Muriel is expecting.
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Chris
Kwiziq community member
18/06/18
Hi Paul, such things are difficult to explain logically. This isn't a grammatical issue.
Muriel attend means Muriel is waiting.
Muriel attend un bébé. -- Muriel is waiting for a baby. Or, as we would say in English, Muriel is expecting a baby.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Paul
Kwiziq community member
18/06/18
Thanks for your answer Chris, but that is not what I am asking. If I say to you in English, my wife is expecting, you would understand that she is expecting a baby. If I say to a French person ma femme attend, will the French person understand that my wife is expecting a baby?
Chris
Kwiziq community member
18/06/18
No. I thought I had addressed that point by saying the Muriel attend means Muriel is waiting. I guess I wasn't clear enough.

Paul
Kwiziq community member
18/06/18
Thanks Chris. So I understand now that your advice is that a French person would not understand that my wife is expecting if I say ma femme attend.
Chris
Kwiziq community member
18/06/18
Yes, exactly.
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Paul
Kwiziq community member
17 June 2018
5 replies
Muriel is expecting.
In this quiz "Muriel is expecting" can only be translated as "Muriel attend un bébé". Can you please explain why "Muriel attend" is not acceptable French?
This question relates to:
French lesson "Attendre quelqu'un vs s'attendre à quelque chose = to wait vs to expect"