Breakdown of La barbotine sert à coller les colombins.
à
to
servir
to serve
coller
to stick
la barbotine
the clay slip
Questions & Answers about La barbotine sert à coller les colombins.
What does sert à mean in this sentence?
Sert à means is used for or serves to.
It comes from the verb servir. In this sentence, La barbotine sert à coller les colombins means that the slip has the function of sticking the coils together.
A very useful pattern is:
quelque chose sert à + infinitive
= something is used to + verb
For example:
- Un couteau sert à couper. = A knife is used for cutting / is used to cut.
- La colle sert à fixer le papier. = Glue is used to attach paper.
Why is it sert and not servit or serve?
Because sert is the 3rd person singular present tense form of servir.
The subject is La barbotine, which is singular, so French uses:
- je sers
- tu sers
- il / elle / on sert
- nous servons
- vous servez
- ils / elles servent
So:
- La barbotine sert... = The slip serves / is used...
Be careful: serve does exist, but it is a different form, such as in the subjunctive: