you left already?â âNo, itâs not.â wrong

7) Tu ne pourrais pas me reconnaÃ®tre = a) You couldn't recognize me.

b) You wouldn't be able to recognize me.    You will not /won't be able to recognize me [But I think translation here will depend on fuller context]

8) Tu pourrais ne pas me reconnaÃ®tre = You might not recognize me.

9) Le dÃ©collage est retardÃ©, ce n'Ã©tait pas la peine de nous dÃ©pÃªcher.

a) ~~The takeoff /~~ Takeoff (?) has been delayed; we neednât have hurried.

10) La police pensait qu'il Ã©tait peut-Ãªtre tombÃ© dans la riviÃ¨re.

a) The police thought that he might have fallen into the river.

b) The police thought that he could have fallen in the river.     Both are reasonable translations, and acceptable sentences

11. Des progrÃ¨s rapides ont besoin d'Ãªtre accomplis.

Fast progress ~~need /~~ needS (?) to be carried out.

12. Le match a Ã©tÃ© regardÃ© par des milliers de tÃ©lÃ©spectateurs hier soir.

The match was watched on TV by thousands of people last night. Ok.   Alternatives: Last night the match ....    The match last night.....

Many thanks,

Hela

translation of modals

Hela — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 19:19:01 GMT

Dear teachers,

Since you didn't reject my posts on translation, I would be very happy to carry on sending you others. I have a series of translations on modals that I would like to submit you for correction, if you wouldn't mind. Here is my first list:

1. Il ne faut pas que tu oublies d'informatiser les nouvelles donnÃ©es.

You mustn't forget to computerize the new data. (meaning = record the data in the computer ?)

2. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'utiliser votre ticket-restaurant.

You don't have to use / You neednât use your luncheon voucher.

3. Le maire ne doit pas oublier les quartiers dÃ©shÃ©ritÃ©s.

The mayor must not forget the inner-city areas.

4. La police ne doit pas faire de diffÃ©rence entre les groupes ethniques.

The police must not discriminate between ethnic groups.

5. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'emporter de boussole.

You don't have to take / You neednât take a compass (with you = optional ?).

6) Â« Avez-vous besoin de partir dÃ©jÃ ? Â»

Â« Non, je n'ai pas besoin de le faire. Â»

a) "Do you need / have to leave already?â âNo, I do not.â

b) "Is it necessary that you left already?â âNo, itâs not.â

7) Tu ne pourrais pas me reconnaÃ®tre = a) You couldn't recognize me.

b) You wouldn't be able to recognize me.

8) Tu pourrais ne pas me reconnaÃ®tre = You might not recognize me.

a) The takeoff / Takeoff (?) has been delayed; we neednât have hurried.

a) The police thought that he might have fallen into the river.

b) The police thought that he could have fallen in the river.

11. Des progrÃ¨s rapides ont besoin d'Ãªtre accomplis.

Fast progress need / needS (?) to be carried out.

The match was watched on TV by thousands of people last night.

Many thanks,

Hela

PhD application - motivation letter (could anyone have a look?)

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 01:48:29 GMT

Dear Madam or Sir,

I would like to submit my application for doctoral studies in the *** domain at ****.

I graduated in June 2006 from Brno University of Technology, Czech republic, as Master (Engineer). I will finish my second Master studies at Faculty of Informatics at the Masaryk University in Brno in June 2007.

My studies so far were communication/interaction â oriented, whether it was wireless communication (mobile communication networks) or human â computer interaction (dialogue systems, speech recognition). Also my work experience fit into this domain (interpretation, translation, teaching of visually impaired student in the support center of Masaryk University, **** multi-modal interface). At present I prepare my second Master diploma thesis in visual communication domain (augmented reality).

During studies, projects and during the work with visually impaired students Iâve been exposed to the fact, that other than keyboard-mouse-screen scenarios are possible to interact with computer. In my research work I would like to work on techniques that enable humans to make better use of computer resources. I find very interesting the **** project which will bring the real-time remote meeting support to remote meeting access.

Iâm ready to work on any research topic within the domain. Iâm open to new inspirations and Iâm persuaded that I will bring in with my own ideas. I have already gained extensive programming experience in Java and my BUT diploma thesis and the forthcoming MU thesis is in C/C++. Iâm familiar with larger projects both in Java and C++.

I have large international experience, Iâm familiar to business world and the communication in English isnât any problem. My diploma thesis â **** â was entirely written in English. Iâve lived for four years in France and I have French baccalaureate. My time managing skills helped me to study two universities at the same time.

It would be a pleasure for me to be part of **** â one of European most advanced research centers in human-machine interaction â and to have the opportunity to become a productive team member.

**** ****

Re: has,had,have

Phuongninhbao — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:31:31 GMT

Modal verb: I have to study Grammar all the time.

Present perfect: I have been in Dalat for twenty years. She has been..........

Present perfect continuous: I have been eating She has been eating.

Causative: I have my car serviced

If -clause; If I have time, I'll go with you

If I had time , I would go with you

If I had gone by car, I would have saved time

Bare infinitive: Let's have a look about your translation

Infinitive: I try to have a good pronunciation

Imperative; Have a nice day

And a lot of kinds of sentences such as It's isn't necessary that she have a lot of advices to him,. you needn't have gone to the office yesterday.....

Phuong ninh

Re: Have you studied linguistics?

Roro — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 01:45:17 GMT

Hello muratsekerci.

Question A. a. Necessarily, no two presidents of the U.S. look alike.
---------------------------------------------------------------
No two presidents of the U.S. ever looked alike.

Your Answer: a) Modal Logic
Necessarily, no two presidents of the U.S. look alike.
?x?y(President(x) ? President(y) ? x?y ? ?z(President(z) ? (z=x V z=y)) ? (??LookAlike(x,y)))

muratsekerci, I'm sorry, I don't know the translation of . I've learned only or . When you know the answer, please kindly tell me the answer!

As to the solution, we maybe need not to translate this proposition, I think. Simply put the proposition as f, and

? f ? f

I think this captures the validity of argument.
I'm not so sure: I ignored temporal factor here, although there is in the choices an item .