I have to write a birthday card to an American..

Annegrit   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:11 pm GMT
Well, I have to write a birthday card to an American and I wonder if it's a good american way to say it like the following:

Congratulations for your birthday!
We wish you all the best and a blessed time with your family.
Thank you for taking care of Tabea.

God may bless you!


(my friend Tabea stays with his family as an aupair)
Can you help me?

Thanks, Annegrit
Terry   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:23 pm GMT
<<Congratulations for your birthday! >>

We usually just say, Happy Birthday! I wouldn't use congratulations.

<<God may bless you!>>

Here people would say either:

May God bless you!

Or just: God bless you!

The rest of your note is just fine, Annegrit.
Annegrit   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:25 pm GMT
Thanks a lot!!!
And so fast.. i'm surprised.

Would give you a kiss, if I'd be where you are ;-)
Candy   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:29 pm GMT
Just a point about prepositions, Annegrit: we would say 'Congratulations ON...' not 'for' - eg, "congratulations on passing your exams'. I wouldn't say 'a blessed time with your family' either - 'happy or wonderful time' would sound more natural.
Annegrit   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:35 pm GMT
I think I'll write "blessed", because I mean it like this.

It's one thing I never understood about America. They say always "God bless you" and don't mean it. Well I know a blessing is very worthy and I wouldn't use God's name just as an empty phrase...

Well thanks for you help, every thing I learn makes me better ;-)
Candy   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:37 pm GMT
Where are you from, Annegrit? Germany, perhaps?? :)
Annegrit   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:39 pm GMT
That's right - what made you think that?
Candy   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:43 pm GMT
Because I teach English to Germans, and I'm very familiar with the way they use English! :)
Annegrit   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:50 pm GMT
Thought so. But its the same with everyone who learns another language. And really I respect those people who are able to learn how to change verbs in german (flektion etc).
Candy   Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:57 pm GMT
Language learners make fairly predictable mistakes in the target language, because of interference from their native language. When I taught Poles, it was exactly the same - it was pretty easy to know what areas to concentrate on.
Terry   Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:46 pm GMT
<<I wouldn't say 'a blessed time with your family' either - 'happy or wonderful time' would sound more natural. >>

It would sound more natural to me too, Candy, but then I'm not religious, so I don't tend to give blessings. I've heard religious people use the term "blessed time," though, so I figured it would pass muster.
Candy   Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:52 pm GMT
It just sounded a little off to me, somehow, but then I wouldn't bless anyone either (except when sneezing!)
Terry   Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:56 pm GMT
<<Thanks a lot!!!
And so fast.. >>

You're welcome Annegrit. Anytime.
Guest   Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:46 pm GMT
"And really I respect those people who are able to learn how to change verbs in german (flektion etc)."

You mean conjugate verbs?
Laura Braun   Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:26 am GMT
Happy Birthday!

We wish you all the best and the greatest time with your family.
Thank you for taking care of my pet, Tabea.
God bless you
Love
(that sound more american)