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B1 verb (present participle/gerund) #25 le plus courant 4 min de lecture

reaching

Top 25

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces reaching en 30 secondes

Explication reaching in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'reaching' is mostly used for simple physical actions. You might use it to describe someone trying to get a toy or a piece of fruit. It is often taught in the context of basic body movements and prepositions like 'for'. Beginners learn that 'reaching' means stretching your arm to touch something. For example, 'The baby is reaching for the ball.' It is a concrete action that can be easily demonstrated with gestures.

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At the A2 level, learners start to use 'reaching' to describe simple destinations or the end of a journey. You might say, 'We are reaching the park now.' It also begins to appear in common social phrases like 'reaching out,' though usually in a very literal sense. Learners at this level understand that 'reaching' involves moving toward a point, whether that point is a place or an object.

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At the B1 level, 'reaching' becomes more versatile. You use it to talk about achieving goals, such as 'reaching a level' in a game or 'reaching a decision' in a group. You also use it for communication, like 'reaching out to a friend.' B1 learners should be comfortable using 'reaching' in the present continuous to describe ongoing processes, such as 'The company is reaching more customers this year.'

At the B2 level, you use 'reaching' in more abstract and idiomatic ways. You might describe a 'far-reaching' consequence or 'reaching a consensus' in a complex debate. You understand the nuance between 'reaching for' (trying) and 'reaching' (attaining). You can use it to describe trends, such as 'Inflation is reaching dangerous levels.' Your vocabulary includes collocations like 'reaching a compromise' or 'reaching a climax.'

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At the C1 level, 'reaching' is used with high precision in academic and professional contexts. You might discuss 'reaching the saturation point' in a market or 'reaching an impasse' in negotiations. You can use 'reaching' as a gerund in complex sentence structures, such as 'Reaching a state of flow is essential for creative work.' You are aware of the subtle differences between 'reaching,' 'attaining,' and 'acquiring.'

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At the C2 level, you master the most metaphorical and literary uses of 'reaching.' You might use it to describe the 'reaching' influence of an ancient philosophy or the 'reaching' branches of a family tree. You can employ it in sophisticated rhetorical devices. You understand the historical etymology and how 'reaching' has evolved from a physical act to a symbol of human aspiration and connectivity in literature.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

reaching en 30 secondes

Reaching involves the physical act of stretching an arm or hand to touch or grasp an object that is not immediately within reach.
It also metaphorically describes the process of achieving a goal, arriving at a destination, or attaining a specific level of success.
In social contexts, 'reaching out' is a common phrase used to describe the act of initiating communication or offering help to others.
The word can function as a verb in the continuous tense, a gerund acting as a noun, or an adjective describing extent.

The word reaching is the present participle and gerund form of the verb 'reach.' At its most fundamental level, it describes the physical act of extending a part of the body, usually the arm or hand, to touch, grasp, or pick up something that is not immediately adjacent. However, in modern English, its utility extends far beyond the physical realm into abstract concepts of achievement, communication, and spatial extent. When we talk about reaching, we are often discussing the bridge between a current state and a desired destination, whether that destination is a physical shelf, a corporate goal, or a psychological breakthrough.

Physical Extension: The most literal use, involving the stretching of limbs to bridge a gap. Example: Reaching for a book on a high shelf.
Attainment of Goals: Used when a person or group arrives at a specific milestone or level of success. Example: Reaching the final stage of the competition.
Communication and Connection: The act of attempting to contact someone or establish a rapport. Example: Reaching out to a long-lost friend.

The climber was reaching for the next handhold when the wind picked up suddenly.

In professional settings, 'reaching' is frequently paired with 'consensus' or 'agreement,' highlighting the collaborative effort required to find common ground. In a more metaphorical sense, a story or a piece of news might be described as 'reaching' an audience, suggesting a movement across barriers to achieve impact. The versatility of the word allows it to function as a noun (e.g., 'The reaching of the summit was their greatest feat') or as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., 'They are reaching new heights').

After hours of debate, the committee is finally reaching a decision that satisfies everyone.

