Question 1

Why is it accepter instead of a word ending in -ing like in English?

Accepted Answer

In English, we say 'without accepting', but French grammar works differently here. When a verb directly follows a preposition like sans (without), it must always be in its infinitive (dictionary) form, which is accepter (to accept).

Question 2

Since the sentence is in the past tense (a signé), why isn't accepter also in the past tense?

Accepted Answer

The first verb, a signé (signed), sets the main timeline in the past. However, the rule for sans + infinitive is absolute. The preposition sans forces the verb immediately after it to be an infinitive, regardless of when the action actually happened.

Question 3

I learned that we often drop the article after sans, like sans sucre. Why is there a la before garantie?

Accepted Answer

You drop the article when the noun directly follows sans to describe a general lack of something (like 'without sugar'). In this sentence, the noun garantie doesn't follow sans directly; it follows the verb accepter. Because he is not accepting a specific thing, it needs its normal definite article la.

Question 4

Does la garantie mean something specific in the context of a contract?

Accepted Answer

Yes! While it directly translates to 'the guarantee', in French business, real estate, or retail contexts, la garantie is also the standard everyday word for a 'warranty' on a product or service.

Il a signé le contrat sans accepter la garantie.

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