Grammar Help (koto ni nattara)

[turvy]

I'm struggling with the following passage, any help would be appreciated:

ファーブルは、不思議に思うことがあったら、自分で確かめず にはいられない子もでした。特に、虫のことになったら 、夢中です。

 

[Mike Cash]

虫になったら、夢中です。

When it came to bugs, he would lose himself (in fascination with the bugs).

 

[turvy]

Mmm thanks! What about the rest?

 

[Mike Cash]

Your subject line gave the impression that you understood the rest.

What specifically is it we can help you with?

 

[turvy]

True, but truth is, this sentence is too long for me, I understand almost every word in it but I can't make sense of the thing as a whole.

Particularly, what is 不思議に思うことがあったら?

 

[Toritoribe]

Have you learned the -tara conditional? What is the translation of 不思議に思う?

 

[turvy]

I know about the -tara conditional but I don't know what 不思議に思う is, er, thinking mysteriously?.

 

[Toritoribe]

OK, how about this?

何か(something)を不思議に思う ＝ 何かが不思議だと思う


不思議に思う modifies こと here.

 

[turvy]

不思議に思うことがあったら (when having strange thoughts?)
自分で確かめずにはいられない子もでした (children couldn't but check themselves)

So ファーブルは、不思議に思うことがあったら、自分で確かめず にはいられない子もでした。

I come up with nothing, it doesn't make sense to me at the moment.

 

[Toritoribe]

子どもでした

自分で確かめずにはいられない is also modifying 子ども.

Fabre is a child who....

 

[turvy]

What about:

Fabre was a child who couldn't but check for himself when he would think strange/mysterious things…

I think understand it better now because you made me realize the now obvious: ファーブルは … 子供でした。Fabre is the child…

 

[Toritoribe]

Right, but 不思議に思うことがあったら is more likely "when there is something that he thought strange/mysterious", i.e., "when he thought something was strange/mysterious".

 

[turvy]

Mmm, thanks a lot for your help, the fact that you are *really* trying to help is 不思議に思う to me but I am super grateful.

 

[Toritoribe]

To struggle to translate is far more useful than just to get the translation, isn't it?;-)

 

[Mike Cash]

To struggle to translate is far more useful than just to get the translation, isn't it?;-)

Something I wish the producers of NHK programs would learn.....