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Je fais réparer la serrure de l’entrée demain matin.

Je fais réparer la serrure de l’entrée demain matin.
I am having the front-door lock repaired tomorrow morning.
FromLesson 23inHardcore French

Questions & Answers about Je fais réparer la serrure de l’entrée demain matin.

Does this sentence mean I’m doing the repair myself?

No. Faire + infinitif is the French “causative”: you cause/arrange for someone else to do the action.

  • Je fais réparer la serrure… = I’m having the lock repaired (by someone).
  • If you did it yourself: Je répare la serrure…
How can I say who will do the repair?

Add an agent with par (clearest) or, more colloquially in some contexts, with à when it’s a person.

  • Clear and standard: Je fais réparer la serrure par un serrurier.
  • Also heard: Je fais réparer la serrure à un serrurier. (can sound less careful; use with caution) Tip: With a named agent, par is safest.
Can I replace “la serrure de l’entrée” with a pronoun? Where does it go?

Yes. Use the direct object pronoun la, and place it before faire:

  • Je la fais réparer demain matin. If you also name the agent:
  • Je la fais réparer par le serrurier.
What does Je lui fais réparer la serrure mean?

It means “I’m making him/her repair the lock.” Here lui is the person who will do the repairing (the agent), not the beneficiary.

  • To say you’re having it repaired for him/her: Je fais réparer la serrure pour lui/elle.
Could I say Je me fais réparer la serrure?
Not in standard usage. Se faire + infinitif is used when the action is done to you/your body/clothes (e.g., Je me fais couper les cheveux). For an independent object like a lock, use Je fais réparer…
Why de l’entrée and not à l’entrée?

Because it’s a possessive/“of” relationship: the lock of the entrance.

  • la serrure de l’entrée = the entrance’s lock (i.e., the front-door lock)
  • à l’entrée would mean “at the entrance” (a location), which isn’t what you want here.
Is la serrure de l’entrée the most idiomatic way to say it?

It’s understandable, but many speakers prefer the very common noun phrase la porte d’entrée:

  • More explicit: la serrure de la porte d’entrée (the front-door lock). You might also drop the detail if context is clear: la serrure.
What’s the difference between serrure, verrou, poignée, and clé/clef?
  • serrure: the lock mechanism you put a key into
  • verrou: a (slide) bolt
  • poignée: handle/door handle
  • clé/clef: key (both spellings are correct)
Where does demain matin go in the sentence? Can I move it?

Common positions:

  • End (neutral): Je fais réparer la serrure demain matin.
  • Beginning (emphasis on time): Demain matin, je fais réparer la serrure. Avoid: Je fais réparer demain matin la serrure (sounds awkward).
Why present tense (je fais) if it’s happening tomorrow?

French often uses the present with a future time expression for scheduled plans. You can also say:

How do I negate this?

Place ne…pas around the conjugated faire; pronouns stay before faire:

  • Je ne fais pas réparer la serrure demain matin.
  • With a pronoun: Je ne la fais pas réparer demain matin.
How do I ask a question with this sentence?
  • Informal/intonation: Tu fais réparer la serrure demain matin ?
  • Est-ce que: Est-ce que tu fais réparer la serrure demain matin ?
  • Inversion: Fais-tu réparer la serrure demain matin ?
What are the present-tense forms of faire?
  • je fais, tu fais, il/elle fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils/elles font. Here it’s je fais.
Any quick pronunciation tips?
  • Je fais ≈ “zhuh feh” (not “fay”)
  • réparer ≈ “ray-pah-ray”
  • serrure ≈ “seh-roor” (both r’s are guttural)
  • l’entrée ≈ “lahn-tray” (nasal “an”)
  • demain matin ≈ “duh-menh mah-tenh” (both with nasal “in” at the end)
Can I use fixer for “to fix” here?
No. fixer usually means “to fasten/attach” or “to set.” Use réparer for repairing a broken thing. arranger can mean “sort it out,” but for a lock, réparer (or remplacer if you’re replacing it) is best.
How do I say “I had it repaired” (in the past)?
  • J’ai fait réparer la serrure.
  • With a pronoun: Je l’ai fait réparer. Note: In this causative, fait is invariable: Je les ai fait réparer (not “faits”).
Can I omit de l’entrée if context makes it obvious?

Yes:

  • Je fais réparer la serrure demain matin. Add detail only if needed.
How do I add the place or the person’s business?
  • At the locksmith’s: Je fais réparer la serrure chez le serrurier.
  • At home: Je fais réparer la serrure à la maison.
Why de l’ and not du?
Because entrée is feminine. Before a vowel sound, de la becomes de l’. (du = de + le, masculine.)
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