- Forum >
- Topic: Polish >
- "Włoch sprzedaje wino Francuz…
"Włoch sprzedaje wino Francuzowi."
Translation:The Italian man is selling wine to the Frenchman.
28 Comments
Some strange answers have been accepted here... fixed now, "a French" won't work anymore.
186
Those, I would believe, would look for ones of a kind, and thereby ignore such bagatelles as the national origin of a wine. I spoke merely about wanna-be “connoisseurs” who condescended upon an inferior wine as could either be an Italian or French.
"French" can be used as a noun to denote the people of France or the French language (see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/french), but I'm not sure whether it can be used in the meaning "a (single!) person from France, Frenchman"... Hence I would translate "Włoch sprzedaje wino Francuzowi" = "The Italian sells wine to the Frenchman" (one French person) and "The Italian sells wine to the French" = "Włoch sprzedaje wino Francuzom" (many French people).
Correct. It can refer collectively to all people of France, but not to an individual. Based on the hover hints, I assumed this sentence was talking about French wine, not selling wine to a French person... I have reported it.
Actually, this sounds strangely bad, even though I know it's correct and there's nothing wrong with it.
Yes. I know deep down that it is fine, but it sort of feels like the speaker doesn't know English too well, and that the speaker is selling French wine but doesn't know the word "French" and substitutes "Frenchman" as the adjective.
- 1188
I got it wrong (not a rare event), but how would I say the Italian is selling French wine?
The receiver of an action is usual the indirect object, which is indicated by the dative case.
Alternatively, you can just remember the syntax:
Sell [something] [to someone] - Sprzedawać [accusative] [dative]
I agree that it should be Frenchman instead of French but also I don't think it should be "The Italian" either! I would never say "The Italian is selling wine..." It seems faintly rude to me. Like being Italian is the only important thing about this person. I would be somewhat annoyed to be referred to as "the British".
It's like you wouldn't say "The bald is selling wine" or "The deaf is selling wine"
I would say "The Italian man is selling wine" if I wanted to point it out to someone (for some reason haha).
Sounds like either this is some hidden camera documentary like Big Brother or like they're in a nature documentary. Or part of some comedy film where a German an Italian and an Australian go on a road trip and their nationality is their whole character (probably in a massive caricature).
Maybe it's just my version of English! :)
I know "The Italian man..." is allowed, I just don't think "The Italian..." should be. But I guess it's a matter of opinion!
- 463
It's just two different types of construction. For one person we say "the Englishman" or "the Frenchman", but "the German" or "the Italian". If we're talking about a group of people, it's "the English" or "the French", but "the Germans" or "the Italians".
I'd rather see if other people agree first as it may be just me being peculiar :)
- 596
Rosie I think you're getting a little carried away. Italian can be used as a noun and is not offensive.
