Use of attendre to mean expect

Rob L.C1Kwiziq community member

Use of attendre to mean expect

I am having trouble reconciling the 'correct' answer to the test question with the lesson. Specifically, below is the question and correct answer according to the program, but this use of 'attend un garçon' meaning 'expecting' does not seem to reflect the lesson. What do I have wrong?

"Cette infirmière attend un garçon." can mean:This nurse is expecting a boy.This nurse is waiting for a boy.
Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Rob, 

In the example you give 'attendre' means both to wait and to expect and we would need more context to determine which one is correct -

Cette infirmière attend un garçon ( qui va naître vers la fin du mois)

or 

Cette infirmière attend un garçon ( qui va la ramener chez elle ) 

But I would probably lean towards the first one!

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To expect in general means "s'attendre", EXCEPT, as noted in the lesson:
ATTENTION: when talking about pregnancy, you use attendre:

chris w.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

In English it is extremely unlikely you would say 'this nurse is expecting a boy' and mean she was about to have a male baby. The intimacy of knowing the sex of her embryo and having the right to communicate it does not chime with 'this nurse'. generally speakin the only people allowed to communicate this sort of information are close relatives, who would use her name. Please note this when you review the lesson.

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Chris, 

For the purpose of the exercise, both translations are accepted -

This nurse is waiting for a boy

and

This nurse is expecting a boy

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Re: chris w.´s comment above, one could imagine this being two staff working in a clinic where the nurse is actually a patient, and one notifying the other of the baby’s sex.

Use of attendre to mean expect

I am having trouble reconciling the 'correct' answer to the test question with the lesson. Specifically, below is the question and correct answer according to the program, but this use of 'attend un garçon' meaning 'expecting' does not seem to reflect the lesson. What do I have wrong?

"Cette infirmière attend un garçon." can mean:This nurse is expecting a boy.This nurse is waiting for a boy.

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