toujours as still vs. always

Stephanie S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

toujours as still vs. always

This isn't directly related to the lesson content, but regarding the example

Sache que je pense toujours à toi.

Know that I'm still thinking of you

How do we know to translate toujours to "still" in this case, as opposed to "always"?

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Stephanie,

In this particular example

Sache que je pense toujours à toi. 

I think it means

Be aware that I still think about you. 

To say 'always', which I think is more 'all the time', you would probably say -

Sache que je pense constamment à toi

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Stephanie,

I'm not sure that it is correct to use a stressed pronoun for the first and second persons with the verb penser.

I would have written "Sache que je te pense encore." to express "Know that am still thinking of you"

I look forward to reading what the other contributors think?

Regards,

Jim

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Jim,

Just to clarify matters 

Sache que je te pense encore 

is incorrect.

it would be always 

Sache que je pense encore à toi / à elle/ à eux  etc.

in the case of a person.

In the case of a 'thing' you would use the pronoun y

Sache que j'y pense encore = Know that I am still thinking about it 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thanks, Cécile,

This grammatical point has been bothering me for some time  --  I realise now that my previous understanding was not quite right in the usage of penser.

Thanks again  Jim

Stephanie S. asked:

toujours as still vs. always

This isn't directly related to the lesson content, but regarding the example

Sache que je pense toujours à toi.

Know that I'm still thinking of you

How do we know to translate toujours to "still" in this case, as opposed to "always"?

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