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  • Raymond Queneau

    Passé simple → English translation

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Passé simple

Ce fut midi.
Les voyageurs montèrent dans l'autobus.
On fut serré.
Un jeune monsieur porta sur sa tête
un chapeau entouré d'une tresse, non d'un ruban.
Il eut un long cou.
 
Il se plaignit auprès de son voisin
des bousculades que celui-ci lui infligea.
Dès qu'il aperçut une place libre,
il se précipita vers elle et s'y assit.
 
Je l'aperçus plus tard devant la gare Saint-Lazare.
Il se vêtit d'un pardessus et un camarade qui se trouva là lui fit cette remarque : il fallut mettre un bouton supplémentaire.
 
Translation

Simple past

It was midday.
The passengers got on the bus.
It was crowded.
A young man wore a hat on his head which had a braid around it
and not a ribbon.
He had a long neck.
 
He complained about his neighbour
bumping into him.
As soon as he saw a vacant seat,
he rushed over to it and sat down.
 
I saw him later, in front of the Saint-Lazare station.
He was wearing a coat and a friend, who was there, told him this:
another button should be added.
 
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