"I am going toward the girl."
Translation:Je vais vers la fille.
35 Comments
So "vers"=physical, mechanical space, but "envers"=sentiments and feelings. Are there any technicalities/exceptions, or is it as simple as that?
The meaning is the same (almost), but it's not precised how you go toward her. So it's a reach to say "marcher". I think you need to stick to what duolingo wants you to say.
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Years ago I was taught not to use " fille " without saying " jeaune fille ."
Je vais dans la direction de la fille.
Forgot the word for toward (vers), but used circumlocution to get the idea across. Would this be grammatically correct?
yes, your proposal is correct, and there is a variant: je vais en direction de la fille.
"aller à" requires a place (not a person):
- "aller à la boulangerie" (go to the bakery)
- "aller au cinéma" (contraction of à-le)
- "aller aux Etats-Unis" (contraction of à-les)
"aller chez" is used with someone's place (home/house or office/shop) :
- "aller chez toi"
- "aller chez le boulanger"
- "aller chez Apple"
You mean "Je vais à la fille" ? If so, then no, it is incorrect. To go towards something usually is translated as "aller vers..."
Could I use the word venir here instead of aller to say "I am going..." ? Je viens vers la fille?
Can I eliminate the article with this preposition and still have a correct sentence, ie "Je vais vers fille" ?
The rule is that French nouns come with an article (or other possessive/demonstrative adjectives). There is no exception here.
1st person singular of irregular verb "aller" in indicative present:
je vais, tu vas, il/elle/on va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont.
"Vers" is about a physical movement and "envers" about a figurative (emotional) attitude.
Elle marche vers son père = She is walking towards her father
Elle montre du respect envers son père = She demonstrates respect for her father
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if the word for towards is envers why is the word vers which means near, the better choice?
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This might explain my difficulty, could you provide an example to clarify your statement? Thanks Mendala
Yes, that's a good alternative translation, I just added it in the system.
Very nice! A bit literary, maybe.
"Au-devant de" is still much in use with things, including concepts, but not often with people.
Au-devant de la scène = in the front of the stage
Aller au-devant de quelque chose = to anticipate something.
