Lesson of January 28, 2025

Question 1

What’s the difference between “stressed” and “stressful”.

Example: My colleague is stressed.
My colleague is stressful.

Answer 1

be stressed = feel nervous
be stressful = cause other people to feel nervous

Question 2

What’s “gouvernement” in English?

Answer 2

government
(pronounced GA-vern-ment)

Question 3

What is “expérimenté” in English?

Example: I like to work with colleagues who are more …………… than me.

Answer 3

Experienced

Example: I like to work with colleagues who are more experienced than me.

Question 4

What is “Prendre rendez-vous” in English?

Answer 4

Make an appointment

Question 5

What is “sur mesure” in English?

Answer 5

personalized
tailored
customized

Question 6

What is “sur le point de” in English?

Example: I was ………………. ask you the same question.

Answer 6

about to

Example: I was about to ask you the same question.

Question 7

What is “rappeler” in English in the sense to tell someone not to forgot something?

Answer 7

remind

Question 8

Translate:

Je me mets de la pression.

Answer 8

I put pressure on myself

Question 9

What does “e.g.” mean?

Answer 9

It is a latin word (exempli gratia) but when reading it, we have to say: “For example” or “for instance”.

Note: «For instance» is more formal than «for example».

Question 10

What is “faire une erreur” in English?

1) do an error.
2) do a mistake.
3) make a mistake

Answer 10

3) make a mistake

Question 11

What is “plâtre” and “tireur de joints” in English?

Answer 11

plaster

plasterer

Question 12

usually?
used to do?
be / get used to doing?

These 3 structures are very often confused in English.

1) Usually is used when it can be replaced with “normally”. It can be translated with “avoir l’habitude de….” or “d’habitude…”. Exemple: J’ai l’habitude de travailler 35-40 heures par semaine. = I usually work 35-40 hours a week.

2) “Used to do” is used when something was true in the past and is no longer. Example: I used to live in Germany. = I lived in Germany before but not anymore. I used to teach on Friday. = I taught on Friday in the past but not anymore.

3) be / get used to doing = used for something which is habitual and not exceptionnal for us. In French: être habitué de… / s’habituer. Example: The new job I’ve applied for will require for me to travel abroad a lot but I won’t have any problem with that. I’m used to travelling for work. I’m not familiar with that new software but I’m sure I’ll get used to it pretty quickly.

Translate:

Je voyage habituellement une fois par mois pour le travail.

Answer 12

I usually travel once a month for work.

Question 13

Translate:

Je suis habituée de parler avec des Britanniques.

Answer 13

I’m used to speaking with British people.

Question 14

Translate:

Avant, je parlais toujours avec des collègues britanniques.

Answer 14

I used to speak all the time with British colleagues.