Interdire usage

Mike A.C1Kwiziq community member

Interdire usage

Bonjour! I saw that interdire was used as follows: "....interdit aux buralistes de..." My question is: why are we using "à" in this phrase? In Spanish, we use a personal "a" in front of people but I don't know if that's the case in French. Would be very grateful for an explanation, thanks! 

Asked 2 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

interdire à qqn de faire qqc. -- to forbid someone to do something

J'ai interdit aux enfants de faire du bruit. -- I have forbidden the children to make noise.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To add to Chris's answer, remember that some verbs in French require the preposition à or de. Sometimes the verb always has a following preposition and sometimes it modifies the meaning of the verb. Trying to define 'why' particular verbs need a particular preposition is often not fruitful !

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/verbs-with-a/  https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/verbs-with-de/

Interdire usage

Bonjour! I saw that interdire was used as follows: "....interdit aux buralistes de..." My question is: why are we using "à" in this phrase? In Spanish, we use a personal "a" in front of people but I don't know if that's the case in French. Would be very grateful for an explanation, thanks! 

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
I'll be right with you...