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French (Verb) Leave
The regular –er verb laisser means "to leave" or "to let." It’s often used as a semi-auxiliary verb as well as in many expressions.
Laisser = to leave
Laisser with a direct object means "to leave" in the sense of leaving someone / something somewhere.
Par exemple…
| Ne laissez que des empreintes. | Leave only footprints. | |
| Je laisse la clé sous le paillasson. | I’m leaving the key under the doormat. | |
| Maxime m’a laissé pour un artiste. | Maxime left me for an artist. | |
| Tu peux me laisser devant l’école ? | Can you leave me (drop me off) at school? |
Or leaving someone/something in a certain state.
Par exemple…
| Laisse la fenêtre entrouverte. | Leave the window half-open. | |
| Tu me laisses toujours de bonne humeur. | You always leave me in a good mood. | |
| Ce film m’a laissé indifférent. | That movie left me unmoved. |
Laisser = to lose
Laisser can also mean "to lose" something vital.
Par exemple…
| Trop de soldats laissent un bras ou une jambe. | Too many soldiers lose an arm or leg. | |
| Un pompier a laissé sa vie hier. | A fire fighter lost his life yesterday. |
Laisser = semi-auxiliary verb
Laisser + infinitive means "to let (someone) do (something)."
Par exemple…
| Tu dois me laisser étudier. | You need to let me study. | |
| Laisse-moi t’accompagner. | Let me go with you. |
Se laisser
The reflexive verb se laisser means “to let oneself be / become / get.”
Par exemple…
| Je me suis laissé duper. | I let myself get fooled. | |
| Ne vous laissez pas surprendre. | Don’t let yourselves be surprised. |
Expressions with laisser
Laisser is found in many expressions, including
- laisser tomber – to drop
- laisser à désirer – to leave something to be desired
- laisser en plan – to abandon
- se laisser aller – to let oneself go
Related lessons
- Laisser conjugations
- Expressions with laisser
- Pronominal verbs
- Semi-auxiliary verbs
- Regular –er verbs
- Introduction to verbs
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