On 2007-08-05, Karen in MN <> wrote:
>
> I seem to recall being told (either by my teacher or through
> another book, I don't quite remember which) that when you are
> referring to body parts, you use the definite article rather
> than a possessive. For example, "les yeux" rather than "ses
> yeux", "le bra" rather than "mon bra", "le tete" rather than
> "mon tete".
>
> However, I could swear that in some movies and some songs that
> the possessive is used, and I think I even heard that when I
> was in Paris (yay, I finally got there!!!)
>
> Which is right? Is there ever a time when it is proper to say
> "mes yeux" instead of "les yeux", did I just hear that wrong,
> or is it one of those things that people use in conversation
> that isn't necessarily proper (like leaving off the "ne" from
> "ne . . . pas")?
Your source is generally correct.
MY head aches -> J'ai mal à LA tête
He broke HIS arm -> Il s'est cassé LE bras
HER back hurts -> Elle a mal AU dos
However, the possessive can be used if the body part is the
subject of the sentence. You could say "mes yeux me piquent"
instead of "les yeux me piquent". "Son foie la fait souffrir, ma
tête me fait mal" sounds better than "le foie la fait souffrir,
la tête me fait mal".
Also, children use the possessive more readily. "J'ai mal à ma
tête" is definitely incorrect. It could be baby talk, or an
adult deliberately ignoring usage for comic effect.
--
André Majorel <URL:http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/>
(Counterfeit: fex@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
situkog@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
)
"Duty, honor, country" -- Douglas MacArthur
"Travail, famille, patrie" -- Philippe Pétain
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