Please emphasize the point that "à " is not proper use

Robert R.C1Kwiziq community member

Please emphasize the point that "à " is not proper use

Hi.  The lesson is correct but fails to really make the point that the construct "manque à" should not be used with indirect objects.  There are numerous online aides that will accept (or even suggest) "manque à lui", so trying to get clarity by searching the web does not help (in fact it hurts).  Please make the lesson clearer by including a negative example, such as "Note that ... manque à lui ... is not correct usage.  Indirect objects come before the verb.  Nouns may come after the verb using the construct "manque à".  I had to work way too hard to finally understand the rules.  The lesson is correct but does not explicitly exclude using the indirect object after the verb.

Asked 3 years ago
AurélieNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour à tous les deux !

Thank you Robert for this useful suggestion :) So indeed, "je manque à lui" is never correct in French, and I agree it's a point worth making in the lesson. Thanks to you both, I've now added it.

I hope that's helpful!

Bonne journée à vous !

David R.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Robert. As I understand it, indirect object pronouns do normally go before the verb but can be placed after if they are stress pronouns. I would be interested to hear from one of the teachers if "Je manque à lui" is not an acceptable alternative to "Je lui manque" for "He is missing me" because It looks OK to me, especially if you were stressing the "he" in the sentence.

For reference here are some lessons explaining that lui can come before and after the verb:-

Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)

and

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/common-uses-of-moi-toi-lui-elle-nous-vous-eux-elles-disjunctivestress-pronouns

Please emphasize the point that "à " is not proper use

Hi.  The lesson is correct but fails to really make the point that the construct "manque à" should not be used with indirect objects.  There are numerous online aides that will accept (or even suggest) "manque à lui", so trying to get clarity by searching the web does not help (in fact it hurts).  Please make the lesson clearer by including a negative example, such as "Note that ... manque à lui ... is not correct usage.  Indirect objects come before the verb.  Nouns may come after the verb using the construct "manque à".  I had to work way too hard to finally understand the rules.  The lesson is correct but does not explicitly exclude using the indirect object after the verb.

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