Question 1

Why is traverser in the infinitive here?

Accepted Answer

In French, when you use a verb of perception like voir (to see) or entendre (to hear) to describe someone or something doing an action, you use the infinitive for that action.

Question 2

What if I wanted to say 'We saw a fox crossing the street'? Would I use the French '-ing' form?

Accepted Answer

You would still use the infinitive traverser. English often uses an '-ing' word (a present participle) for an ongoing action you witness, but French strongly prefers the infinitive after verbs of perception.

Question 3

Could I use the verb croiser instead of traverser to mean cross?

Accepted Answer

Not in this sentence. Traverser means to physically move from one side of a space to the other, like crossing a street or a bridge. Croiser means to cross paths with someone, like passing another car or bumping into a friend.

Question 4

Why do we use the passé composé (avons vu) instead of the imparfait (voyions)?

Accepted Answer

Spotting the fox is a single, completed event. Even though the action of crossing the street took a few moments, the act of you seeing it happen is considered a punctual action in the past, which requires the passé composé.

Nous avons vu un renard traverser la rue.

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