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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).
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woland
Вообще, если уж и выразить это по русски, то звучать данная фраза должна так:Quote:
Originally Posted by adoc
За покупку книги в этом магазине полагается бесплатный кофе и майка.
The Russian language is packed with impersonal constructions, a useful one indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Woland