Breakdown of Il est trop maladroit pour réparer l'ordinateur.
être
to be
il
he
l'ordinateur
the computer (m)
pour
for
Questions & Answers about Il est trop maladroit pour réparer l'ordinateur.
How could we rewrite this scenario using the mixed conditional from this lesson?
This sentence describes a present trait that prevented a past action. To say 'If he weren't clumsy, he would have repaired the computer', use the imparfait for the present condition and the conditionnel passé for the hypothetical past result: S'il n'était pas maladroit, il aurait réparé l'ordinateur.
Why do we use pour before réparer?
Where would the pronoun go if I wanted to say 'He is too clumsy to repair it'?
You would say Il est trop maladroit pour le réparer. When an object pronoun belongs to an infinitive verb, it is placed directly before that infinitive, rather than before the main conjugated verb.
Is there a helpful way to remember the word maladroit?
Yes, it literally breaks down to 'badly skilled'. It combines mal (bad or badly) and adroit (skillful or right-handed, originating from à droit). It is the direct opposite of being 'adroit' in English.