using partir or sortir

Laura C.C1Kwiziq community member

using partir or sortir

Hello

on the quiz: "we are leaving at four:" I chose "nous sortons à quatre," because I took it to mean "in the process of." But "partons" is correct, because "sortons" requires an actual place. Is that correct? 

Thanks

We are leaving at four o’clock." ?Nous partons à quatre heures.Nous laissons à quatre heures.Nous quittons à quatre heures.Nous sortons à quatre heures.
Asked 6 months ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Laura, 

If you said -

Nous sortons à 4 heures 

It would mean that you were going out at 4, inferring some sort of outing.

if you said -

Nous sortons du bureau/du cinéma à 4 h. 

it will mean you are leaving the particular place, the office, the cinema at 4 p.m. but you need the preposition 'de'.

So the only correct answer for we are leaving was -

Nous partons à 4 h.

As Jim said, it is tricky.

Hope this helps

 

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Laura,

It's tricky using sortir because this verb can be used transitively or intransitively depending on context.

Your proposal involves the preposition à which can be interpreted as going out as a group of four.

https://dictionnaire.lerobert.com/definition/sortir

I think that you may find the link above helpful to supplement your understanding.

Bonne journée

Jim

Laura C. asked:

using partir or sortir

Hello

on the quiz: "we are leaving at four:" I chose "nous sortons à quatre," because I took it to mean "in the process of." But "partons" is correct, because "sortons" requires an actual place. Is that correct? 

Thanks

We are leaving at four o’clock." ?Nous partons à quatre heures.Nous laissons à quatre heures.Nous quittons à quatre heures.Nous sortons à quatre heures.

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