Spatial Span: Describing how far something extends in space. Example: The branches were reaching across the narrow road.

Using 'reaching' correctly requires an understanding of its transitive and intransitive nature. When used transitively, it takes a direct object (e.g., reaching the end). When used intransitively, it often requires a preposition like 'for' or 'out'.

With Prepositions: 'Reaching for' implies an attempt to grab. 'Reaching out' implies communication or social connection. 'Reaching toward' implies direction without necessarily touching.

By reaching out to the community, the charity was able to double its donations.

In the present continuous tense, 'reaching' emphasizes the process. For instance, 'The temperature is reaching record levels' suggests a gradual climb that is currently happening. This is distinct from 'reaches,' which describes a general fact or a repeated action.

I saw him reaching into his pocket to find his keys.

As a Gerund: When 'reaching' acts as a noun. Example: 'Reaching the summit was the highlight of my year.'

You will encounter 'reaching' in a variety of contexts, from everyday domestic life to high-level corporate strategy. In news broadcasts, it is frequently used to describe economic trends or weather patterns.

'The stock market is reaching an all-time high today,' the anchor reported.

In literature and film, 'reaching' often symbolizes a character's internal struggle or ambition. A character might be 'reaching for the stars,' a classic idiom for having high aspirations. In music, lyrics often use 'reaching' to describe the desire for love or connection.

Workplace Context: 'We are reaching out to potential clients' is a standard way to describe business development.

One of the most common errors is confusing 'reaching' with 'arriving.' While they are related, 'reaching' often implies the effort or the path taken, whereas 'arriving' focuses on the moment of entry.

Incorrect: 'I am reaching at the station.' Correct: 'I am reaching the station' or 'I am arriving at the station.'

Preposition Errors: Avoid saying 'reaching to a goal.' Use 'reaching a goal' (transitive) or 'reaching for a goal' (striving).

Depending on the context, you might choose a more specific word than 'reaching' to add precision to your writing.

Stretching: Focuses on the physical elongation of the body. 'She was stretching to reach the top shelf.'
Achieving: Used for goals and milestones. 'They are achieving their targets' sounds more formal than 'reaching'.
Contacting: More direct than 'reaching out' in a business context. 'I am contacting the manager.'

While reaching is general, 'attaining' suggests a high level of effort and success.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'reach' originally shared a root with words meaning 'to straighten,' suggesting that reaching was seen as a way of making a straight line to an object.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/

US /ˈritʃɪŋ/

The stress is on the first syllable: REACH-ing.

Rime avec

teaching preaching bleaching screeching beaching leaching impeaching beseeching

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'g' at the end too harshly.
Confusing the 'ee' sound with a short 'i'.
Merging the 'ch' into a 'sh' sound.
Not sustaining the long 'e' vowel.
Over-emphasizing the second syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in context.

Écriture 3/5

Requires knowledge of prepositions.

Expression orale 3/5

Common in idioms and phrasal verbs.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

reach hand get go touch

Apprends ensuite

attain achieve consensus far-reaching compromise

Avancé

attainment extrapolation connectivity proximity aspiration

Grammaire à connaître

Present Continuous for ongoing actions

I am reaching for the stars.

Gerunds as subjects

Reaching the top was the best part.

Transitive vs Intransitive

He reached the goal (Transitive) vs He reached for the ball (Intransitive).

Participle phrases

Reaching for his wallet, he realized it was gone.

Compound adjectives

This is a far-reaching change.

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Exemples par niveau

The cat is reaching for the milk.

Le chat essaie d'attraper le lait.

Present continuous tense.

He is reaching for his hat.

Il tend la main pour son chapeau.

Subject + is + reaching + for + object.

Are you reaching the toy?

Est-ce que tu atteins le jouet ?

Question form.

She is reaching for the door.

Elle tend la main vers la porte.

Physical action.

I am reaching for my bag.

Je cherche mon sac.

First person singular.

The baby is reaching up.

Le bébé tend les bras vers le haut.

Intransitive use with adverb.

They are reaching for the bread.

Ils tendent la main pour le pain.

Third person plural.

