Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to noone or nothing in particular, such as someone or something.
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someone/body |
quelqu'un |
somewhere |
quelque part |
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something |
quelque chose (de + adjective) |
not one, none |
aucun...ne |
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some (masc) |
quelques-uns |
some (fem) |
quelques-unes |
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another |
un(e) autre |
anything |
n'importe quoi |
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several |
plusieurs |
anyone |
n'importe qui |
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some...others |
certains...d'autres |
anywhere |
n'importe où |
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each |
chacun |
nowhere |
ne...nulle part |
Do not confuse chacun withchaque (each, every). Chacun is a pronoun and replaces a noun, whilechaque is an adjective that describes a noun.
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Déjeuner du matin Jacques Prévert Ila mis le café Dans la tasse Il a mis le lait Dans la tasse de café Ila mis le sucre Dans le café au lait Avec la petite cuiller Il atourné Il a bu le café au lait Et il a reposé la tasse Sans me parlerIl a allumé Une cigarette Il a fait des ronds Avec la fumée Il a misles cendres Dans le cendrier Sans me parler Sans me regarder Il s'estlevé Il a mis Son chapeau sur sa tête Il a mis Son manteau de pluieParce qu'il pleuvait Et il est parti Sous la pluie Sans une parole Etmoi j'ai pris Ma tête dans ma main Et j'ai pleuré. |
BreakfastJacques Prévert Heput the coffee In the cup He put the milk In the cup of coffee He putthe sugar In the café au lait With the coffee spoon He stirred Hedrank the café au lait And he set down the cup Without a word to meHe lit A cigarette He made smoke-rings With the smoke He put theashes In the ashtray Without a word to me Without a look at me He gotup He put His hat upon his head He put his raincoat on Because it wasraining And he left In the rain Without a word And I, I took My headin my hand And I cried. |
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Translated by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, fromParoles by Prévert |
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Le Corbeau et le Renard Jean de la Fontaine Maîtrecorbeau, sur un arbre perché, Tenait en son bec un fromage, Maîtrerenard, par l'odeur alléché, Lui tint à peu près ce langage: < |
The Crow and the Fox Jean de la Fontaine Mastercrow, on a tree perched, Held in his beak a cheese, Master fox, bythe odor attracted, Held him with almost this language: "Well hello,Mister Crow. You are so pretty! You seem to me beautiful! Withoutlying, if your song Is comparable to your feathers, You are thePhoenix of these woods." At these words, the crow was overcome withjoy; And to show his beautiful voice, He opened his mouth wide, anddropped his prey. The fox seized it, and said: "My good mister, Learnthat every flatterer Lives at the expense of those who listen to him.This lesson is well worth a cheese without doubt." The crow, ashamedand embarrassed, Swore, but a little late, that he would never betaken again. |
