Разбор нюансов использования французских глаголов движения: sortir, partir, quitter и aller

Learning French What is the difference between sortir, partir, quitter and aller? When to use each of these similar ‘leaving’ verbs Choose the verb partir to emphasise the idea of leaving to travel somewhere Prostock-studio/Shutterstock The French language has several verbs to communicate specific notions that in English we could simply express by saying or conjugating: go.  From sortir to quitter, we look at the different ways these words can be used, so you can clearly and correctly explain yourself when going or leaving somewhere.  What does aller mean? Aller is one of the most commonly used verbs, meaning: to go.  It is considered ‘irregular’ meaning that it does not follow standard -er grammar patterns, and it is always conjugated with être (to be).  For example: Note that you can also say: The use of aller here in its infinitive ‘basic’ form is redundant, however, like in English, you may sometimes hear people saying this for actions that are in the near future. You can technically use aller to express each of the ideas we will go on to look at in this article, however it is important to enrich your vocabulary with new verbs to improve your comprehension and expression in French. What does sortir mean? The verb sortir is most often used to say that you are going out or exiting from somewhere. It places emphasis on the idea of leaving a space. For example: When used in this sense, sortir is always conjugated with être (to be). Note that sortir can also be conjugated with avoir (to have), but it changes the meaning slightly. This would be like saying ‘to take out’ in English, and is typically said when referring to an object or animal. For example: What does partir mean? Partir is quite similar to sortir, as it means: to leave.  These verbs can in some cases be used interchangeably, if followed by an action. For example: However, in general, the verbs can not be swapped out so easily when referring to a geographical location. In this case, you would want to choose partir, as it is typically more evocative of travelling somewhere and staying for a period of time. It suggests departing from one place to another destination. For example: If you want to imply the idea of leaving, without stating your point of departure, you can say: If you used sortir in this example, it would change the meaning:  Partir is always conjugated with être (to be). What does quitter mean? Quitter looks similar to the English word ‘quit’ and although it can carry this meaning, it most commonly means, once again: to leave. This time, quitter emphasises the place you are leaving, without giving a precise destination. For example: This verb is quite formal and usually implies a long-term decision or change. It can apply to situations as well as geographical locations: In the case of our previous example featuring France and Spain, using quitter instead of partir suggests leaving France indefinitely: Another difference with quitter is that it is only conjugated with avoir (to have). What does laisser mean? Watch out for laisser - another French verb that can be translated into English as: to leave. Laisser is used to say you are leaving something or someone behind. For example: It can also refer to letting or allowing something to happen: This verb is never used to say you are leaving to go somewhere. If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: [email protected]