Monday, October 21, 2019

How to Use the Versatile French Word Même

How to Use the Versatile French Word Mà ªme The French word mà ªme is a handy one to know. Loosely translated as same or even, the words meaning changes based on how it is used in a sentence. Mà ªme  may function as an indefinite adjective, an indefinite pronoun, or an adverb. Indefinite Adjective When used as an indefinite adjective, mà ªmes meaning differs according to whether it precedes or follows the noun it modifies:1) Before a noun, mà ªme means same. Cest la mà ªme chose!   Its the same thing!Jai lu le mà ªme livre.   I read the same book.Il aime les mà ªmes programmes.   He likes the same programs.Il a le mà ªme à ¢ge que moi. Hes the same age as me. 2) After a noun or pronoun, mà ªme emphasizes that thing and means (one)self or personified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il a perdu la bague mà ªme.   He lost the ring itself.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je veux le faire moi-mà ªme. (stressed pronoun)   I want to do it myself.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elle est la gentillesse mà ªme.   She is the epitome of kindness. / She is kindness itself. Indefinite Pronoun Le mà ªme as an indefinite pronoun means the same and may be singular or plural.   Cest le mà ªme.   Its the same.Elles sont toujours les mà ªmes.   Theyre always the same.Cela / à §a revient (strictement) au mà ªme. It comes / amounts to (exactly) the same thing. Adverb As an adverb, mà ªme is invariable, emphasizes the word it modifies, and means even, (to go) so far as to.   Mà ªme Jacques est venu.   Even Jacques came.  Il avait mà ªme achetà © un billet.   He even went so far as to buy a ticket.  Ils sont tous partis, mà ªme le bà ©bà ©.   They all left, even the baby.  Je lai vu ici mà ªme.   I saw him in this very spot. Personal Pronoun Personal pronouns with  mà ªme  form the -self pronouns, which are personal pronouns of emphasis. moi-mà ªme   myselftoi-mà ªme   yourself (singular and  familiar)elle-mà ªme  Ã‚  herselflui-mà ªme  Ã‚  himselfsoi-mà ªme   oneself, yourselfvous-mà ªme   yourself (plural and formal)elles-mà ªmes  Ã‚  themselves (feminine)eux-mà ªmes  Ã‚  themselves  (masculine) Expressions mà ªme   right on, in, from; in position mà ªme que   capable ofde mà ªme que   just / right as (something happened)mà ªme que (familiar) moreoverquand mà ªme  Ã‚  even so, anywaytout de mà ªme   even soÇa revient au mà ªme.   That amounts to the same thing.Cest du pareil au mà ªme.  (informal)   Its always the same.en mà ªme temps at the same timeIl na mà ªme pas pleurà ©.   He didnt even cry.   mà ªme la peau  Ã‚  next to the skin mà ªme le sol  Ã‚  on the bare ground  Ã‚  Je suis parti et lui de mà ªme.   I left and so did he.  Ã‚   mà ªme:  dormir mà ªme le sol   to sleep on the floor mà ªme de   able to,  in a position tode mà ªme:  faire de mà ªme   to do likewise  or  the samede mà ªme que just asmà ªme que  (familiar) so much so thatmà ªme si   even if

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.