Making & Letting (Faire & Laisser)
faire and laisser lets you express causing or allowing actions in natural, everyday French.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'faire' to make someone do something and 'laisser' to let them do it.
- Use 'faire' + infinitive to cause an action: Je fais manger le chien (I make the dog eat).
- Use 'laisser' + infinitive to permit an action: Je laisse sortir le chat (I let the cat out).
- The infinitive verb never changes form, regardless of who is doing the action.
Overview
Ever felt like you were the boss of your own life? Or maybe you were just letting things slide? In French, two little verbs do all that heavy lifting for you. Meet faire and laisser. They are the ultimate 'dynamic duo' of French sentences. One makes things happen. The other lets them happen.
You use faire when you are the cause of an action. Maybe you’re making coffee. Maybe you’re making your little brother cry.
(Hopefully just the coffee!). You use laisser when you give permission. Think of it as the 'chill' verb.
You let your friend borrow your Netflix password. You let the cat out. It’s all about control or lack thereof.
Learning these two verbs is like getting a VIP pass to real French. Textbooks often make them sound scary. They use big words like 'causative' or 'permissive'.
Don't worry about those. Think of them as 'The Maker' and 'The Allower'. If you can master these, your French will sound 100% more natural.
Plus, you’ll finally understand why French people are always 'making' things do things. It’s a bit like being a movie director. You’re calling the shots!
Just don't let it go to your head. We don't want a Napoleon complex in the group chat.
French loves to use a 'verb + infinitive' combo. This is exactly how faire and laisser work. You take the conjugated form of faire or laisser. Then you slap a second verb right after it. This second verb stays in its original, 'raw' form. That's the infinitive.
Think of faire as 'to make' or 'to cause'. For example, Je fais cuire le riz. You aren't just 'cooking' the rice. You are 'making' the rice cook. It’s a subtle difference, but French speakers use it constantly.
Think of laisser as 'to let' or 'to leave'. For example, Laisse-moi partir. This literally means 'Let me leave'. It’s great for dramatic exits or just getting out of a boring Zoom meeting.
These verbs are incredibly common in daily life. You'll hear them at the doctor, the mechanic, and in every TikTok caption. They help you explain who is doing what. Without them, your sentences might feel a bit stiff. Like a robot trying to order a croissant. Nobody wants that.
Word Order Rules
- Subject +
faire/laisser(conjugated) + Infinitive + Object.
Tu fais manger le chat. (You make the cat eat).
faire and laisser, the pronoun moves! It jumps to the front of the whole verb team.Je le fais réparer. (I am having it repaired).
le is before fais? It doesn't go between them. It’s like the pronoun is the leader of the pack. It always wants to be first in line. If you have a negative sentence, the ne and pas wrap around the conjugated verb.Je ne le fais pas réparer. (I am not having it repaired).
How This Grammar Works
faire + infinitive, you are the 'initiator'. You aren't necessarily doing the work yourself. You are just making sure it gets done.Je fais construire le site. It’s very efficient.laisser, you are the 'gatekeeper'. You are either giving permission or just not stopping something. Elle laisse ses enfants jouer dehors. (She lets her kids play outside). She isn't playing. She is just allowing the playing to happen.laisser can also mean 'to leave behind'. J'ai laissé mes clés sur la table. (I left my keys on the table). This is the standard use of the verb. But when you add another verb after it, it transforms into the 'permission' meaning. It's like a linguistic superpower. Use it wisely.Formation Pattern
faire or laisser in the present tense.
faire because it’s a bit irregular.
Je fais parler | I make (someone) speak
Tu fais rire | You make (someone) laugh
Il fait beau | (It is beautiful - okay, bad example, let's try: Il fait pleurer) | He makes (someone) cry
Nous faisons travailler | We make (someone) work
Vous faites attention | You (plural) pay attention / Vous faites venir | You make (someone) come
Ils font tomber | They make (something) fall
laisser. It’s a regular -er verb. Super easy!
Je laisse entrer | I let (someone) in
Tu laisses passer | You let (someone) pass
Elle laisse voir | She lets (someone) see
Nous laissons tomber | We let (it) drop / We give up
Vous laissez traîner | You let (things) lie around
Ils laissent parler | They let (someone) speak
Pattern Variations
avoir as the auxiliary.J'ai fait réparer ma voiture. (I had my car repaired).J'ai laissé partir mon chat. (I let my cat go).faire, the past participle fait never agrees with the object. It’s always fait. No extra 'e' or 's'. laisser is more flexible, but most people keep it simple.Je me fais couper les cheveux. (I am getting my hair cut).Je coupe mes cheveux unless you are literally holding the scissors yourself.faire.laisser tomber. It literally means 'to let fall', but idiomatically it means 'to drop it' or 'forget about it'. Great for when your friend is complaining about their ex for the 100th time. Laisse tomber, mec!Real Conversations
Let's see how this looks in the wild. Imagine you're texting a friend or at a café.
Scenario 1
Léo
Mon téléphone ne marche plus.Sara
Tu devrais le faire réparer au magasin Apple.Léo
Je vais le faire demain.Scenario 2
Marc
Est-ce que je peux nourrir ton chien ?Julie
Non, je ne le laisse pas manger n'importe quoi.Marc
D'accord, je comprends.Scenario 3
Sophie
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ?Thomas
Je fais bouillir l'eau pour les pâtes.Sophie
Laisse-moi t'aider !Notice how natural it feels? It’s not just 'I cook' or 'I help'. It’s 'I make the water boil' and 'Let me help you'. It adds a layer of interaction. It makes the conversation feel alive. Like a real person is talking, not a grammar book.
Common Mistakes
Je fais parle mon ami.Je fais parler mon ami.Je fais lui parler.Je le fais parler. (Wait, it's le for him here, not lui).le and not lui? In the causative, if there is only one object, it's a direct object. This is a bit advanced, but just remember: if you're making 'him' do something, use le. If you're making 'her' do something, use la.faire with rendre. Both can mean 'to make'. But faire is for actions (verbs). Rendre is for emotions or states (adjectives).Ça me fait heureux.Ça me rend heureux. (That makes me happy).Ça me fait rire. (That makes me laugh).
faire. If it’s a feeling, use rendre. Simple, right? Well, simple-ish.Quick FAQ
Can I use faire for everything I make?
Mostly! If you're initiating an action, faire + infinitive is your best friend.
Is laisser always about permission?
Usually. But it can also mean 'leaving' something somewhere. Context is king!
Why do French people say faire la cuisine instead of just cuisiner?
Because they love faire. It's one of the most versatile verbs in the language. Using it makes you sound more 'local'.
Can I use faire to say I'm getting a tattoo?
Yes! Je me fais tatouer. Unless you are doing it yourself in your garage (don't do that).
What's the difference between Laisse-moi and Laisse tomber?
Laisse-moi means 'let me' (usually followed by a verb). Laisse tomber means 'forget it'.
Is this rule formal or informal?
Both! It’s used in every social situation imaginable. From job interviews to shouting at your cat.
Do I need to worry about gender with faire?
Not in the present tense. Faire doesn't care about gender. Only the subject pronoun does (Il vs Elle).
Does laisser work with nouns?
Yes! Je laisse les clés. (I leave the keys). Je laisse les enfants jouer. (I let the kids play).
Is faire cuire better than cuisiner?
Cuisiner is the act of cooking in general. Faire cuire is 'to cook' a specific thing (the pasta, the chicken, etc.).
Can I use faire to say 'making' a cake?
Yes, faire un gâteau. But for actions, add the infinitive! Faire chauffer le four (make the oven heat up).
Does the past participle of faire ever change?
In the causative construction, no. It's always fait. J'ai fait réparer la voiture.
Can I say Je fais rire lui?
No! The pronoun must go before faire. Je le fais rire.
What if I have two objects?
That's a bit more advanced. For A1, stick to one object. Je le fais manger.
Can I use laisser to say 'I leave the house'?
No, for leaving a place, use partir or quitter. Laisser is for leaving things or permitting people.
Is faire + infinitive the same as 'getting something done'?
Exactly. Like getting a haircut or a car repair. It’s perfect for that.
Does this grammar help with polite requests?