Is he reaching the shelf?

Est-ce qu'il atteint l'étagère ?

Present continuous question.

We are reaching the city center.

Nous arrivons au centre-ville.

Reaching as arriving.

The water is reaching the stairs.

L'eau atteint les escaliers.

Describing extent.

She is reaching out to her sister.

Elle contacte sa sœur.

Phrasal verb 'reach out'.

He is reaching the end of the book.

Il arrive à la fin du livre.

Progressive action.

The plant is reaching toward the light.

La plante tend vers la lumière.

Natural movement.

Are they reaching the finish line?

Arrivent-ils à la ligne d'arrivée ?

Describing a goal.

I am reaching for my phone now.

Je prends mon téléphone maintenant.

Immediate action.

The sun is reaching the horizon.

Le soleil atteint l'horizon.

Describing position.

The company is reaching new markets.

L'entreprise touche de nouveaux marchés.

Business context.

We are reaching a decision soon.

Nous allons bientôt prendre une décision.

Abstract goal.

He is reaching his full potential.

Il atteint son plein potentiel.

Metaphorical use.

The temperature is reaching 30 degrees.

La température atteint 30 degrés.

Numerical levels.

Reaching the summit was difficult.

Atteindre le sommet était difficile.

Gerund as subject.

They are reaching out for help.

Ils demandent de l'aide.

Idiomatic expression.

The news is reaching everyone.

La nouvelle parvient à tout le monde.

Information spread.

I am reaching the age of thirty.

J'atteins l'âge de trente ans.

Time/Age milestone.

The policy is reaching its limit.

La politique atteint sa limite.

Abstract limit.

They are reaching a consensus on the project.

Ils parviennent à un consensus.

Formal collocation.

The branches are reaching over the fence.

Les branches dépassent de la clôture.

Spatial description.

She is reaching for a higher standard.

Elle vise un niveau plus élevé.

Aspirational use.

The smell is reaching the kitchen.

L'odeur parvient à la cuisine.

Sensory reach.

Reaching a compromise took weeks.

Parvenir à un compromis a pris des semaines.

Gerund phrase.

The signal is reaching the remote area.

Le signal atteint la zone reculée.

Technical reach.

He is reaching for his wallet.

Il cherche son portefeuille.

Physical action in context.

The research is reaching a critical stage.

La recherche atteint une étape critique.

Academic context.

The artist is reaching for a new aesthetic.

L'artiste recherche une nouvelle esthétique.

Creative pursuit.

Reaching an impasse in negotiations is common.

Il est courant d'aboutir à une impasse.

Formal noun phrase.

The virus is reaching the rural population.

Le virus atteint la population rurale.

Epidemiological context.

The music was reaching a crescendo.

La musique atteignait un crescendo.

Metaphorical peak.

They are reaching across the political divide.

Ils dépassent les clivages politiques.

Political idiom.

The implications are far-reaching.

Les implications sont de grande envergure.

Compound adjective.

Reaching for clarity, she rewrote the essay.

Cherchant la clarté, elle a réécrit l'essai.

Participial phrase.

The reaching tendrils of the vine covered the ruins.

Les vrilles de la vigne recouvraient les ruines.

Literary adjective.

The philosopher spent years reaching for the truth.

Le philosophe a passé des années à chercher la vérité.

Metaphysical use.

Reaching a state of equilibrium is the goal of the system.

Atteindre un état d'équilibre est l'objectif du système.

Scientific/Formal.

The reaching grasp of the corporation was felt globally.

L'emprise de la corporation se faisait sentir mondialement.

Figurative personification.

She is reaching the zenith of her career.

Elle atteint le zénith de sa carrière.

Elevated vocabulary.

The reaching shadows of evening grew long.

Les ombres allongées du soir s'étiraient.

Poetic description.

Reaching out to the marginalized is a moral duty.

Aller vers les marginalisés est un devoir moral.

Ethical context.

The project is reaching its inevitable conclusion.

Le projet arrive à sa conclusion inévitable.

Formal narrative.

