I find this lesson very confusing. The first two sections of it seem contradictory. In one example, it says use "rappeler (a quelqu'un) and in the very next one, it says, don't use de, but has eliminated the a. Can you please help me understand the difference?
Thanks much.
Hi Jehan,
1. Rappeler [quelqu'un/quelque chose] à [quelqu'un] = To remind [someone] of [someone/something]
2. Rappeler à [quelqu'un] de [faire quelque chose] = To remind [someone] to [do something]It may become clearer when you consider that “remind” in the models above has two distinct meanings
Case 1: remind = evoke a memory of, e.g.:
Il rappelle son ex à Maria – He reminds Maria of her ex. = He evokes the memory of her ex to Maria
Case 2:remind = jog the memory of, e.g.:
J'ai rappelé à Paul de faire la vaisselle. - I reminded Paul to do the washing up. = I jogged Paul’s memory to do the washing up.
In the case you mention: Elle me rappelle de Paula – She reminds me of Paula, the à has not really disappeared, it is encompassed in the INDIRECT object pronoun me (to me). This is really an example of case 1, above. Unlike English in French the de is superfluous.
I hope this has helped to make things clearer.
Tom
Tom this helps a bit-thank you. However, this one still does not make sense:
Where in English, you'd use of (She reminds me of Paula), there will be no preposition in French (Elle me rappelle de Paula). Why isn't this Elle me rapell a Paula? Isn't this as you said above evoke a memory?
Hello again, Jehan
From the lesson: “Where in English, you'd use of (She reminds me of Paula), there will be no preposition in French (Elle me rappelled de Paula)”.
You asked : “Why isn't this Elle me rappelle à Paula? Isn't this as you said above evoke a memory”
Yes, in this case the verb rappeler (remind) is evoking a memory. The construction in French is:
The person/thing who/which is the subject of the reminding (also the subject of the sentence) is in this case Elle.
The person/thing being reminded, unlike English, is denoted by the use of an indirect object (COI) (à quelqu’un). In the case above the COI is the indirect object pronoun me (=à moi).
The person/thing causing the reminding, unlike English, is denoted by the use of a direct object (COD), in this case the COD is Paula without any preposition.
Your proposition of: Elle me rappelle à Paula does not make much sense since there is no COD signifying who or what is the object of the reminding.
To recap with different phrases :
La barbe à papa (sujet) rappelle à Sylvie (COI), son enfance (COD). - Candy floss (cotton candy) reminds Sylvie of her childhood.
Les déferlantes (sujet) lui (COI) rappellent la planche à voile (COD) – The breakers remind him of windsurfing.
I hope this has made things clearer and has not further confused you.
Tom
Note : COD (complément d’objet direct, (COI) complément d’objet indirect).
Tom--
Thanks for sticking with me (plus this is the third time I'm typing this....must not be my day :) .
I've tried to put examples in the categories you noted:
1. Rappeler [quelqu'un/quelque chose] à [quelqu'un] = To remind [someone] of [someone/something] --Evokes a memory
Il rappelle son ex à Maria – He reminds Maria of her ex. = He evokes the memory of her ex to Maria
La barbe à papa (sujet) rappelle à Sylvie (COI), son enfance (COD). - Candy floss (cotton candy) reminds Sylvie of her childhood.
Les déferlantes (sujet) lui (COI) rappellent la planche à voile (COD) – The breakers remind him of windsurfing.
2. Rappeler à [quelqu'un] de [faire quelque chose] = To remind [someone] to [do something]--Jog the memory
J'ai rappelé à Paul de faire la vaisselle. - I reminded Paul to do the washing up. = I jogged Paul’s memory to do the washing up.
My first question is do I have this right?
My second question is the example below, still not seein how this fits.
Elle me rappelle Paula
Sorry to be a pain, this is truly making my brain hurt :)
Hi Jehan,
Thanks for sticking with me (plus this is the third time I'm typing this....must not be my day :) .
I've tried to put examples in the categories you noted:
1. Rappeler [quelqu'un/quelque chose] à [quelqu'un] = To remind [someone] of [someone/something] --Evokes a memory
Il rappelle son ex à Maria – He reminds Maria of her ex. = He evokes the memory of her ex to Maria
La barbe à papa (sujet) rappelle à Sylvie (COI), son enfance (COD). - Candy floss (cotton candy) reminds Sylvie of her childhood.
Les déferlantes (sujet) lui (COI) rappellent la planche à voile (COD) – The breakers remind him of windsurfing.
2. Rappeler à [quelqu'un] de [faire quelque chose] = To remind [someone] to [do something]--Jog the memory
J'ai rappelé à Paul de faire la vaisselle. - I reminded Paul to do the washing up. = I jogged Paul’s memory to do the washing up.
My first question is do I have this right? This is correct
My second question is the example below, still not seein how this fits.
Elle me rappelle Paula
Elle (Sujet) me (COI (=à moi)) rappelle Paula (COD)
This is exactly the same format as:
Les déferlantes (Sujet) lui (COI (=to him/her)) rappellent la planche à voile (COD), which I think you understand. The only difference between the two is that « Paula » being a proper noun (Prénom) does not require an article, whereas « planche à voile » being a common noun does need an article (la). It is perhaps the absence of an article in the « Paula » case that is causing the confusion. Another source of confusion may the lack of “de” in the French construction where English requires the “of”. Elle me rappelle Paula versus She reminds me of Paula. Again Paula is the COD and does not require a preposition after the verb.
Tom
Hopefully this helps to tie up the loose ends.
Tom
Thank you so much! You have been extremely helpful and patient. I do appreciate it.
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