mental institution

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During a visit to a mental asylumUN ASILE PSYCHIATRIQUE, a man asked the director how they determined whetherSI a patient should be institutionalised.

The director explained, “Well, we fill up a bathtubNOUS REMPLISSONS UNE BAIGNOIRE. Then we give the person a teaspoonUNE CUILLÈRE À CAFÉ, a teacupUNE TASSE À THÉ, and a bucketUN SEAU, and ask them to emptyDE VIDER the bathtub.”

The man nodded confidentlyHOCHA LA TÊTE AVEC ASSURANCE. “Oh, I see! A normal person would use the bucket, because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”

The director frowned slightlyFRONÇA LÉGÈREMENT LES SOURCILS, then gestured to the orderliesFIT UN GESTE AUX SURVEILLANTS. “No, a normal person would pull the bathtub drain plugTIRER LA BONDE DE LA BAIGNOIRE. Now then… would you preferPRÉFÉRERIEZ-VOUS a bed near the window?”

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Vocabulary

Frown: to wrinkle the forehead in disapproval or thought.

Gesture: to make a movement with the hand or head to express an idea.

The director frowned slightlyFRONÇA LÉGÈREMENT LES SOURCILS at the man’s answer.

He gestured to the orderliesFIT UN GESTE AUX SURVEILLANTS before speaking.

Grammar

The joke mainly uses past simple to narrate events and reported speech, with a mix of past continuous and conditional structures for the explanation and final question.

Past simple: The director explained and the man nodded.

Reported speech / indirect question: A man asked the director how they determined whether a patient should be institutionalised.

Synonyms & Alternatives

Frowned slightly: scowled a little, looked puzzled.

Nodded confidently: agreed assuredly, bobbed his head surely.

Mini Dialogue

Doctor: We fill the basin and give Mr. Dupont a spoon, a mug, and a pail to empty it.

Visitor: Ah, a sane person would choose the pail!

Doctor: No, he would pull the drain plugTIRER LA BONDE.

Doctor: Would you prefer a room with a view?

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