Collocations courantes

reaching a decision

reaching a consensus

reaching out to

reaching the summit

reaching a conclusion

reaching a milestone

reaching for the stars

reaching an agreement

reaching a compromise

reaching a peak

Phrases Courantes

reaching out

— To contact someone or offer support.

Thank you for reaching out.

reaching the end of one's tether

— To be at the limit of one's patience.

I am reaching the end of my tether with this noise.

reaching new heights

— Achieving unprecedented success.

The company is reaching new heights.

reaching a boiling point

— A situation becoming critical or explosive.

Tensions are reaching a boiling point.

reaching for the remote

— A common physical action at home.

He is reaching for the remote.

reaching maturity

— Becoming fully developed.

The investment is reaching maturity.

reaching an impasse

— Coming to a point where no progress is possible.

The talks are reaching an impasse.

reaching the finish line

— Completing a task or race.

We are finally reaching the finish line.

reaching a verdict

— A legal decision being made.

The judge is reaching a verdict.

reaching across the aisle

— Cooperating with political opponents.

He is reaching across the aisle to pass the bill.

Souvent confondu avec

reaching vs arriving

Arriving is the end point; reaching can be the process or the end point.

reaching vs stretching

Stretching is the physical elongation; reaching is the intent to touch something.

reaching vs touching

Touching is the contact; reaching is the movement toward contact.

Expressions idiomatiques

"reaching for the stars"

— Aiming for very ambitious goals.

Don't be afraid of reaching for the stars.

informal

"reaching a fever pitch"

— Reaching a state of intense excitement or activity.

The crowd's excitement was reaching a fever pitch.

neutral

"reaching for straws"

— Trying any desperate measure to solve a problem.

He was reaching for straws to justify his mistake.

informal

"reaching the point of no return"

— Going so far that you cannot go back.

We are reaching the point of no return.

neutral

"reaching out a hand"

— Offering help or friendship.

She is reaching out a hand to the new student.

neutral

"reaching the end of the road"

— Coming to the final stage of something.

The old car is reaching the end of the road.

informal

"reaching a dead end"

— Coming to a situation where no further progress is possible.

The investigation is reaching a dead end.

neutral

"reaching for the sky"

— Similar to reaching for the stars; having high ambitions.

They are reaching for the sky with this new project.

informal

"reaching the top of the ladder"

— Achieving the highest position in a career.

He is reaching the top of the corporate ladder.

neutral

"reaching one's limit"

— Being unable to tolerate or do any more.

I am reaching my limit with this workload.

neutral

Facile à confondre

reaching vs retching

Similar sound.

Retching is the sound or movement of vomiting; reaching is extending an arm.

He was reaching for the bucket because he was retching.

reaching vs riching

Spelling error.

Riching is not a standard English word; reaching is the correct spelling.

The reaching (not riching) branches provided shade.

reaching vs leaching

Similar sound.

Leaching is a chemical process of draining; reaching is stretching.

Chemicals were leaching into the soil while he was reaching for the sample.

reaching vs bleaching

Rhyme.

Bleaching is whitening; reaching is stretching.

She was reaching for the bleaching powder.

reaching vs preaching

Rhyme.

Preaching is giving a religious talk; reaching is stretching.

The minister was reaching for his notes while preaching.

Structures de phrases

Subject + is reaching for + [object]

The boy is reaching for the toy.

Subject + is reaching + [destination]

We are reaching the park.

Subject + is reaching + [milestone]

She is reaching her goals.

Reaching + [noun phrase] + [verb]...

Reaching a consensus is important.

The [noun] is reaching a [state]

The situation is reaching a climax.

[Adjective] reaching [noun]...

The far-reaching effects of the law...

Subject + is reaching out to + [person]

I am reaching out to my teacher.

Subject + is reaching for + [abstract concept]

He is reaching for excellence.

Famille de mots

Noms

reach

reacher

Verbes

reach

reached

Adjectifs

reachable

unreachable

far-reaching

overreaching

Apparenté

stretch

attain

contact

extend

arrive

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in both spoken and written English.