Yes! Faites-moi savoir (Let me know). It’s very polite and formal.
Can I say Je laisse tomber for a mistake?
Yes, it means 'let it go' or 'drop the subject'. It’s very common.
Is faire used for weather?
Yes, Il fait chaud. But that's a different rule. Here we are looking at faire + verb.
Can I say Je fais manger à lui?
No, that's not quite right. Stick to Je le fais manger.
Is faire + infinitive more common than the simple verb?
For many actions, yes. Especially things you don't do yourself.
Do I need to use faire for cleaning?
Often, yes! Faire le ménage is the standard way to say 'doing the housework'.
Conjugation of Faire and Laisser
| Subject | Faire | Laisser |
|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
fais
|
laisse
|
|
Tu
|
fais
|
laisses
|
|
Il/Elle
|
fait
|
laisse
|
|
Nous
|
faisons
|
laissons
|
|
Vous
|
faites
|
laissez
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
font
|
laissent
|
Meanings
These verbs are used to describe actions that are performed by someone else at the subject's request or permission.
Causative (Faire)
To cause or force someone to perform an action.
“Je fais travailler les élèves.”
“Elle fait rire ses amis.”
Permissive (Laisser)
To allow or permit someone to perform an action.
“Je laisse mon fils jouer.”
“Laissez-moi parler !”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + V + Inf
|
Je fais manger.
|
|
Negative
|
S + ne + V + pas + Inf
|
Je ne fais pas manger.
|
|
Interrogative
|
V + S + Inf ?
|
Fais-tu manger ?
|
|
Imperative
|
V + Inf !
|
Fais manger !
|
|
Reflexive
|
S + se + V + Inf
|
Il se fait couper.
|
|
Future
|
S + V(fut) + Inf
|
Je ferai manger.
|
Formality Spectrum
Veuillez me laisser parler. (Interruption)
Laissez-moi parler. (Interruption)
Laisse-moi parler. (Interruption)
Laisse-moi causer. (Interruption)
Causative vs Permissive
Faire
- Force Make
- Cause Cause
Laisser
- Permit Let
- Allow Allow
Usage Comparison
Decision Flow
Are you forcing the action?
Are you allowing the action?
Common Verbs
Faire
- • faire manger
- • faire travailler
- • faire réparer
Laisser
- • laisser partir
- • laisser entrer
- • laisser parler
Examples by Level
Je fais manger le chien.
I make the dog eat.
Laisse-moi dormir.
Let me sleep.
Il fait travailler son frère.
He makes his brother work.
Elle laisse sortir le chat.
She lets the cat out.
Tu ne fais pas travailler les enfants.
You don't make the children work.
Faites-vous réparer le vélo ?
Are you having the bike repaired?
Je ne laisse pas mon fils sortir.
I don't let my son go out.
Ils font chanter la chorale.
They make the choir sing.
Je fais construire une nouvelle maison.
I am having a new house built.
Laissez-les finir leur travail.
Let them finish their work.
Elle se fait couper les cheveux.
She is getting her hair cut.
Nous faisons livrer le dîner.
We are having dinner delivered.
Il a fait comprendre ses intentions.
He made his intentions understood.
Ne te laisse pas faire par lui.
Don't let him push you around.
Je ferai réparer cette erreur.
I will have this error fixed.
Elle laisse entendre qu'elle partira.
She lets it be understood that she will leave.
Il s'est fait entendre malgré le bruit.
He made himself heard despite the noise.
Laissez dire les mauvaises langues.
Let the gossips talk.
Elle fait valoir ses droits.
She is asserting her rights.
Il ne se laisse pas abattre par les critiques.
He doesn't let himself be discouraged by criticism.
Laisser-faire est une doctrine économique.
Laissez-faire is an economic doctrine.
Il a fait fi de toutes les règles.
He disregarded all the rules.
Elle se laisse aller à la mélancolie.
She gives way to melancholy.
Il fait montre d'une grande intelligence.
He shows great intelligence.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'faire' (causative) with 'aller' (future).
Both mean 'leave' in English.
Both can mean 'make' (e.g., make happy).
Common Mistakes
Je fais mange.
Je fais manger.
