object pronouns

J. L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

object pronouns

Please help! Text: "Le matin on fait le lit. On le couvre pour faire joli et bien rangé." I translated it loosely as "we cover it(the bed) for 'it' to be pretty and tidy"  But why is it not '.. pour le faire joli et bien rangé ' (why is the object pronoun not repeated??) Without the object pronoun (pour le faire) couldnt it also mean "we cover it (the bed) to be 'pretty and tidy'...(we do it so we appear to be nice and organized). Bottom line... what is the grammar explanation, if any, for no 'le/la' between pour and faire in the text.

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Jameson,

 ... on couvre le lit pour faire joli et bien rangé

This is more about the overall look of the room, by covering the bed with a 'couvre- lit' ( bed cover), the room looks pretty and tidy.

Couldn't find this in the lesson, so without the full context, I can't answer more precisely.

 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Jameson,

But it is implied is it not?    "In the morning we make the bed. We cover it in order to make (it) nice and tidy."  In English I would agree with you, but I think it is implied  --  what other object could it be, other than the bed?

That's how I see it, for what it is worth.

Jim

J. L. asked:

object pronouns

Please help! Text: "Le matin on fait le lit. On le couvre pour faire joli et bien rangé." I translated it loosely as "we cover it(the bed) for 'it' to be pretty and tidy"  But why is it not '.. pour le faire joli et bien rangé ' (why is the object pronoun not repeated??) Without the object pronoun (pour le faire) couldnt it also mean "we cover it (the bed) to be 'pretty and tidy'...(we do it so we appear to be nice and organized). Bottom line... what is the grammar explanation, if any, for no 'le/la' between pour and faire in the text.

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