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- "Elle sait parler japonais."
49 Comments
"She speaks Japanese" = "Elle parle japonais". Remember that there is the verb "savoir" in this sentence, even though idiomatically this sentence can be translated without it, but the general meaning that she knows how to speak the language. On the other hand, saying that she speaks Japanese may imply that she is speaking it at the moment.
843
After the verb parler the article is optional, although its use is required after other verbs.
Would <<Elle connait parler japonais>> mean "She knows to speak Japanese"? I mean, in English, I would interpret that statement to mean that she knows it is contextually appropriate to speak Japanese - so, would replacing "savoir" with "connaître" in this example change the meaning in such a way? Or would I have to say, more like, <<Elle sait qu'elle doit parler japonais>>?
417
Connaître and savoir are a little more complicated than that. See here: http://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/savoir-versus-connaitre-the-verb-to-know-in-french
417
I asked a similar question on a different thread a while back, and, as I recall, the answer was something along the lines of your final sentence. Pretty sure "connaître" would not serve the purpose.
843
Using connâitre wouldn't change the meaning as much as it would just be wrong. Only savoir is used to say know how to speak a language.
I had the same question. It probably should be an accepted answer for the listening question.
By the way, I think it should be elle s'est parlé japonais instead of parlée. Look here: http://www.leaflanguages.org/french-grammar-reflexive-verbs-passe-compose-past-tense/
259
I have the same problem with this sentence, though I think she could pronounce "sait" better ("sĕ") than she does know (more like "sû").
Both should be acceptable here. I think that the "le" option is just adhering to the general rule of using an article before a noun, but probably because the names of languages (e.g. le français) have the same form as the adjective it is acceptable to omit the article when describing the language someone speaks. However I think that when referring to a national language in a more formal context you would use the article before the name.
2267
The expression of "savoir" + infinitive is understood as "to know how to" + verb. http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/savoir.htm
Duolingo is saying that "Elle sais parler japonais" is "She knows how to speak Japanese" but isn't that "Elle sais COMMENT parler japonais" ?? Where did the "How" come into the sentence when translated??
And isn't "Elle sais parler japonais" translated to "She knows to speak Japanese"
so confused....
417
Relax, it's ok. Just read through some of the comments above - snophie answered your question just a week ago.
828
Here they are referring to the language and is, I believe, a noun. It is never in female format as a noun.
132
Given that it is a female who is refered to, why isn’t the correct word, “japonaise” (with the feminine “e”) ?