Allons/Allons-y
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JoakimKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Allons/Allons-y
Could you use just "Allons!" for "Let's go!" if there's no clear destination, or should both "Let's go!" and "Let's go there!" be translated as "Allons-y" ?
This question relates to:French lesson "Using French adverbial pronoun "y" in affirmative commands in the imperative mood (L'Impératif) in French"
Asked 5 years ago

Bonjour David !
Yes, in the case of La Marseillaise, it's linked to the fact that here, the "cry" is not so much related to a specific destination as to the impetus to go forward.
Note however that the use of the nous form in particular is definitely antiquated :)
In a similar way, you can use "Allez !", as a supporter chant for example, which in English would be closer to "Come on!" :)
Bonne journée !

AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Joakim !
No, in French you always need to use the verb "aller" with a location = to go *somewhere*.
When in English you can simply imply "where you're going" (I'm going now), in French you have to express it, if only with "y" (J'y vais maintenant).
I've now added a note in the lesson to explain this :)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !

DavidKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
But in La Marseillaise the line goes "Allons enfants de la patrie". No "y" there. Is that bad, or obsolete, usage?

DavidKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
But in La Marseillaise the line goes "Allons enfants de la patrie". There is no "y". So is that obsolete or incorrect usage?

Joakim asked:View original
Allons/Allons-y
Could you use just "Allons!" for "Let's go!" if there's no clear destination, or should both "Let's go!" and "Let's go there!" be translated as "Allons-y" ?
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