Hello and welcome to LetThemTalk the channel that goes deeper into everything about the
English language and today we've got another video in our series two minute grammar when
you take two minutes away from your busy schedule to learn some English grammar.And we've got
something special for you today we're going to look at the English of Emmanuel Macron
the president of France. Now President Macron recently gave an interview to the BBC in English
and I must say President Macron's English is excellent in fact it's more than excellent
it's outstanding. Yes, it's true that he sounds noticeably French. but his pronunciation was
certainly good enough always understandable and never hindered his expression in any way.
However, I'm not here to talk about his pronunciation we might look at that another time, but rather
his grammar. Now, the interview lasted about 25 minutes and during that time Macron made
just a few small mistakes one of which we'll look at in more detail in a moment. But his
English is remarkably good and he's never lived in an English speaking country. I have
students who tell me that it's impossible to speak English fluently without living in
an English speaking country. Well President Macron is proof that that this is not true.
Ok so let's have a quick look at the few mistakes that he made. And by the way nobody in the
British media made any reference to these tiny grammar mistakes.content they were focusing
more on his content which is right.....President Macron made a few mistakes with the use of
the word MUCH and VERY MUCH
Can you spot them?
That it's very much important because
and again
because it's very much important
and again
It's very much important for both of us.
in English we don't usually put VERY MUCH before an adjective or an adverb. You would
usually stress the phrases just with VERY. "It was very important", or use another word
such as EXTREMELY. "It was extremely important." There are a few exceptions to this rule we
say VERY MUCH AFRAID, and before some past participles when they are used as adjectives.
"I very much enjoyed our talk". but with IMPORTANT this is not common.
We have to be very much coordinated
In the same way we wouldn't use VERY MUCH before coordinated we say it was WELL-CO-ORDINATED.
It was too much favourable just for The City.
Again we wouldn't use TOO MUCH with FAVOURABLE better to say "too favourable" or "it favoured
The City too much."
In a couple of cases President Macron seems to be translating directly from French.
But in function of the nature of the negotiation
In English we don't normally say IN FUNCTION OF he's translating word for word the French
expression
What President Macron means is something like ON THE BASIS the negotiation
We will be unhappily 27.
UNHAPPILY is a direct translation from the French and although the word does exist in
English it's probable that he means UNFORTUNATELY. Also he says "we will be 27". In English when
we are talking about ourselves and other people we usually talk inpersonally.using THERE
ARE. So a native speaker will probably say. "Unfotunately there will only be 27 of us."
Did you raise those with the Chinese President?
I rose with all the leaders I met.
I rose them is that right? Now, this is interesting and it's certainly a common mistake and we're
going to look at this in more detail now. iIt's time for 2 minute grammar
So we're going to look at the difference between the verbs to RAISE and RISE words that are
often confused and not just by President Macron.
Let's first have a look at the verb TO RAISE
RAISE is a regular verb.
The past tense is RAISED and the past participle is RAISEDand the present participle is RAISING
RAISE means to lift to a higher position. The important thing here is that it is a transitive
verb (this means it's always followed by an object) so you raise something. That's very important
so I'll repeat it you have to raise something so for example.
For example in class if you know the answer you “raise your arm”.
Let's raise our glasses and make a toast
You raise children. That means bring them up.
You can raise a question
a government can raise taxes.
A shop can raise prices.
Easy huh?
Ok what about RISE
RISE is an irregular verb the past is ROSE and the part participle RISEN the present
participle is RISING.
RISE means to come up or go up to a higher position.
RISE is an intransitive verb which means it doesn't take a direct object. So the thing
that rises happens but it doesn't do anything to anything else. So for example
bread rises in the oven.
an airplane rises into the clouds.
The sun rises at about 8am at this time of year.
The temperature is rising.
if you put on the heating then it will raise the temperature.
So let's have a look at President again
Did you raise those with the Chinese President?
I ROSE with all the leaders I met
So did you spot the mistake this time? Yes that's right he should have said "raised them".
So there is A SOMETHING here which is being raised so the correct word is RAISE
and not TO RISE
OK that was about 2 minutes wasn't it? And as I said these English grammar mistakes by
President Macron were on the whole pretty small. He's English really is exceptionally
good. And what about the politicians in your country. Do they speak English as well as
President Macron? Let us know in the comments. And I remind you that we are a language school
in the heart of Paris not far from the Elysée. So President Macron if you are watching and
you do need some extra lessons or anyone else who'is in Paris come and join us or go to
our website www.Letthemtalk.fr.
Thank you for watching, stay mellow and more English language videos coming soon