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Le douanier ne laisse pas passer ce liquide.

Le douanier ne laisse pas passer ce liquide.
The customs officer does not let this liquid through.
From Lesson 261:Permission and non-intervention (laisser + infinitive)·French

Questions & Answers about Le douanier ne laisse pas passer ce liquide.

Why does the English translation add 'through' when the French sentence has no preposition?
In French, the structure laisser + infinitive means to let something happen. The verb passer means to pass. When combined as laisser passer, it naturally translates to 'let pass' or 'let through'. French doesn't need an extra preposition here.
Where do the negative words go when using laisser followed by an infinitive?
The negative structure ne ... pas surrounds the conjugated verb, which in this case is laisse. The infinitive verb passer comes directly after the pas. You do not put the negative words around the infinitive.
How do we know if liquide is masculine or feminine in this sentence?
We can tell by looking at the word ce (this) right before it. Ce is a masculine demonstrative adjective. If the word were feminine, the sentence would use cette.
How is the word douanier formed?
It comes from the noun la douane, which means customs. By dropping the final e and adding the suffix -ier, which often indicates a profession, it becomes un douanier (a customs officer).

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