Learn Hardcore French: Fais attention au feu, il peut brûler la couverture si tu la laisses trop près. - Be careful with the fire; it can burn the blanket if you leave it too close.

Fais attention à means “be careful” or “watch out.” It’s the standard way to warn someone in French. Although prêter attention à exists, it usually means “to pay attention to” in the sense of focusing or listening, not “be careful.”

Why does à become au in au feu?

In French, à + le contracts to au. Since feu is masculine singular (le feu), à le feu becomes au feu, meaning “to the fire” or “near the fire” in this warning context.

What does il refer to in il peut brûler?

Here il is the subject pronoun replacing le feu (masculine singular). So il peut brûler literally means “it (the fire) can burn.”

Why is the article la still there in brûler la couverture?

The phrase la couverture includes the definite article la (“the blanket”). In brûler la couverture, you keep that article because it’s part of the direct object of brûler: you’re burning the blanket, not just any blanket.

In si tu la laisses, why are there two las?

The first la is a direct‐object pronoun replacing la couverture (feminine), and laisses is the verb laisser conjugated for “tu.” So tu la laisses means “you leave it.”

Why is it trop près without de in trop près?

When près (“near/close”) follows an adverb of degree like trop (“too”), you don’t add de. Trop près simply means “too close.” You would use de only if you explicitly name what you’re close to (e.g. trop près du feu).

Could you say vous la laissez instead of tu la laisses?

Yes. Tu is the informal singular “you.” For formal or plural “you,” use vous la laissez, changing both the pronoun and the verb ending accordingly.

Are there other ways to warn someone besides fais attention?

Yes. Informally you can say fais gaffe (“watch out!”) or simply attention !. For a stronger or more formal tone, you could use sois prudent(e) (“be careful/prudent”).