Merci de venir

Margaret G.C1Kwiziq community member

Merci de venir

Why can’t merci de  venir be translated as thanks for coming?

Asked 3 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Margaret, 

As it says in the lesson -

"In French, you can use merci de + [infinitif] to express Please + [do something] in a formal/professional context."

It refers to an action which has not taken place yet :

Merci d'apporter un cadeau symbolique = Please bring a symbolic gift 

Merci d'arriver à l'heure = Please arrive on time 

Bonne Continuation!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Merci de venir -- thank you for coming. In French, this is a very polite request for someone to come. If you want to make it clear that you are thanking someone, you can say merci d'être venu(e). Usually there is no confusion between the two, because if you're thanking someone for something he hasn't done yet, it can only be a polite request.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

To thank someone for "having come" you need to use «merci d'être venu» as it is a completed action. (Merci d'avoir past participle for verbs that use avoir in passé composé). Using «merci de venir» (or any other verb infinitive) is effectively saying 'please come' (please verb).  In English we might say "thanks in advance for coming" (or whatever the infinitive indicates)

https://www.frenchspanishonline.com/magazine/thank-you-for-merci-pour-or-merci-de/

Merci de venir

Why can’t merci de  venir be translated as thanks for coming?

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