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Appuyer sur plusieurs touches sans bloquer le clavier.

Appuyer sur plusieurs touches sans bloquer le clavier.
Press on several keys without blocking the keyboard.
From Lesson 461:Impersonal commands·French

Questions & Answers about Appuyer sur plusieurs touches sans bloquer le clavier.

Why is the infinitive Appuyer used here instead of the imperative Appuyez?
This sentence uses the infinitive for an impersonal command. You will often see this in instruction manuals, recipes, or on public signs. It gives a general instruction to anyone reading it, rather than addressing a specific person with vous or tu.
Why do we need the preposition sur after Appuyer?
When you mean "to press" a button, a key, or a switch in French, you must use appuyer sur. If you use appuyer directly with a direct object (without sur), it generally means "to support" or "to lean" something.
Why is the word for "keys" touches instead of clés?
Une clé (or clef) is a physical key used to unlock a door or a padlock. Une touche refers to a key on a computer keyboard, a piano, or a keypad button. It is related to the verb toucher (to touch).
Why does the French use the infinitive sans bloquer instead of a present participle for "without blocking"?
In French, prepositions like sans, pour, de, and à are always followed by the infinitive form of a verb. While English often uses a gerund (an "-ing" word) after a preposition, French requires the infinitive.

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