Question 1

Why is it attendre (to wait) and not an -ing word like in English?

Accepted Answer

In French, when you use a preposition like sans (without), it is followed directly by an infinitive verb (the basic dictionary form, like attendre). In English, we say without waiting (using -ing), but French literally says without to wait. This is a very common pattern to remember!

Question 2

Does le chef mean the boss or the cook here?

Accepted Answer

Here it means the boss. In English, we borrowed the word chef to mean a head cook. However, in French, un chef simply means a boss, leader, or chief in almost any context or workplace.

Question 3

Why is the past tense formed with a (a commencé) instead of est?

Accepted Answer

The verb commencer (to start) uses avoir as its helper verb in the passé composé (past tense). You only use être for a specific short list of verbs (mostly about movement or changing state, like aller or devenir) and for reflexive verbs.

Question 4

Do other prepositions work like sans and take the infinitive?

Accepted Answer

Yes! This is a major rule in French. Other common prepositions like pour (for / in order to) and de (of / from) also take the infinitive. For example, you would say pour attendre (in order to wait).

Le chef a commencé la réunion sans attendre.

Breakdown of Le chef a commencé la réunion sans attendre.

Questions & Answers about Le chef a commencé la réunion sans attendre.

Learn Le chef a commencé la réunion sans attendre and more in French