Pour + infinitive = In order to

Hi Saw,

 No, you cannnot say 'à faire' un gâteau only 'pour faire' is correct.

e.g 

Je lui ai téléphoné pour l'inviter = I called (him) to invite him

Je leur ai parlé pour expliquer mon comportement = I spoke to them in order to explain my behaviour

Hope this helps!

Already answered.

He Stewart,

yes, in these cases you can't do without "pour".

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Thanks Chris, I'm now OK with this.

I'm not a native speaker either, but I would have given you the opposite answer. I think pour is only used to stress the purpose, it can be omitted.

There's a song by Boris Vian with the line:

J'vais au cinéma voir des films suédois

Hi Alan, Thanks for your input ... is there someone else out there who can further clarify this point please?

For once, this is exactly as in English (you don't get lucky very often ;)): Je vais voir un film -- I am going to see a movie. Je vais regarder un film -- I am going to watch a movie. -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Thanks Chris - so either are OK to use. - I suppose in English you normally see a movie in a cinema, but watch a movie on TV - but it's a fine distinction. David

I am not aware that this distinction carries over to French. But that certainly is a fine point which needs the input of a native speaker. -- Chris.

According to Duolingo, "regarder" is used with more intent while "voir" is used more passively

Elle va voir la ville - She's going to see the city

Le chat regarde le poisson - The cat is (actively) watching the fish 

Just to add to this excellent discussion you could only say:

"Je suis en train de regarder un film." (not voir here).

It's the same distinction as-

 To hear (entendre) and to listen (écouter) .

The former is a passive action, the latter requires input from the subject .

Hope this helps!

Bonjour Helen, This seems like a very good question to me; I had not looked at it like this previously. I will be interested to learn the reasoning, too. Bonne journée

I'm hoping Aurélie responds:)

Hi Helen,

the use of directional prepositions in French is different from English. Also, the French don't differentiate as acutely between being somewhere (location) and going somewhere (direction).

Je suis dans ma chambre = I am in my room.
Je vais dans ma chambre = I am going to my room.

The difference of location versus direction is carried by the verb (je suis vs. je vais).

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Bonjour Chris, Merci for your excellent explanation. Ron

«y» is the pronoun for a place or location. Another example: J'y vais --> I am going there. Here is the lessons that relates to this question: https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/my-languages/french/view/711

Bonjour Nim !

In French, you cannot use the verb aller (to go) without mentioning "where" you're going.
The pronoun y here means "there" and is simply used to recall the necessary destination :)

Have a look at our lesson on y :
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/the-adverbial-pronoun-y-means-there

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !