Breakdown of Ouvre la porte pour faire entrer Marie.
Marie
Marie
ouvrir
to open
la porte
the door
pour
in order to
faire entrer
to let in
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Questions & Answers about Ouvre la porte pour faire entrer Marie.
Why is "Ouvre" used instead of "Ouvrir"?
"Ouvre" is the imperative form of the verb ouvrir when you address one person informally (in the second-person singular). In French, you use the imperative to give commands or instructions. If you were addressing more than one person or someone formally, you would use Ouvrez instead.
What does "pour faire entrer" mean in this context?
The phrase pour faire entrer literally translates to "in order to make come in" or "to let in." It indicates the purpose of the action, i.e., opening the door so that Marie can enter.
Could we say "Ouvre la porte pour laisser entrer Marie" instead?
Yes, laisser entrer is another way to say "to let in," so Ouvre la porte pour laisser entrer Marie would still sound natural in French. However, faire entrer is very common and emphasizes the action of causing someone to come in.
Why do we say "la porte" instead of just "porte"?
French nouns almost always need a determiner (such as an article), so you typically say la porte ("the door") rather than just porte. In English, you might sometimes omit articles, but in French, it’s generally not allowed.
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