Breakdown of Nous ne voulons pas manquer l’occasion de rire ensemble ce soir.
ne ... pas
not
nous
we
ensemble
together
vouloir
to want
le soir
the evening
de
of
manquer
to miss
l'occasion
the opportunity
rire
to laugh
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Questions & Answers about Nous ne voulons pas manquer l’occasion de rire ensemble ce soir.
What does the verb manquer mean in this sentence?
In this context, manquer means “to miss.” It indicates that we do not want to let the opportunity slip by to engage in the activity—in this case, laughing together—much like saying “to miss the chance to” in English.
Why is the definite article l’ used in l’occasion instead of an indefinite article like “une”?
Using l’occasion with the definite article specifies a particular, significant opportunity—the one we definitely don’t want to miss. It implies that this is the specific chance being referred to, not just any random opportunity.
What role does the preposition de play before rire?
The preposition de introduces the infinitive rire that explains what the opportunity is about. In French, it’s common to follow a noun like l’occasion with de plus an infinitive verb to describe the action associated with that noun.
How is negation formed in this sentence with ne ... pas?
French negation is typically built by placing ne before the conjugated verb and pas after it. In this sentence, ne voulons pas means “do not want,” clearly marking the negative form of the verb vouloir.
Why is rire in its infinitive form rather than being conjugated?
After expressions that imply an opportunity or possibility (here, l’occasion de), the verb that follows is used in its infinitive form. Therefore, rire remains un-conjugated because it explains the action that would be missed if the opportunity is lost.
How can the present tense voulons refer to a future plan in this context?
In French, the present tense is often used to express plans or intentions in the near future. Although voulons is present tense (meaning “we want”), it conveys an intention for later—that is, our plan to laugh together tonight.
What does the phrase ensemble ce soir indicate about the planned activity?
Ensemble ce soir means “together tonight” (or “this evening”), clarifying that the intended laughing will be a shared, collective experience happening later on the same day.