What is the use of "vous" in this French sentence?
Et l'epicier qui est tout pres de chez vous peut vous aider.
I have no prob with the meaning of the above sentence!
But I am confused about the appearance of the first vous.
What should there be a "vous" after chez and before peut? What is its function?
Can we say: Et l'epicier qui est tout pres de ton chez peut vous aider.
It means "And the grocer who is very close to your home can help you."
Chez vous = Your home.
Chez XXX = At XXX's home or at XXX's shop, etc.
" have no prob with the meaning of the above sentence "
I think you did not understand the sentence.
each "vous" has e meaning, as it would have in english.
Et l'epicier qui est tout pres de chez vous peut vous aider.
it means:
And the grocer who is very close to YOU's can help YOU.
Induciomaro Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:22 am GMT
It means "And the grocer who is very close to your home can help you."
Chez vous = Your home.
Chez XXX = At XXX's home or at XXX's shop, etc.
observer Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:00 pm GMT
" have no prob with the meaning of the above sentence "
I think you did not understand the sentence.
each "vous" has e meaning, as it would have in english.
Et l'epicier qui est tout pres de chez vous peut vous aider.
it means:
And the grocer who is very close to YOU's can help YOU.
=====================
Why vous is put behind chez?
<< Why vous is put behind chez? >>
Because "chez vous" means "at your home"
- "chez moi" = "at my home"
- "chez lui / chez elle / chez eux " = "at his / her / their home"
- "chez quelqu'un" = "at someone's home"
- "chez Moe" = "Moe's bar"
- "près de vous" = "close to you"
- "près de chez vous" = "close to your home" = "in your neighbourhood"
- "tout près de chez vous" = "in your immediate neighbourhood"
"Chez" is one of the simplest and least ambiguous French prepositions. The Germans translate it with "bei", the Italians with "da", but both can carry other meanings.
Swedish has a good equivalent with "hos", which is a derivate of "hus" (= "house").
" Why vous is put behind chez? "
"chez" is a bit like 's in English. When you said "chez Marc", it is like saying " at marc's"; meaning "at marc's home"
The reason why it is put behind is because french is a romance language; its word order doesn't work like english's. The french expression "chez moi", "chez Marc" is constructed like the italian "Da me", "Da Marco", etc. English is constructed a complete different way, with different logic and different woord order.
the etymology of "chez" , even if it is not obvious is coming from "casa". casa-case-chaze-chez
etymologically speaking, and with the same meaning "chez moi" it is also the equivalent of Italian "casa mia".
<< The reason why it is put behind is because french is a romance language; its word order doesn't work like english's. The french expression "chez moi", "chez Marc" is constructed like the italian "Da me", "Da Marco" >>
-- Putting prepositions before nouns is in no way specifically Romance...
Swedish does the same with "hos", which is also a derivate of "house", just like "case" --> "chez"
" -- Putting prepositions before nouns is in no way specifically Romance... "
I didn't say it was specific. but in that case the romance languages worl=k that way while Englihs does not. I just say that there is no reason that french follow the English pattern since it generally follow different gramatical features, being part of another linguistical family. And it=n that familiy french share similar features, which, of course can be found in other linguitci groups too!
casa mia".
Chez moi = a casa mia
<<The reason why it is put behind is because french is a romance language>>
Bullshite! This is the most ridiculously bullish claim I've heard yet. It's not because French is a ROMANCE language--it's because that's how it is in French, that's it. There is no guidebook stating that this is how Romance languages do it and no other way, and they must all conform. You smack like you're trying too hard to make French be identified with Romance. Just chill the F**k out, Man. French is securely a Romance language. We know that. We accept that. You don't need to hyper-exaggerstate.
sheesh