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01-02-2015, 02:47 PM   #1
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Need some help on english phrase.

Is there some native english speaker who could help me on the following phrase:

"Life will never be what you hoped for, but only what you are making from it. "

For the context, I would like to use this phrase in my thesis, but I do not like the verb "making" in the second part of it. Also the "but only" bothers me a bit.. (but I am no native speaker, just fluent and still learning)
Does it sounds right for you?

If it can help, the closest translation into french would be : "la vie ne sera jamais telle que tu as pu l'espérer, mais seulement telle que tu la façonne".
I coudn't find a satisfying translation for façonner

Thanks for the inputs...

01-02-2015, 02:53 PM   #2
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Life will never be what you hoped for, only what you make of it.
01-02-2015, 02:54 PM - 2 Likes   #3
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I would use "Life will never be what you hope for, only what you make of it." Note that I suggested "hope" instead of "hoped" as the opening phrase "will be" is future tense, but "hoped" is past tense.
01-02-2015, 03:12 PM - 1 Like   #4
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I would split it into two sentences; "Life can never be what you hope for. It can only be what you make it."
"Hope for" is more forward looking than "hoped for" which reflects on the past. "What you make it" suggests choice and active participation to me, where "what you make of it" is more passive. But what you need depends a bit on the context for your thesis.

01-02-2015, 03:20 PM   #5
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PJ1 has a good point. It sounds right to me.
01-02-2015, 03:41 PM   #6
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Thands TinaS, Parallax and PJ1.

PJ1: I like this alternative, although I would like to keep it as one sentence. And yes, the idea is to reflect that hope is part of the past...

Parallax: I didn't consider the first phrase in present tence, yet it sounds really good Thanks for that.. But odes it make sence to keep the second part in past?
"Life will never be what you hope for, only what you are making of it" ?
Keeping the "making of it" tence to show that it is not definitve?
01-02-2015, 03:44 PM   #7
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What you make of it would still be future tense, as is "life Will".
"Making of it" is present tense, so that would still be mixing tenses.


Last edited by Parallax; 01-02-2015 at 03:49 PM.
01-02-2015, 03:57 PM   #8
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Well I don't know if it makes sence in English, but Parallax you nailed it. The meaning is really to say that hope was part of the past, whereas "make" is still doable and changeable...

I understand that mixing tenses is not the best but does it makes sence? I mean, does it leads to the meaning I want it to have?
01-02-2015, 04:06 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by lepiallou Quote
The meaning is really to say that hope was part of the past,
Okay, that puts it in a different light. With that in mind, hoped instead of hope may actually work better, but "making of it" still troubles me.
01-02-2015, 04:08 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Parallax Quote
"making of it" still troubles me.
Well I guess I didn't express myself the best way, but that was in my first post
01-02-2015, 04:21 PM   #11
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Technically speaking, ending a sentence with a preposition ("for"), or even a sentence part (i.e. before a comma or semicolon), is incorrect English. It is, however, in common usage. I wouldn't use it in a term paper, but for less serious uses it's fine.


I would say,
"Life is never what you hoped. Life is what you make."
01-02-2015, 04:42 PM - 2 Likes   #12
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A shorter and more succinct version: "Life sucks and then you die."
01-02-2015, 04:50 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by NicoleC Quote
Technically speaking, ending a sentence with a preposition ("for"), or even a sentence part (i.e. before a comma or semicolon), is incorrect English. It is, however, in common usage. I wouldn't use it in a term paper, but for less serious uses it's fine.


I would say,
"Life is never what you hoped. Life is what you make."
I'd still leave on the "of it" in the second sentence, it will sound more familiar to people. Do not say "making of it" -- that will sound weird to any native speaker. If it was used very specifically (probably with an additional phrase following) it could work, but as a general statement, the future tense ("make of it") is appropriate.
01-02-2015, 04:53 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by lepiallou Quote
"la vie ne sera jamais telle que tu as pu l'espérer, mais seulement telle que tu la façonne".
Life will never be will what you had hoped, but only what you make of it.

(I've followed the original verb tenses.)
01-02-2015, 05:09 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by lepiallou Quote
Is there some native english speaker who could help me on the following phrase:

"Life will never be what you hoped for, but only what you are making from it. "

For the context, I would like to use this phrase in my thesis, but I do not like the verb "making" in the second part of it. Also the "but only" bothers me a bit.. (but I am no native speaker, just fluent and still learning)
Does it sounds right for you?

If it can help, the closest translation into french would be : "la vie ne sera jamais telle que tu as pu l'espérer, mais seulement telle que tu la façonne".
I coudn't find a satisfying translation for façonner

Thanks for the inputs...
pehhaps the word you want as opposed to make would be fashioned or shaped

Although it might change the meaning, maybe up it should "life is never what you hoped for but you are shaped by it"
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