I have to pick up my parents

Tanya R.C1Kwiziq community member

I have to pick up my parents

Il faut que j'aille chercher mes parents

vs.  je dois chercher mes parents

vs.  il faut que je cherche mes parents

Pourquoi les autres deux réponses ne sont pas correctes?

Asked 7 months ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Tanya, 

in this case I suspect it is mainly that the clue was to use 'falloir que', but also to ensure we don't "run away" from this much used expression - "il faut que". As it was an 'obligation', colloquial French would be to use 'il faut que', but as non-native speakers we seem often to use devoir more than native speakers would. 

With regard to the 2nd part, 'aller chercher qqn' is a fixed expression equivalent to the English 'pick someone up' - an arranged collection whereas 'chercher qqn' alone is more akin to 'look for someone'.  I particularly like the definition in French in Larousse linked below.

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/aller%20chercher

 https://www.wordreference.com/fren/chercher

 https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/chercher/15132

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Tanya,

 je dois chercher mes parents

vs.  il faut que je cherche mes parent

I agree with Maarten's post.

Taking the above two examples; as I see it there is no information about any action to perform the task, simply a recognition of the need or obligation.

To write "aller chercher" is a standard expression but also here we have an indication of an action of displacement (to go) involved that is actually going to find/locate the parents.

Bonne journée

Jim

Tanya R. asked:

I have to pick up my parents

Il faut que j'aille chercher mes parents

vs.  je dois chercher mes parents

vs.  il faut que je cherche mes parents

Pourquoi les autres deux réponses ne sont pas correctes?

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