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- "I like to have a book when I…
"I like to have a book when I am alone."
Translation:J'aime bien avoir un livre lorsque je suis seul.
31 Comments
Both 'quand' and 'lorsque' are given in the answers as translations for 'when'. Is there any difference in the usage of these words?
No difference, except in interrogative sentences where you cannot use "lorsque".
So something like, "Qu'est-ce que vous aimez bien avoir lorsque vous êtes seul ?" Is not correct?
In your example, "lorsque" is not part of the question but a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause.
Only "quand" can be both a conjunction and an interrogative adverb: "Quand pars-tu ?" (Not Lorsque pars-tu ?) = When do you leave?
Surely adding the "bien" is more emphatic and should be translated something like " I very much like to have a book when I am alone,"
Not really: I very much like = j'aime beaucoup.
J'aime bien is just assertive, not emphatic.
I thought aimer bien changed the meaning to love. in fact, I am pretty sure I got that choice marked wrong once for "like"
No, "aimer" is softened by "bien", not deepened.
- j'aime bien avoir un livre = I like to have a book
- j'adore avoir un livre = I love to have a book
"aimer bien" always means "to like/to enjoy", never "to love".
"aimer" means "to love" if the object is a human being.
I continue to struggle with the distinction between aimer and aimer bien. Can you please help or guide me to a definitive link. Thanks a lot.
Apparently, "aimer bien" is less strong than "aimer" by itself. If you aimer bien something, it's like saying in English that we like it "well enough". It's quite common for objects where we like it, but we don't necessarily LIKE it. If we aimer bien un ami, we like the friend. But we would only aimer our girlfriend/boyfriend. "Aimer beaucoup" is stronger than just aimer. Here's a discussion on it. https://www.duolingo.com/comment/736970
"j'aime bien" exactly means "I like", regardless of the object liked.
"bien" is an adverb that does not enhance the meaning of "aime" but on the contrary it softens it to clearly establish that this feeling is not love.
what's the different between avoir and prendre. I know that prendre is "to take", but it is also used as " to have"
I have a book means that I possess it = j'ai un livre
I am having breakfast means that I eat it = je prends mon petit déjeuner
I am having drink means that I am drinking it = je prends une boisson
It would be more natural (& correct) for me/one to say & write “I like to have a book whenever I am alone. ”, as one reffering to a lone instance would usually be written & spoken in past tense; when reffering to a habitual occurance, “whenever” is used.
