Promener- to walk

Maria G.A1Kwiziq community member

Promener- to walk

Why the use of promener (to walk) in the sentence below! This is confusing.

Parfois, je prends la voiture juste pour me promener dans la campagne. 

Asked 4 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Not sure what translation has been given but «se promener» (to go for a ..) or «promener» (to take for a . . ) can be applied to means of transport other than walking. 

se promener à pied - to go for a walk; 

se promener en voiture - to go for a drive; 

« (se) Promener en voiture» is a commonly used French expression, so worth learning

See link for other examples of the same basic construct. 

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/promener/63556

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Just to add to Maarten's answer: it might also mean that she is taking the car to a nice spot and then gets out and takes a hike there.

J. L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Chris nailed it(as usual)!

I think the explanation will be made clearer with a loose translation" Sometimes she  takes the car JUST to (drive to the countryside) and 'se promener' (go for a walk)."

Below is a link to a great kwiz  lesson on the various verbs: Note especially the difference 'se promener' to take a walk(as she is describing..like on a trail) and promener (to walk a dog/pet). Also note marcher and aller.

https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/when-to-use-se-promener-promener-marcher-or-aller-a-pied.

Maria G. asked:

Promener- to walk

Why the use of promener (to walk) in the sentence below! This is confusing.

Parfois, je prends la voiture juste pour me promener dans la campagne. 

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Clever stuff happening!