Question 1

Why are laisser and passer right next to each other? In English we say "let the traveler pass".

Accepted Answer

In French, when you use laisser with an infinitive to mean "to let someone do something", the two verbs usually stay together. The object (le voyageur) comes after the second verb. So instead of "let the traveler pass", the French structure is literally "let pass the traveler" (laisser passer le voyageur).

Question 2

Why is it avant de laisser and not just avant laisser?

Accepted Answer

To say "before doing something" in French, you use the set phrase avant de followed by an infinitive verb. You always need the word de when an action immediately follows avant.

Question 3

The English translation says "before letting", so why is it the infinitive laisser instead of a French "-ing" word?

Accepted Answer

In English, we use the "-ing" form after prepositions (like "before letting"). However, French prepositions are almost always followed by the infinitive form of the verb. Therefore, avant de must be followed by the infinitive laisser.

Question 4

Why is les bagages plural here when the English translation uses the singular word "baggage"?

Accepted Answer

In English, "baggage" or "luggage" is an uncountable noun that stays singular. In French, un bagage is a countable noun referring to a single bag or suitcase. To talk about a traveler's luggage as a whole, French naturally uses the plural form les bagages.

Le douanier inspecte les bagages avant de laisser passer le voyageur.

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