Paul laisse tomber son téléphone.

Paul drops his phone.

Breakdown of Paul laisse tomber son téléphone.

• Paul: Paul
• le téléphone: the phone
• son: his
• laisser tomber: to drop

Questions & Answers about Paul laisse tomber son téléphone.

What does the phrase laisse tomber literally mean, and how is it interpreted in this sentence?

Literally, laisse tomber translates to “let fall,” but in this sentence it is understood to mean “drops.” The construction uses the conjugated verb laisser (here, laisse) plus the infinitive tomber to express the action of letting something fall, which in context means that Paul drops his phone.

Why is the possessive adjective son used in son téléphone instead of something like sa téléphone?

In French, possessive adjectives agree with the gender of the noun they modify, not the owner. Since téléphone is a masculine noun, the correct possessive adjective is son regardless of the owner's gender. Hence, son téléphone accurately means “his phone.”

What tense is the verb laisse in, and what does this indicate about the action?

The verb laisse is in the present tense, specifically the third person singular form of laisser. This indicates that the action—Paul dropping his phone—is either happening right now or is being described as a general or habitual occurrence.

Is laisse tomber an idiomatic expression in French, and can its meaning vary with context?

Yes, laisse tomber can be idiomatic. When used as a command, it might mean “forget it” or “drop it” in a figurative sense. However, in the sentence Paul laisse tomber son téléphone, it is used literally to describe the physical act of Paul dropping his phone.

How does the construction verb + infinitive in this sentence compare to similar constructions in English?

In French, many actions are expressed by combining a conjugated verb with an infinitive, as seen in laisse tomber. This structure parallels English phrasal verbs or single-word verbs like “drops.” While English might use one word (“drops”), French often breaks the action into two parts (conjugated verb plus infinitive) to convey the same idea.

Why is no preposition placed between laisse and tomber in this construction?

In French, it is common for a conjugated verb to be directly followed by an infinitive without an intervening preposition. Laisse tomber is an example of such a straightforward verb–infinitive construction, which is standard for expressing actions like “to drop” without the need for extra linking words.