Learn Hardcore French: Si vous voulez un congé, vous devez en faire la demande à votre patron. - If you want a day off, you have to request it from your boss.

In this context, congé refers to a period of leave or time off from work. It can mean vacation or a formal break from employment, often used in professional settings.

Why is the pronoun en used in the phrase en faire la demande?

The pronoun en replaces the noun phrase mentioned earlier (in this case, the idea of taking a leave) to avoid repetition. In French, when you have an expression like faire la demande de congé, you can substitute de congé with en to form en faire la demande, which effectively means “to make the request for it.”

How is the sentence structured, and what does it express?

The sentence is a conditional statement. It begins with a condition (“Si vous voulez un congé” meaning “If you want a leave”) followed by an expression of obligation (“vous devez en faire la demande à votre patron” meaning “you must make a request to your boss”). This structure is common when stating that one action (wanting leave) necessitates another (requesting it formally).

What is the role of à votre patron at the end of the sentence?

The phrase à votre patron specifies the recipient of the request—it tells you that the formal request must be made to your boss. This addition clarifies who is responsible for approving or processing the leave.

Why might one choose the expression en faire la demande instead of simply using the verb demander?

Using en faire la demande is a more formal and idiomatic way to express that one must submit or make a request. While you could say demander un congé, the construction en faire la demande emphasizes the formal process involved in making the request. This form is commonly preferred in professional or official contexts.