Erreurs courantes

I am reaching to the station. → I am reaching the station.
The verb 'reach' is transitive when referring to a destination.
He is retching for the book. → He is reaching for the book.
'Retching' means to make the sound of vomiting.
We reached to a decision. → We reached a decision.
You reach a decision, you don't reach 'to' it.
The tree is reaching to the sky. → The tree is reaching for the sky.
'Reaching for' is better for expressing direction toward an unattainable point.
I am reaching out you. → I am reaching out to you.
The phrasal verb 'reach out' requires the preposition 'to'.

Astuces

Transitive vs Intransitive

When reaching a place, don't use 'to'. Say 'reaching London', not 'reaching to London'.

Use 'Attaining' for Formal Goals

In academic writing, 'attaining' often sounds more professional than 'reaching'.

Pronunciation

Ensure the 'ea' is a long 'ee' sound like in 'see'.

Far-reaching

Use this adjective to describe things with big effects, like 'far-reaching changes'.

Reaching Out

This is a very polite way to start an email to someone you don't know well.

Reach for the Stars

Use this to encourage someone to have big dreams.

Avoid 'Retching'

Be careful with spelling; 'retching' means something very different (vomiting)!

Business Context

'Reaching a consensus' is a common phrase in meetings.

Metaphorical Use

Use 'reaching' to describe levels of quality or states of mind.

Context Clues

If you hear 'reaching' followed by a number, it usually refers to a statistic.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'REACH' as 'Really Extending Arm to Catch Help'.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person standing on a ladder, stretching their arm as far as possible to touch a star.

Word Web

hand goal distance phone success shelf friend limit

Défi

Try to use 'reaching' in three different ways (physical, goal, communication) in one paragraph.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old English word 'recan' or 'ræcan,' which meant to stretch out or extend.

Sens originel : To extend the hand or to stretch out.

Germanic (related to German 'reichen' and Dutch 'reiken').

Contexte culturel

Be careful when 'reaching out' to ensure it doesn't sound overly transactional in personal contexts.

Commonly used in 'corporate speak' to mean contacting someone.

'Reaching for the stars' (General idiom) 'Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)' by Diana Ross NASA's mission of 'reaching' for new worlds.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Physical Action

reaching for a tool
reaching into a bag
reaching up high
reaching down low

Business

reaching a quota
reaching out to leads
reaching a deal
reaching a target

Travel

reaching the hotel
reaching the border
reaching the station
reaching the airport

Emotions

reaching a breaking point
reaching for hope
reaching out for love
reaching peace

Science

reaching boiling point
reaching saturation
reaching equilibrium
reaching a threshold

Amorces de conversation

"Have you ever felt like you were reaching for a goal that was too far away?"

"What is the most difficult milestone you are currently reaching for in your career?"

"How do you usually go about reaching out to someone you haven't spoken to in years?"

"Do you think technology is better at reaching people or making them feel more isolated?"

"What's the highest physical point you've ever enjoyed reaching?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time when reaching a specific goal changed your perspective on life.

Write about a moment you were reaching for something and someone helped you get it.

Reflect on the 'far-reaching' consequences of a decision you made recently.

How does it feel when you are reaching the end of a long and difficult project?

List three things you are reaching for this month and how you plan to attain them.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It can be both. As a verb, it's the present participle (e.g., 'He is reaching'). As a noun, it's a gerund (e.g., 'Reaching the top was hard').

It means you are making an exaggerated claim or a point that is not supported by facts. It's like saying 'you're stretching the truth'.

No, you should say 'reaching the city'. 'Reach' as a destination verb is transitive and doesn't need 'to'.

'Reaching for' is usually physical (grabbing something). 'Reaching out' is usually social (contacting someone).

It is usually hyphenated as a compound adjective (e.g., 'far-reaching consequences').

Yes, you can say 'reaching the end of the year' or 'reaching the age of 21'.

It is 'reachings', though it is very rarely used in modern English.

Yes, in basketball, a 'reaching foul' occurs when a player tries to steal the ball and hits the opponent's arm.

'Achieving a goal' or 'attaining a goal' are excellent synonyms.

Yes, you can say 'the scent was reaching every corner of the room'.

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