Why "I would make to build"

S. W.C1Kwiziq community member

Why "I would make to build"

Why "I would make to build" je ferais construire"  instead of "I would build" je construirais

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Stephen,

Faire + infinitive is used when you are not doing the action yourself.

Faire construire une maison to have a house built  (for you)

Construire une maison = to build a house

Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson ( and Q&A section) which will give you lots of examples -

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/faire-plus-infinitive-means-to-have-something-done

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In French, one is very particular when it comes to who does what. Take the simple task of cooking an egg. In English you'd say: "I am cooking an egg." But in French this would be: Je me fais cuisiner un œuf. Because, to French minds, it is the flame or heat which cooks the egg, not you. Similar when you build a house. It isn't really you who is building the house with your own hands. That's why you have faire between yourself and the verb construire.

S. W. asked:

Why "I would make to build"

Why "I would make to build" je ferais construire"  instead of "I would build" je construirais

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