French expression: Appeler sous les drapeaux

Comments

November 6, 2009 at 9:25 am

(1) Gareth says:

2 Questions

Why is it Jusqu’en 1997 and not jusqu’a 1997? (Until 1997…)

Why is it :

…tous les Français se sont vus appeler sous les drapeaux.

and not

tous les Français sont appelés sous les drapeaux.

Thanks!

November 6, 2009 at 9:46 am

(2) Laura K Lawless says:

Gareth – All of the above are correct, although since it’s in the past, you’d have to say ont été appelés, not sont appelés, which is a present passive.

Just as there are often several ways to say things in English (to get drafted, to be drafted, to be conscripted), there are often several ways in French. My choice of one doesn’t necessarily mean the other is incorrect.

Laura K. Lawless
Learn French at About

November 6, 2009 at 1:35 pm

(3) Farouk says:

Hi laura
my question follows on from Gareth’s somewhat. This phrase -se sont vus- I can’t find any reference to it. Is there any more info on this. Is this a common phrase?

November 6, 2009 at 2:03 pm

(4) Laura K Lawless says:

Farouk – Se voir has numerous meanings. The one here is a passive construction, meaning “to find oneself, to be.” If you have a good dictionary, look up se voir and you’ll find plenty of examples.

Laura K. Lawless
Learn French at About

November 6, 2009 at 2:29 pm

(5) Eileen says:

I think the closest English equivalent would be “to call to the colours”

November 7, 2009 at 7:07 am

(6) Mike says:

Thanks for the word of the day, donc.

I hear “Dis, donc” so often in France, and tried to explain this to my brother-in-law. Much as I tried to explain it, he thought the expression was “Dix dents”. Ten teeth?

So I’ve forwarded the page to him. Thanks.

November 8, 2009 at 1:40 pm

(7) David P says:

….as above….”call to to the colours…”