Reflexive verbs (se moquer)I guess I find most reflexive verbs make some kind of sense in that I can see that an action is performed on oneself (e.g. se laver) or somehow internalized (e.g. s'amuser, se demander), Sometimes however I just need to know how words get formed and se moquer has me puzzled.
Best I can tell, it has been around as a reflexive verb for at least 500 years and probably comes from blowing your nose at someone as a gesture of contempt (vulgar Latin: muccare), as such it makes sense to be reflexive - as of course is the modern se moucher . Other theories are se moquer comes from dutch, german or piedmontese words for mumble, grumble or grimace, which also kind of makes sense as reflexives. BTW the theory it comes from Norman words for 'stirring manure' has been discredited* which is just as well because that wouldn't explain the reflexive
I appreciate this isn't exactly a level A1 question, but I was wondering if anyone out there can confirm or deny my theories?
*Accordng to Tresor de la Lange Francaise
For example, « We will arrive on tuesday, and we’ll leave the following day »
I know we can use « le jour prochain » and « le jour dernier », but is « le jour suivant/précédent » or « le lendemain/ la veille » also allowed?
I guess I find most reflexive verbs make some kind of sense in that I can see that an action is performed on oneself (e.g. se laver) or somehow internalized (e.g. s'amuser, se demander), Sometimes however I just need to know how words get formed and se moquer has me puzzled.
Best I can tell, it has been around as a reflexive verb for at least 500 years and probably comes from blowing your nose at someone as a gesture of contempt (vulgar Latin: muccare), as such it makes sense to be reflexive - as of course is the modern se moucher . Other theories are se moquer comes from dutch, german or piedmontese words for mumble, grumble or grimace, which also kind of makes sense as reflexives. BTW the theory it comes from Norman words for 'stirring manure' has been discredited* which is just as well because that wouldn't explain the reflexive
I appreciate this isn't exactly a level A1 question, but I was wondering if anyone out there can confirm or deny my theories?
*Accordng to Tresor de la Lange Francaise
You say that most words ending in -e are feminine, and yet don't give a single example... Same for masculine.... Wouldn't it make sense to actually list at least a few of the most common words that someone at the A1 level should know? I would be more likely to remember a rule if I'm looking at examples of that rule.... I mean, isn't that the point of examples? To help clarify and to help it stick in you brain. You only give examples of words that are the exceptions. While I understand your point, it seems kind of odd to me.
I am always getting this wrong and wonder if there is a simple way that people remember when to use encore/toujours for "still" - i.e. why is the correct answer for this exercise, "ils sont ENCORE jeunes" (they are still/again young) and not "ils sont TOUJOURS jeunes (they are still/always young) ?
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