comparative french-english studies, ninth edition - World eBook ...

INFINITIF.
(c) 1. Qu'est-ce qni se laisse briiler pour garder un secret? 2. De quoi
s'agit-il? 3. Avez-vons resolu d'entreprendre cette affaire? 4. A qui
est-ce de parler?
(d) 1. It is a pleasure to hear him read. 2. The hope of being rewarded
induced him to restore the purse he had just found. 3. I am anxious
to know what will become of him. 4. These plants want watering (Infin.
5. We cannot remember having seen such a sight. 6. We hope
will excuse us for having kept him waiting so long. 7. She cannot
rsif).
help suspecting him. 8. I long to finish my work. 9. We were tired
of doing nothing. 10. When he was near dying, he sent for his three
sons. 11. I am far from thinking so. 12. He is going to call on him
with the intention of making him change his mind. 13. The certainty
of succeeding raised my spirits. 14. Newton was asked ( 237) how he
had succeeded in discovering the law of attraction; he answered: by (en)
thinking
of it.
XCVIP le$on: L'infinitif. 156.
(a) Je demande a parler. I ask leave to speak.
Leur temps s'employait a danser, Their time was spent 'in dancing, playa
jouer, a dormir. ^ ing, sleeping'.
Vous avez bien tarde a veniP. You have been 'long coming'.
II excelle a conduire un char dans He excels 'in driving' a chariot in the
(b)
la carriere. race -ground.
Apprendre (enseigner) a lire. To learn (to teach) 'reading'.
(
Je n'ai pas de peine a vous CPOire. J have no difficulty in believing' you.
La perfection de 1'bomme consiste The perfection of man consists l
in making*
a faire un bon usage de sa raison. good use of his reason.
II est a craindre que
cette entre- It is
l
107
to be feared' this enterprise will
prise n'e'choue. fail.
Ce conseil n'est pas a dedaigner. This advice is not 'to be
despised'.]
Je n'ai pas a meplaindre. I have no 'cause for complaining*.
C'est un example a suivre. It is an example 'worth following*.
C'est un proces a ne jamals finir. This is a law -suit 'likely never to end*.
C'est.
ais6 a faire. II est ais6 de faire cela.
II est difficile a contenter. II est difficile de le contenter.
1. Pourquoi a-t-il tarde si longtemps a descendre? C'est qu'il avait
encore deux calculs a faire. 2. Comment passe -t-il son temps? 11
passe la nuit a dormir et le jour a rien faire. 3. Est-elle decree a
partir? Non, elle s'est enfin resignee a Tester. 4. A quoi Lycurgue
avait-il destine les Lacedemoniens? A se soutenir par la valeur, a
tr&woer le contentement et la paix interieure dans 1'egalite et la pauvrete,