French grammar
Chercher, attendre, appeler : sans préposition
Say who or what you are looking for, waiting for or can see.
From the scene J'attends Javi (I'm waiting for Javi)
In short
Chercher, attendre and appeler take the person or thing directly, with no preposition: j'attends Javi, je cherche le quai.
Your turn
Which one goes with who are you waiting for??
Options: tu attends qui ? · je cherche le quai trois · j'attends Javi
Show answer
who are you waiting for? → tu attends qui ?
How it works
English says look FOR and wait FOR. French puts the thing or person straight after the verb: je cherche le quai, j'attends Javi, tu attends le train ?
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Nuria ! Tu (blank) le train ?
Options: attends à · attends pour · attends
Show answer
Nuria ! Tu attends le train ?
Nuria! Are you waiting for the train?
Good to know
Appeler and voir work the same: j'appelle Javi, je vois le train.
I'm looking for platform three je cherche le quai trois
Nuria
Je cherche le quai trois.
I'm looking for platform three.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: J'attends Javi · Je cherche le quai trois · Tu attends qui
Show answer
Nuria
Je cherche le quai trois.
I'm looking for platform three.
who are you waiting for? tu attends qui ?
Your turn
What goes with tu attends qui ??
Options: who are you waiting for? · I'm looking for platform three · I'm waiting for Javi
Show answer
tu attends qui ? → who are you waiting for?
I'm waiting for Javi j'attends Javi
Nuria
J'attends Javi. Il a mon billet.
I'm waiting for Javi. He's got my ticket.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Il a mon billet.
Options: Je cherche le quai trois · Tu attends qui · J'attends Javi
Show answer
Nuria
J'attends Javi. Il a mon billet.
I'm waiting for Javi. He's got my ticket.
I can see the train je vois le train
Your turn
What goes with je vois le train?
Options: I can see the train · I'm looking for platform three · who are you waiting for?
Show answer
je vois le train → I can see the train
I'll call Javi j'appelle Javi
Nuria
Et je n'ai pas de billet ! J'appelle Javi.
And I haven't got a ticket! I'll call Javi.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Et je n'ai pas de billet ! (blank).
Options: Tu attends qui · J'appelle Javi · Je cherche le quai trois
Show answer
Nuria
Et je n'ai pas de billet ! J'appelle Javi.
And I haven't got a ticket! I'll call Javi.
Watch out
Never "j'attends pour Javi".
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I'm looking for platform three | je cherche le quai trois |
|---|---|
| who are you waiting for? | tu attends qui ? |
| I'm waiting for Javi | j'attends Javi |
| I can see the train | je vois le train |
| I'll call Javi | j'appelle Javi |
More lines from the story
- JaviNuria ! Tu attends le train ?Nuria! Are you waiting for the train?
- JaviJe n'ai pas ton billet... mais aujourd'hui, le contrôleur, c'est moi !I haven't got your ticket... but today I'm the ticket inspector!
- NuriaAucune idée. Je ne vois pas Javi.I don't know. I can't see Javi.