Merci pour?

Liz H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Merci pour?

What is wrong with merci pour votre attention meaning thanks for listening? I thought this was widely used. Thanks. 

Asked 5 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Liz, 

The Académie française makes the following distinctions -

Use   Merci de 

 

1. When it is followed by a verb in the infinitive ( present or past)

Merci de m'avoir invité/e! Thanks for inviting me! 

Merci de venir à 16 heures pile. = Please come at 4 pm on the dot.

2. With  abstract nouns 

Merci de votre attention! = Thank you for listening!

Merci de votre aide! Thank you for your help!

Merci de votre obligeance! Thank you for obliging me!

 

Use Merci pour with concrete nouns 

Merci pour les chocolats! = Thanks for the chocolate!

Merci pour le cadeau! = Thanks for the gift!

Merci pour les fleurs! = Thanks for the flowers!

 

But you will sometimes hear 'pour' used instead of 'de' with abstract nouns and I think this is the case here.

Hope this helps!

Merci pour?

What is wrong with merci pour votre attention meaning thanks for listening? I thought this was widely used. Thanks. 

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