FRENCH - debating phrases

hello!
can anyone suggest to me some good phrases for use in a debate?
also, i would appreciate it if anyone gives me some opinions on what they think about vegetarianism in french. (serious, please!)

and i would like to know how to say these things in french!

1. What do you think of X?
2. How do I say X in french?
3. It doesn't matter
4. Regardless of

thanks!

Reply 1

Piggsil

1. Qu'est-ce que tu/vous penses/pensez de X?
2. Comment dit-on X en français?
3. For it doesn't matter I generally say ce n'est pas grave
4. Not sure about regardless of

Some debating phrases:

The obvious disagreement phrase: Je ne suis pas d'accord avec vous

And the less obvious: A mon avis votre argument ne tient pas du debout

A good one for stating your opinion - je déclare/affirme sans embages que....

Reply 2

*soph*

"It doesn't matter" is "ca m'est egal" - it's all the same to me.

Reply 3

Ludivine

*soph*

"It doesn't matter" is "ca m'est egal" - it's all the same to me.

Actually "ce n'est pas grave" is often a good way of saying "it doesn't matter". It really depends on what exactly you're trying to get across. Both can be correct. It could even be that candystrippa means something like, 'it doesn't matter what time' (n'import quelle heure) or 'it doesn't matter how old we are' (quelque soit notre age) or whatever.

If there's any specific context of "it doesn't matter" that you're after, candystrippa, let us know.

Reply 4

candystrippa

thanks!
becca, what does "A mon avis votre argument ne tient pas du debout" and "embages" ....mean?
and I wanted to know how to say "doesn't matter" as in something like "it doesn't matter where you are". how do I know which of "n'import quelle" or "quelque soit" to use?? >Ludivine
thanks so much

Reply 5

Mr. Jim

"n'importe ou" i think it'd be for it doesn't matter where you are

:smile:

Reply 6

Ludivine

mr jim is correct. Using "quelque soit" is good to get in but it's only appropriate when the sentence uses être. So, for "it doesn't matter where", it would be easier to use "n'importe où", though it's possible to use quelque soit bc you could always phrase it as "quelque soit le pays dans lequel vous résidez" (no matter what country you live in) or something. So it seems that they are pretty much interchangable, but if this is for something oral that you need to quickly form in your head then it might be easier to stick with n'importe quoi/qui/où etc. Even for written French it can be more annoying if you don't want to have to conjugate the subjunctive of être... Btw you can also use "peu importe" for exactly the same purpose, if you want yet more ways to say it!

But yeah. Use "n'importe où". :biggrin: