Bienvenue! If you’re looking to expand your French vocabulary and express the concept of “taking something for granted,” you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll delve into both formal and informal ways to convey this idea in French. We’ll also touch upon regional variations if necessary, and provide you with numerous tips and examples along the way. So, let’s get started!
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Formal Ways to Express “Take for Granted” in French
When it comes to formal situations or professional settings, it’s important to use appropriate and polished language. Here are some formal expressions you can utilize:
- Considérer comme acquis(e): This phrase literally translates to “considered as acquired” and is commonly used in formal contexts. For example, “Il ne faut pas considérer la paix comme acquise” translates to “One should not take peace for granted.”
- Tenir pour établi: Meaning “to consider as established,” this formal expression is useful for emphasizing a sense of established facts or assumptions. For instance, “Nous ne devons pas tenir la stabilité économique pour établie” translates to “We should not take economic stability for granted.”
- Juger comme acquis(e): This phrase is equivalent to “consider as acquired” and signifies forming a judgment based on something that is taken for granted. An example sentence would be “Il ne faut pas juger la santé des autres comme acquise” meaning “We should not judge others’ health as something taken for granted.”
Informal Ways to Express “Take for Granted” in French
When speaking in a more casual or colloquial context, you can use these informal expressions:
- Penser que c’est normal: This phrase means “to think it’s normal” and is used to express taking something for granted in an informal way. For instance, “Ne pense pas que l’amitié soit toujours là, il ne faut pas que tu penses que c’est normal” translates to “Don’t assume that friendship will always be there; you shouldn’t think it’s normal.”
- Faire comme si de rien n’était: Literally translating to “to act as if nothing happened,” this expression suggests ignoring or disregarding the importance of something. For example, “Il fait comme si de rien n’était avec ses privilèges” means “He takes his privileges for granted.”
- Ne pas réaliser la chance que l’on a: Meaning “to not realize the luck one has,” this phrase highlights a lack of appreciation or awareness. An example sentence would be “Elle ne réalise pas la chance qu’elle a d’avoir une famille aimante” translating to “She doesn’t realize how lucky she is to have a loving family.”
Regional Variations
The French language has some regional variations in expressions, and this topic is no exception. Let’s explore a few regional variations to say “take for granted” in French:
Prendre pour argent comptant (Québec): This expression is specific to Quebec and translates to “to take for granted” in a more literal sense. For instance, “Il prend pour argent comptant tout ce qu’on lui dit” means “He takes everything he’s told for granted.”
Donner valeur d’évidence (Belgium): In Belgium, this expression is commonly used to convey the idea of taking something for granted. For example, “Il donne valeur d’évidence les avantages de la vie en ville” translates to “He takes the benefits of city life for granted.”
Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you better understand how to use these expressions:
- Context is key: The choice between formal and informal expressions depends on the context, so be mindful of the situation in which you’re using these phrases.
- Pay attention to verb tenses: Adjust the verb form according to the subject and tense of the sentence. Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject while conveying the meaning of “take for granted.”
- Expand your vocabulary: To enrich your French vocabulary further, consider synonyms such as “oublier d’apprécier” (to forget to appreciate) or “négliger la valeur de” (to neglect the value of) to convey similar sentiments.
Now, let’s put our knowledge into practice with some sample sentences:
“Elles considèrent leurs privilèges comme acquis.”
“Il pense que tout lui est dû, il fait comme si de rien n’était.”
“Ne jugez pas votre santé comme acquise, prenez-en soin.”
“On ne doit pas tenir la réussite pour établie, il faut continuer à travailler.”
“Ne réalise pas la chance que tu as d’avoir une famille aussi aimante.”
“A Paris, on donne valeur d’évidence les nombreux musées.”
“Ne prends pas pour argent comptant tout ce qu’on te dit.”
Remember, practice is the key to mastering any language, so don’t hesitate to incorporate these expressions into your everyday conversations. They will add depth and fluency to your French skills.
Congratulations on expanding your vocabulary with these helpful expressions for “take for granted” in French! Keep up the excellent work, and continue to explore the richness of the French language. Bonne chance!
