Have you found an error or do you want to add more information to these pages?
You can contact me at the bottom of the home page.

Avez-vous trouvé une erreur?
Vous pouvez m'envoyer un message au bas de ma page d'accueil

How do I translate ... ?

Contents

How do I translate whatever or whoever?
Do you like / enjoy ... + noun / verb ... ?
How much is it?
I love / like you

whatever / whoever

If you want to use pronouns, you have a few choices. You can think of them as "whatever it may be" or "who that it may be". Try to bear in mind that quoi que and quoique (meaning bien que) are different words:
Quoique très jeune, elle fait preuve d'une grande maturité. = Although very young, she has shown great maturity.

Pronoun	Notes	Example
quoi que ce soit qui	"whatever" subject Use the subjunctive afterwards	This is the subject and will replace the word 'il'. I understand that this expression is avoided. Try to use "quel que soit" below.
quoi que	"whatever" object Use the subjunctive afterwards	This is the object. The 'whatever' part is referring to something that would come after the verb. Quoi que nous décidions, nous devons en tenir informés nos administrés (= quelle que soit la chose que nous décidions…) =Whatever we decide, we must keep our citizens informed Il voulait obtenir gain de cause, quoi qu'il arrive = He wanted to succeed, no matter what.
quel(le)(s) que soit + noun	"whatever" The quel part is the adjective	If you make quel in to a plural (quels, quelles) then you must make the soit part plural too - soient. This implies that there is a choice of a number of things. This can be used instead of whoever as an object if you say "quelle que soit la personne que..." = which ever may be the person that ...". You may be able to use "n'importe quel(le)" instead when you can say "any book / country etc."
quoi que ce soit	"anything at all" This is used as a pronoun	Vous pouvez lui demander quoi que ce soit, il saura vous répondre = You can ask him anything, he will answer you.
qui que	whoever
Qui que ce soit qui	"whoever" subject Use the subjunctive afterwards	I understand that this is rarely used. If you want to be more formal, use quiconque which is used without the subjunctive. This is the subject and will replace the word 'il'. You may also see "celui qui" or "celle qui" for "the one that" e.g. "the one that tells me the truth will ..." instead of "whoever tells me the truth will ...". Just "qui" may also translate is whoever without the subjunctive if you just mean "who did that?" or "whoever told you that?"
qui que ce soit que	"whoever" object Use the subjunctive afterwards	If you want to be more formal, use quiconque which is used without the subjunctive. An alternative is "quelle que soit la personne que..." = which ever may be the person that ..." A qui que ce soit que nous parlions, il faut être poli = Anyone we talk to, we must be polite (this form sounds heavy, avoid) A quiconque parlera, il intimera l'ordre de se taire = Whoever speaks, he gave the order to be silent (this form is preferred)

Whatever - other ways to translate this
If whatever is in the middle of a sentence such as "borrow whatever tool you need" then you could say "borrow the tool that you need".
Whatever in the middle of a sentence just could translate as "what" in sentences like:
Je vais faire (tout) ce qui est nécessaire = I'm going to do what is necessary

Do you like / enjoy ... ?

Aimer = to like / love

There is a difference in meaning whether you use a noun (something that can be used with 'the' - the car, the man etc.) or a verb (something that can be used with 'to' - to be, to go etc.)
With a noun:
Aimez-vous le patinage à roulettes? = Do you like roller-skating? (the activity of roller-skating, watching, learning etc.)
Vous aimez la pêche? = Do you like fishing? (it is a noun)
Qu'est-ce que vous aimez le plus : la plage ou la piscine ? = Which do you like better, the beach or the swimming pool?
Est-ce que vous aimeriez faire une partie de tennis cet après-midi ? = Would you like to play a game of tennis this afternoon?

Est-ce que cela vous

{

plairait
ferait plaisir d'

}

aller à cette boutique ? = would you like to go to this boutique?

J'aime que mes livres soient à leur place = I like my books to be in their place (note subjunctive use)

With a verb:
Aimez-vous faire du patin à roulettes? = Do you like roller-skating? (refering to doing an activity - do you roller-skate?)
Aimez-vous skier? = Do you like skiing?
J'aime bien jouer aux cartes = I like playing cards (I think bien is an intensifier, meaning quite)

You can use 'bien' as an intensifier, aimer bien faire = I (really) like doing
aimer à faire = I like to do / I like doing
J'aime à croire que ... = I like to think that ...
Est-ce que vous avez aimé le film? = Have you enjoyed the film?

S'amuser = to entertain / amuse oneself
je me suis vraiment bien amusé = I really enjoyed myself
Ils se sont bien amusés en France = They enjoyed themselves in France
Je m'amuse à parler avec vous = I enjoy speaking with you
Est-ce vous vous êtes bien amusés à la fête? = Did you enjoy yourself at the party
Note:
s'amuser de quelque chose = to find something amusing
s'amuser avec / de quelqu'un = to make a fool of somebody

Plaire = to please
Have you enjoyed your visit so far? = Votre visite vous plaît-elle pour l'instant?
I enjoyed my stay very much - mon séjour m'a beaucoup plu
cette chanson me plaît = This song pleases me (I like this song)
Ça te plairait d'aller au cinéma = would you like to go to the cinema? (would it please you ...)

Faire plaisir
Ceci me fait plaisir = I'm delighted with this
Ce manteau me fait très plaisir = I am very pleased with this coat

Préférer
You could ask someone what they prefer
Que préférez-vous, du thé ou du café ? = what would you prefer - tea of coffee?

Other ways of translating "to enjoy"
to have the benefit of health / fortune - jouir de (formal)
to have the benefit of success - connaître

How much?

I have noticed that there are numerous ways to inquire the price of something:

Ça fait combien?
Combien ça fait?
C'est combien?
Ça coûte combien?

} How much is it?

"Ça fait combien?" can also mean "How long / high is it?"

Combien ça vaut?
Ça vaut combien?

} How much is it? (How much is it worth? - from the verb valoir)

Combien je vous dois? = How much do I owe you? (from the verb devoir)
Quel est le prix? = Which is the price?

I love / like you

To friends and family:
Je t'adore = I love / adore you
Je t'aime beaucoup = I like you very much
Je t'aime bien = I like you

But this phrase is only to a romantic partner, spouse or child:
Je t'aime = I love you
Does anyone know if you can use it with relatives and friends too? Contact me at the bottom of my homepage if you do

Examples:
You can say to your mother Je t'adore = I love you
J'aime ma famille = I love my family
Tout le monde l'aime beaucoup = Everybody loves her
Je n'aime pas beaucoup Nadine = I don't like Nadine

You can use these verbs like this too:
J'aimerais beaucoup aller au cinéma = I would love to go to the cinema
J'adore faire du patin = I love skating
J'adore le cinéma = I love the cinema
J'aime mieux / autant ... = I might as well ...
Il aimerait mieux / autant y aller maintenant = He would rather go now

Have you found an error or do you want to add more information to these pages?
You can contact me at the bottom of the home page.

[FRANÇAIS]

Avez-vous trouvé une erreur?
Vous pouvez m'envoyer un message au bas de ma page d'accueil

Home page / ma page d'accueil