Learn French: Je viens de rappeler le client. - I just called the client back.

Je viens de rappeler le client.

I just called the client back.

Breakdown of Je viens de rappeler le client.

of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)

le client

the client / the customer

venir

to come

Questions & Answers about Je viens de rappeler le client.

Why is rappeler spelled with only one L here? I thought verbs like appeler double their consonant.

The current lesson focuses on conjugated forms like je rappelle, where the L doubles because the spoken stress falls on that syllable. But here, rappeler is used in its infinitive (dictionary) form. In the infinitive, the spelling doesn't change and stays with just one L.

Why does Je viens de mean "I just"? Doesn't venir mean "to come"?

Literally, venir does mean "to come", so Je viens de rappeler looks like "I come from calling back". However, in French, using venir de followed by an infinitive verb is the standard grammar pattern to say you just did something. This is known as the recent past.

Is rappeler built from the verb appeler (to call)?

Yes! Adding the prefix r- or re- to a French verb usually means doing that action again, similar to English. So, appeler (to call) becomes rappeler (to call again / to call back).

Why is it le client and not au client? Don't you call to someone?