Usage of vous to indicate from you in the sentence ‘.... je vous ai acheté la dernière fois.’ I would have expected comme j’ai acheté de vous...

John R.A2Kwiziq community member

Usage of vous to indicate from you in the sentence ‘.... je vous ai acheté la dernière fois.’ I would have expected comme j’ai acheté de vous...

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi John,

I think the problem stems from the fact that 

acheter quelque chose à quelqu'un 

can mean both

to buy someone something ( to make a gift)

and also

to buy from someone.( as a transaction).

In this case as it a 'commerçant' we know that the person wants the same joint of beef that he/she bought from him (= that he sold her) last time.

Take a look at these examples -

Il ne faut jamais acheter à quelqu'un dans la rue You must never buy from someone in the street 

Pour Noël, je leur ai acheté un abonnement à Paris Match = For Christmas I bought them a Paris Match subscription

J'ai acheté une parcelle de terrain à mon voisin -----> Je lui ai acheté une parcelle de terrainI have bought a piece of land from my neighbour ----> I have bought a piece of land from him

It looks confusing but the context will determine whether it is a gift or a transaction.

The pronouns you will use will be indirect object pronouns to replace the preposition à.

Hope this helps!

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

If you post the entire sentence, I could try to help you. But going back to the dictation exercise and listening to it, trying to identify the spot you have a problem with, then coming back here and posting a reply makes it cumbersome.

James M.C1Kwiziq community member
Il me faudrait un succulent rôti de bœuf, comme celui que je vous ai acheté la dernière fois. 
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It is “acheter qqc (à qqn)”. 

https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/why-french-verbs-followed-preposition-a-infinitive/

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/verbs-with-a/

Usage of vous to indicate from you in the sentence ‘.... je vous ai acheté la dernière fois.’ I would have expected comme j’ai acheté de vous...

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