Je fais pas manger.
Je ne fais pas manger.
Fais-tu le manger ?
Fais-tu manger ?
Il fait travaille.
Il fait travailler.
Laisse-moi le fait.
Laisse-moi le faire.
Je fais le réparer.
Je le fais réparer.
Elle laisse le chien sort.
Elle laisse le chien sortir.
Je fais réparer ma voiture par le mécanicien.
Je fais réparer ma voiture.
Il se fait le couper.
Il se le fait couper.
Laisse-le de faire.
Laisse-le faire.
Il a fait de sorte qu'il travaille.
Il l'a fait travailler.
Elle se laisse à faire.
Elle se laisse faire.
Il fait montre de son talent.
Il fait montre de son talent.
Sentence Patterns
Je fais ___ le ___.
Laisse-moi ___ !
Est-ce que tu fais ___ ton ___ ?
Je ne me laisse pas ___ par ___.
Real World Usage
Je fais chauffer mon plat.
Laisse-moi tranquille.
Je fais valoir mes compétences.
Je fais livrer mes bagages.
Laissez un commentaire !
Je fais livrer une pizza.
Infinitive Rule
Don't Over-translate
Pronoun Placement
Laissez-faire
Smart Tips
Use 'se faire' + infinitive.
Use 'Laisse-moi faire'.
Check if the first is 'faire' or 'laisser'.
Use 'Veuillez me laisser...'.
Pronunciation
Faire
Pronounced like 'fɛr'.
Laisser
Pronounced like 'lɛ-se'.
Rising for questions
Fais-tu manger ? ↗
Indicates a question.
Falling for commands
Laisse-moi ! ↘
Indicates a firm command.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Faire is 'Force', Laisser is 'Let'. F-F, L-L.
Visual Association
Imagine a puppet master pulling strings (Faire) vs. a gatekeeper opening a door (Laisser).
Rhyme
Faire makes it happen, Laisser lets it be, keep the second verb in the infinitive for me.
Story
I make my dog sit (Faire). I let my cat out (Laisser). My dog is tired, my cat is happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using 'faire' and 5 using 'laisser' about your daily routine.
Cultural Notes
The 'laisser-faire' attitude is a cultural concept of non-interference.
Commonly used in 'faire faire' constructions for services.
Used frequently in daily interactions to delegate tasks.
Derived from Latin 'facere' (to do/make) and 'laxare' (to loosen/let).
Conversation Starters
Que fais-tu réparer aujourd'hui ?
Laisse-tu tes enfants sortir ?
Qu'est-ce que tu fais faire par les autres ?
Te laisses-tu influencer facilement ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je ___ manger le chat.
Je laisse mon fils ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Il fait mange le chien.
Je fais travailler mon frère.
laisse / moi / parler
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Je ___ réparer ma voiture.
Ils ___ entrer les invités.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe ___ manger le chat.
Je laisse mon fils ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Il fait mange le chien.
Je fais travailler mon frère.
laisse / moi / parler
Faire vs Laisser
Je ___ réparer ma voiture.
Ils ___ entrer les invités.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesNous ___ les enfants jouer.
Choose the best option:
Arrange these words:
How do you say 'Let it go' or 'Forget it'?
Je fais le réparer.
Match these pairs:
Elles ___ tomber les feuilles.
Choose the best option:
Arrange these words:
French translation:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Because 'faire' and 'laisser' are the conjugated verbs in the sentence. The second verb is just the action being performed.
No, only when you are causing or having an action done.
Place 'ne' and 'pas' around the first verb: 'Je ne fais pas manger'.
Mostly, but it can also mean 'to leave' something behind.
Use 'Je le fais faire'.
The structure is very consistent, which is why it's great for beginners.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in all registers.
Use inversion: 'Fais-tu travailler les élèves?'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hacer/Dejar + infinitive
Pronoun placement is more flexible in Spanish.
Machen/Lassen + infinitive
German 'machen' is rarely used for causative.
Causative form (-seru)
French uses a separate word; Japanese uses a suffix.
Form IV/II verbs
Arabic is morphological; French is syntactic.
使 (shǐ) / 让 (ràng)
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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