Faire a + infinitive

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill)C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Faire a + infinitive

"Ce soir, je fais à dîner."  When I first read this example, I read the word, "diner" as a noun, (As in "Ce soir je fais le diner"). 

But after reading through the questions and seeing the example, "Je fais a manger", I suspect that it is really the infinitve form of the verb, "diner" = "to eat dinner".

This is a new expression for me. Am I understanding correctly that one can say, for example:

"Je fais a coudre" = I am sewing.

"Il fait a dessiner" = He is drawing.

"Nous faisons a dejeuner" = We are making lunch.

"Les enfants font a nettoyer leur chambre" = The children are cleaning up their room"

-?

And, I suspect that this expression would only be used when there is a concrete or tangible result of the action, ie."Vous faites a nager" might not work.

Thanks in advance for any explanation.

Is there a lesson on this? If not, it might be helpful to add one. 

Asked 2 years ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Shamrockhill,

Thank you for your question! This is a very interesting. 

You will only use "faire à + meal names" because it comes from the expression "faire [quelque chose] à manger / dîner - diner etc", where the "[quelque chose]" got dropped over time. 

Je fais à manger = I am making food

Je fais à dîner / diner = I am making dinner

Je fais à déjeuner = I am making lunch

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

N. Hilary (Shamrockhill)C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Celine,

Merci pour votre reponse ! This is indeed very helpful. Now, it makes sense to me. 

"Je vais faire quelque chose a manger" becomes simplified to: "Je vais faire a manger."

"Tu fais quelque chose a diner." becomes: "Tu fais a diner."

Is this considered 'slang' and used mostly in spoken language or is it generally accepted as correct French whether spoken or written. 

Also, may I suggest that your explanation is included in the lesson. I am sure that it would be very instructive to your learners.

Merci en avance ! 

Faire a + infinitive

"Ce soir, je fais à dîner."  When I first read this example, I read the word, "diner" as a noun, (As in "Ce soir je fais le diner"). 

But after reading through the questions and seeing the example, "Je fais a manger", I suspect that it is really the infinitve form of the verb, "diner" = "to eat dinner".

This is a new expression for me. Am I understanding correctly that one can say, for example:

"Je fais a coudre" = I am sewing.

"Il fait a dessiner" = He is drawing.

"Nous faisons a dejeuner" = We are making lunch.

"Les enfants font a nettoyer leur chambre" = The children are cleaning up their room"

-?

And, I suspect that this expression would only be used when there is a concrete or tangible result of the action, ie."Vous faites a nager" might not work.

Thanks in advance for any explanation.

Is there a lesson on this? If not, it might be helpful to add one. 

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