Bonjour - Can someone explain the grammaire for "je vois l'architecte arriver"? Why is "arriver" an infinitive? Merci!
je vois l'architecte arriver
- « Back to Q&A Forum
- « Previous questionNext question »
je vois l'architecte arriver
Hi White,
Just to add to what has already been said, please take a look at Aurélie's answer to a similar question.
Maybe the problem is because 'l'architecte' (COD) is before the second verb arriver?
It could have been -
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/questions/view/deux-verbes-en-une-sentance
Hope this helps!
Hi White,
I haven't listened to the exercise but have noted the title and words of the introduction.
"Je vois l'architecte arriver" --> I see the architect coming or arriving.
Je - subject pronoun first person singular
Vois - first person singular conjugation of voir
L'architecte - direct object of voir
Arriver - verb infinitive, intransitive usage
Hope this helps.
Bonne continuation.
Jim
He vois l'architecte arriver. -- I see the architect arrive.
In French, the infinitive can be used in this way to stand for an action that's happening right now, concurrently with the other action mentioned in the sentence (je vois).
Bonjour White,
I think the confusion comes from the difference in how we would express this in English: "...I see the architect arriving..."
The lesson below may help. It explains the use of the infinitive in French where we use the "-ing" form of the verb in English:
Translating the -ing form of verbs with L'Infinitif (not -ant) (lawlessfrench.com)
If this link doesn't work, just go to: Library then Click on A2 and look under:
Verb tenses and conjugaisons.
Hope this helps.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Find your French level for FREE
Test your French to the CEFR standard
Find your French level