Breakdown of Quiconque s'approche de la porte sécurisée doit s'arrêter.
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
devoir
to have to / must
s'arrêter
to stop
la porte
the door
Questions & Answers about Quiconque s'approche de la porte sécurisée doit s'arrêter.
Why are the verbs s'approche and doit in the singular form when "whoever" could refer to multiple people?
Can quiconque be the subject of two different verbs at the same time?
Yes, and it usually is. Because quiconque translates to "anyone who", it naturally bridges two clauses. In this sentence, it serves as the subject for both the condition (s'approche) and the consequence (doit).
Why do we need the word de after s'approche?
Unlike the English verb "to approach" which takes a direct object, the French verb s'approcher requires the preposition de before the object or place you are moving toward.
Why is the final verb s'arrêter reflexive instead of just arrêter?
In French, arrêter by itself means to stop something else, like stopping a machine or another person. When a person simply comes to a halt themselves, you must use the reflexive verb s'arrêter.