Questions & Answers about Paul va dormir ; je dis bonne nuit.
Why is it va dormir instead of just dort?
Va dormir is the near future construction: aller + infinitive.
- Paul dort = Paul is sleeping / Paul sleeps
- Paul va dormir = Paul is going to sleep
So va dormir focuses on what is about to happen, not what is happening already.
Why is dormir in the infinitive after va?
After aller when it is used to make the near future, the next verb stays in the infinitive.
Pattern:
- je vais manger
- tu vas partir
- il va dormir
This is similar to English to be going to + verb:
- He is going to sleep
You do not conjugate both verbs. Only aller is conjugated here.
Why does the sentence use bonne nuit and not bonsoir?
French separates these two expressions more clearly than English often does.
- bonsoir = good evening
- bonne nuit = good night
You say bonsoir when greeting someone in the evening, or sometimes when arriving somewhere at night.
You say bonne nuit when someone is going to bed, going to sleep, or when you are parting for the night.
Since Paul va dormir, bonne nuit fits the situation.