request more clarification on idiomatic example phrase

R. E.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

request more clarification on idiomatic example phrase

This is a sample sentence from this lesson: 

J'ai de plus en plus de mal à me concentrer.

I understand the more and more part.  As a student, without the translation, I would not have come up with I'm struggling more and more to focus.   I was seeing this as ... I have (more and more) pain myself to concentrate.  Is there a lesson on avoir mal a that talks about struggling?  If so J'ai de plus en plus de mal avec cette example! :)

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Robin, 

I understand your frustation, as 'avoir mal à' and 'avoir du mal à' sound very similar but have very different meanings -

The expression is:

Avoir du mal à faire quelque chose To have difficulty in doing something

e.g.

Docteur! j'ai du mal à respirer = Doctor! I have difficulty breathing

BUT :

Docteur! J'ai mal au genou Doctor! My knee hurts

Bonne continuation!

 

 

 

 

R. E.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you very much for this excellent explanation!

Becki M.A1Kwiziq community member

Yes du mal = struggling to

J’ai du mal à comprendre 

R. E. asked:

request more clarification on idiomatic example phrase

This is a sample sentence from this lesson: 

J'ai de plus en plus de mal à me concentrer.

I understand the more and more part.  As a student, without the translation, I would not have come up with I'm struggling more and more to focus.   I was seeing this as ... I have (more and more) pain myself to concentrate.  Is there a lesson on avoir mal a that talks about struggling?  If so J'ai de plus en plus de mal avec cette example! :)

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