To pay (for) - payer – 3 Minute Languages

Why you don’t pay for things in French

In English, we pay for things, but in French, you simply pay them

In French, you don’t pay FOR something; you simply pay. What I mean is that you don’t have to use the word “pour” with “payer”, unlike English; we have to say “pay for”.

Puis-je payer le vin?
Can I pay for the wine?

Je voudrais payer la nourriture
I would like to pay for the food

What sort of word is "pour"?

The word “pour” is a preposition, and it means “for”. However, there are a few times where we say “for” in English, but where you don’t use “pour” in French.

The example we’ve just been looking at is with the verb “payer”, which means “to pay” or “to pay for”

je voudrais payer le vin – I would like to pay for the wine
Puis-je tout payer? – Can I pay for everything?

There are other verbs that use a preposition in English, but which don’t use a preposition in French. Let’s have a look at a couple of them.

Attendre

The verb “attendre” means “to wait”. In English, we often put the word “for” after “to wait”.

I’m going to wait for the bus
Can I wait for Marie here?
I would like to wait for a taxi

In French, however, you don’t use “pour” with “attendre”; it’s sort of like the English verb “await”, and you say things like, “I’m awaiting the bus”

je vais attendre le bus – I’m going to wait for the bus
Puis-je attendre Marie ici? – Can I wait for Marie here?
je voudrais attendre un taxi – I would like to wait for a taxi

Chercher

The verb “chercher” means “to look for”. In English, we put the word “for” after “to look” to say that we’re searching for something.

I’m going to look for my passport
Can you look for the key with me?
I would like to look for a restaurant now

In French, the verb “chercher” needs no preposition.

je vais chercher mon passeport – I’m going to look for my passport
Pouvez-vous chercher la clé avec moi? – Can you look for the key with me?
je voudrais chercher un restaurant maintenant – I would like to look for a restaurant now

Demander

The verb “demander” means “to ask for”. In English, we put the word “for” in front of the thing we want.

I’m going to ask for some wine
Can I ask for a bit more?
I would like to ask for the menu now

In French, the verb “chercher” needs no preposition.

je vais demander du vin – I’m going to ask for some wine
Puis-je demander un peu plus? – Can I ask for a bit more?
je voudrais chercher un restaurant maintenant – I would like to ask for the menu now

Let's practise

Let’s practise using these verbs that don’t need prepositions. See if you can say the following sentences in French. Firstly, a little vocabulary you may need

I would like – je voudrais
can I – puis-je
I’m going – je vais
can you – pouvez-vous
are you going – allez-vous
the food – la nourriture
the bill – l’addition
the wine – le vin
the room – la chambre
here – ici
with you – avec vous
with me – avec moi
everybody – tout le monde
the bus – le bus
the key – la clé
the children – les enfants

Why you don’t pay for things in French

What sort of word is "pour"?

Attendre

Chercher

Demander

Let's practise

ANSWERS

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