Re: Origins of French partitive, pas, etc.

On 2007-12-31, Peter T. Daniels wrote:

On Dec 31, 1:41 pm, Ruud Harmsen <realemailons...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:32:15 -0800 (PST): "Peter T. Daniels"
<gramma...@xxxxxxxxxxx>: in sci.lang:

I've been meaning to mention this for weeks. There's currently a learn-
a-language ad on radio where a guy boasts he can order in French and
astonishes his friends by saying to the waiter, "Je voudrais le poulet
et le riz." (Which strikes me as wrong on at least three counts.)

Perhaps the "le/la" is correct if it refers to an actual menu choice
offered, instead of to such a dish in general?
But French is certainly not my forte.

What are the other counts?

I don't think you use vouloir to place an order, and it's more likely
that it's a single dish of chicken-and-rice than two separate items.

"Je voudrais" is fine (and equivalent to "I'd like") but otherwise I
agree.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Origins of French partitive, pas, etc.
    ... astonishes his friends by saying to the waiter, ... But French is certainly not my forte. ... that it's a single dish of chicken-and-rice than two separate items. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Sarkozy!!!
    ... Most of what american citizens are saying about Bush, ... Cleaning up the banlieue and getting rid of the racaille ... Increased French role in helping to alleviate the problems in Africa ...
    (rec.sport.tennis)
  • Re: Sarkozy!!!
    ... I prefer people who define themself by saying what they want, rather than understating what they don't want. ... Increased French role in helping to alleviate the problems in Africa ... "undesirable elements that need to be weeded out", pure shit: what are you suggesting to do with them? ... That's only cheap promises. ...
    (rec.sport.tennis)
  • Re: Your Favorite Block/Blocks?
    ... been saying that one wrong all these yrs as well. ... i know its french and still never clicked til i read u'r post. ... but I still stand by my bona fide ... >> i dont worry about those dialectic ones only those with one correct way ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: French Military Victories
    ... >>> 'Most' of the modern historians are saying what I'm trying to tell you. ... and how this is related to your claims that the French soldiers ... They had to do that because the river was not frozen. ... In any event whether there was no ice or very thin ice ...
    (soc.history.war.misc)