Thread: Some Impersonal Constructions

In English, while describing a situation, one might say...

"If you go this book store and buy a book, they will give you free coffee and a t-shirt"

How would you say this in Russian? "You" is not referring to the person being addressed, but rather anyone who might go to the book store. "They" is not particularly specific either...it refers to the people who work in the book store.

Thanks

The literal tranlsation would be something like that "Если пойти в этот книжный магазин и купить книгу, то за это дадут бесплатный кофе и майку."

I'd say some serious rephrasing is necessary for it to sound a bit more naturally and closer to the original meaning.

Par example (pardon my French)

Если купить книгу в этом магазине, то за это полагается бесплатный кофе и майка.

Thanks! I've now learned a new construction (seems like a useful one).

Originally Posted by Woland

How would you say this in Russian? "You" is not referring to the person being addressed, but rather anyone who might go to the book store.

In Russian we can use that construction too: Если вы пойдёте в этот магазин и купите книгу, то вам дадут ... In such cases it is usually clear from the context that "вы" doesn't refer to any particular person.

Originally Posted by adoc

The literal tranlsation would be something like that "Если пойти в этот книжный магазин и купить книгу, то за это дадут бесплатный кофе и майку."

I'd say some serious rephrasing is necessary for it to sound a bit more naturally and closer to the original meaning.

Par example (pardon my French)

Если купить книгу в этом магазине, то за это полагается бесплатный кофе и майка.

Вообще, если уж и выразить это по русски, то звучать данная фраза должна так:

За покупку книги в этом магазине полагается бесплатный кофе и майка.

Originally Posted by Woland

Thanks! I've now learned a new construction (seems like a useful one).

The Russian language is packed with impersonal constructions, a useful one indeed.