Learn Hardcore French: Vous êtes autorisés à entrer dans cette pièce, et on vous autorise aussi à utiliser votre téléphone. - You are authorized to enter this room, and you are also authorized to use your phone.

“Vous êtes autorisés” uses a passive-like construction (with être + adjectival form) that emphasizes your state of being allowed to enter. In contrast, “on vous autorise” uses an active construction where the unspecific or general agent “on” is doing the granting. Both express permission, but they highlight slightly different aspects: the first focuses on the permitted state, and the second on the act of granting permission.

Why does “autorisé” in the first clause have an “-s” ending, while “autorise” in the second clause does not?

In “vous êtes autorisés,” the word “autorisés” functions as an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the subject “vous.” Since “vous” is used here as either plural or formal singular (typically treated as plural for agreement), the -s is added. In “on vous autorise,” however, “autorise” is the conjugated form of the verb “autoriser” in the third-person singular (with “on” as the subject), and verb conjugations follow their own rules without adding extra agreement markers like the adjective does.

What does the pronoun “on” refer to in “on vous autorise aussi à utiliser votre téléphone”?

The pronoun “on” is an impersonal or generic subject in French. It can be understood as “someone,” “they,” or even “one” in English. In this context, “on” stands in for an unspecified authority or group that is granting you permission to use your phone, making the statement more general.

Why is the preposition “à” used before the infinitives “entrer” and “utiliser”?

In French, when expressing permission with constructions like “être autorisé” or when using the verb “autoriser,” the infinitive verb that follows is introduced by the preposition “à.” This structure—verb/adjective + à + infinitive—indicates the specific action that is permitted. Here, “à entrer” means “to enter” and “à utiliser” means “to use.”

What is the role of “cette” in “cette pièce”?

“Cette” is a feminine singular demonstrative adjective that modifies “pièce” (which is a feminine noun in French). It specifies which room is being referred to, much like “this” does in English, helping to identify a particular room rather than just any room.

Why does the sentence mix two different constructions (passive/adjectival and active with “on”) to express permission?

The sentence employs two constructions to convey permission in subtly different ways. The first part (“Vous êtes autorisés à entrer”) presents your permission as a current state or condition. The second part (“on vous autorise aussi à utiliser votre téléphone”) emphasizes the action by indicating that an unspecified agent is actively granting you permission. This mix can add variety or nuance to the statement, depending on what the speaker wishes to emphasize.

How does the context influence the use of formal pronouns like “vous” alongside the impersonal “on” in this sentence?

Using “vous” directly addresses the listener(s) and often lends a formal tone, especially in announcements or rules. Meanwhile, “on” is frequently used in French to refer to an undefined authority or to speak generally about who is doing something. In this sentence, “vous” asserts your role as the person receiving the permission, while “on” subtly indicates that the permission comes from a higher or established authority without specifying exactly who it is.