Je me dépêche vite pour attraper le bus.

I hurry quickly to catch the bus.

Breakdown of Je me dépêche vite pour attraper le bus.

• je: I
• le bus: the bus
• vite: fast, quickly (adverb)
• se dépêcher: to hurry

Questions & Answers about Je me dépêche vite pour attraper le bus.

Why do we say “Je me dépêche” and not “Je dépêche”?

Because “se dépêcher” is a reflexive verb in French. It literally means “to hurry oneself.” Without “me,” the sentence would be grammatically incorrect in French.

Doesn’t “Je me dépêche” already mean “I’m hurrying”? Why add “vite”?

“Vite” emphasizes the speed at which you’re hurrying. Although “Je me dépêche” implies that you’re hurrying, “vite” clarifies that you’re doing so quickly or urgently.

Why do we use “pour” before “attraper le bus”?

“Pour” introduces the purpose of the action. It conveys that you are hurrying in order to catch the bus. Other prepositions, like “à” or “de,” would not have the same meaning here.

Can I replace “vite” with “rapidement”?

Yes, you can. “Je me dépêche rapidement” is acceptable and means roughly the same thing. Vite and rapidement are both adverbs of speed, though vite is more colloquial.

Do I always need a reflexive pronoun when using “se dépêcher”?

Yes, whenever you use this verb, you need the correct reflexive pronoun. For example, Tu te dépêches, Il se dépêche, Nous nous dépêchons, etc. The pronoun must match the subject.