Question 1

Why use enfin here? Could I use finalement instead?

Accepted Answer

In this sentence, enfin means "finally" or "lastly" as the final step in a sequence (e.g., first we bought supplies, then we prepped the room, and enfin we wait). Finalement usually means "in the end" or "eventually" (like when you change your mind after a long time). When listing the steps of a process, enfin is the correct choice.

Question 2

Why do we need pour before peindre?

Accepted Answer

In French, when the preposition pour is followed directly by an action, it translates to "in order to." So, nous attendons pour peindre literally means "we are waiting in order to paint."

Question 3

I learned that attendre means "to wait for." Does attendons pour mean "wait for for"?

Accepted Answer

Not quite! Attendre means "to wait for" when you are waiting for a noun (like nous attendons le bus for "we are waiting for the bus"). But when you are just waiting to do an action, attendre simply means "to wait." The pour adds the "in order to" part.

Question 4

Why is peindre left in its unconjugated form?

Accepted Answer

In French grammar, whenever a verb comes directly after a preposition like pour (for/in order to), sans (without), or de (of), it must stay in its infinitive (dictionary) form. Because it follows pour, it stays as peindre.

Enfin, nous attendons pour peindre le mur.

Breakdown of Enfin, nous attendons pour peindre le mur.

Questions & Answers about Enfin, nous attendons pour peindre le mur.

Learn Enfin, nous attendons pour peindre le mur and more in French