Homework Help: French

Posted by Claire on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 6:48pm.

I have a poem that i need to translate in french could you please assist me.

A Friend- Un Ami
A smile in pain- un sourire dans la douleur
A cover from the rain- Une couverture de la pluie
A shoulder to lean on- une epaule pour se pencher sur
A person to depend on- une personne pour dependre de
A shelter from loneliness- un abri de la solitude
A help when life's a mess- une aide quand une vie un desordre
A light when everything is dark- une aide quand tout est sombre
A memory with it's mark- une memoire avec c'est la marque

I think a lot of it is incorrect but i gave it a try can you please correct any errors for me. Thank you so much!

French - SraJMcGin, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:08pm
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Not a bad effort!

instead of "in pain" what about "de douleur?"

shoulder = une épaule (accent aigu)

to lean against = pour s'appuyer contre
dépendre (accent aigu)
when life's = quand la vie est (soit = Subjunctive if "quand" is "whenever") en désordre (accent aigu)

a light = une lumière
l'obscurité = depending upon the connotation of "dark"
with it's mark = avec son empreinte

KEY to using a dictionary. Take for example the word "mark" and when you look it up, write down ALL the possibilities: marque, signe, point, note, tache, mille, but, empreinte. Now take EACH French word and look it up for the primary English meaning. There will be surprises! Keep in mind the context, or exactly how you use the word. Of course, as the writer, it's your choice which you choose! Trying to translate literally (word for word) is NEVER a good choice. Always try to use the structures, vocabulary, etc. you have mastered, if you can.

To avoid ending a line with a preposition, you might use the structure: "une épaule contre laquelle on peut s'appuyer" (for example)

bonne chance!

Mme
French - Anonymous, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:28pm
Merci Mme!!
Sorry but i have another have of my poem could you correct it for me too! :)
A hope when there's none there- un espoir quand tout est alle
A path who will take you everywhere- Un chemin qui vous prendra partout.
A hand to hold- Une main à tenir
A person who can never be sold-Une personne qui peut ne jamais être vendue
A person who will be there to help-Une personne qui sera là pour aider
A pure reflection of yourself- Une réflexion pure de vous-même
- French - SraJMcGin, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:34pm
  oops! I saw the one you posted later first! Please look there.
  
  Mme
French - jean paul, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 4:28am
un espoir quand tout est alle ---> un espoir quand tout s'en est allé

Un chemin qui vous prendra partout
Un chemin qui vous menera partout

Une personne qui peut ne jamais être vendue. (qui n'est pas à vendre)

Une personne qui sera là pour aider
(qui vous viendra en aide)

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