Avoid in French: Top Mistakes You Should Steer Clear Of
Making the leap from learning French to speaking like a native is a grand adventure filled with challenges. One of the hurdles in mastering the French language is the proper use of the word ‘avoid’. As with any language, there are common mistakes learners often make. In this blog post, we will delve into these errors so you can sidestep them and enhance your fluency.
Understanding ‘Éviter’ – The French Verb for ‘Avoid’
The verb ‘éviter’ is what we use when we want to say ‘avoid’ in French. The most common mistake learners make is confusing ‘éviter de’ with ‘éviter que’. ‘Éviter de’ is followed by an infinitive verb, indicating the action you want to avoid, while ‘éviter que’ must be followed by ‘ne’ plus a subjunctive verb, indicating what you want to prevent from happening.
Correct Usage Examples:
- Éviter de + [infinitive]: Il faut éviter de parler pendant le film.
- Éviter que + [ne] + [subjunctive]: Elle fait tout pour éviter qu’il ne soit triste.
Éviter de Faire – Avoid Doing Something
When you want to say ‘avoid doing something’ in French, ‘éviter de’ is your go-to structure. The key is to remember that it’s directly followed by the action verb in the infinitive form.
Examples to Learn From:
- Évitez de manger trop de sucreries. (Avoid eating too many sweets.)
- Nous devons éviter de nous perdre en chemin. (We must avoid getting lost along the way.)
Éviter Que – Preventing an Occurrence
To express ‘to prevent something from happening’ in French, ‘éviter que’ is used, but don’t forget the ‘ne’ that comes before the verb, which should be in the subjunctive mood.
Practice With These Examples:
- Il faut éviter qu’il ne pleuve pendant notre pique-nique. (We need to prevent it from raining during our picnic.)
- Elle essaie d’éviter que la situation ne dégénère. (She tries to prevent the situation from getting worse.)
Avoiding Literal Translations
Another common mistake is translating English sentences containing ‘avoid’ directly into French. French has constructions and idiomatic expressions that may not have a one-to-one translation with English. Be wary of literal translations they can lead to confusion or incorrect usage.
For Instance:
- Instead of saying éviter la question for ‘avoid the question’, in French, you would say éviter de répondre à la question. It is not a straightforward swap!
Common Queries Answered
We’ve gathered a few common search queries about using ‘avoid’ in French and provided clear explanations to each.
- Q: How do I use ‘avoid’ in the past tense?
- A: ‘Éviter’ in the past tense is ‘a évité’. For example, ‘Il a évité de répondre’ means ‘He avoided responding’.
- Q: Can ‘éviter’ be used for physical avoidance?
- A: Absolutely. For instance, ‘Elle a évité la voiture’ translates to ‘She avoided the car’.
- Q: What’s the noun form of ‘avoid’ in French?
- A: The noun form is ‘évitement’. It’s not as commonly used as the verb, but it’s good to know!
In Conclusion
Steering clear of the top mistakes when using ‘avoid’ in French will significantly improve your fluency. Always remember the distinction between ‘éviter de’ and ‘éviter que’, avoid literal translations, and practice with plenty of examples. Your efforts will pay off, making your French conversations sound more natural and impressive.
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