A1 Past Tense 12 min read Medium

The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive)

When fait is followed by an infinitive, it never changes its ending, regardless of gender or number.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'faire' + an infinitive to say you are having someone else do something for you.

  • Conjugate 'faire' based on the subject: 'Je fais réparer ma voiture.'
  • The second verb stays in the infinitive form: 'Il fait manger les enfants.'
  • The object comes after the infinitive: 'Elle fait couper ses cheveux.'
Subject + Faire (conjugated) + Infinitive Verb + Object

Overview

French grammar often presents complexities, especially regarding verb agreement. However, certain structures simplify this by adhering to a fixed form. One such instance involves the past participle fait (from the verb faire, meaning 'to do' or 'to make') when it is immediately followed by an infinitive verb (like manger, voir, construire).

In this specific causative construction, fait remains invariable: it does not change its form to agree in gender or number with any preceding direct object. This rule applies consistently, providing a stable point within the broader system of French past participle agreement. For A1 learners, understanding this invariability early on prevents common errors and establishes a foundational concept for more advanced causative structures.

It fundamentally distinguishes situations where faire causes an action from simple actions performed by the subject.

For example, if you say J'ai fait réparer ma voiture, you are expressing that you caused your car to be repaired, rather than repairing it yourself. Here, fait remains unchanged, regardless of voiture (feminine singular) or any other object that might precede it. This structural integrity simplifies a potentially confusing aspect of French verb agreement, making it a valuable rule to internalize from the outset of your learning journey.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Auxiliary avoir (Present) Past Participle fait
:---------------- :---------------------------- :-----------------------
Je (J') ai fait
Tu as fait
Il/Elle/On a fait
Nous avons fait
Vous avez fait
Ils/Elles ont fait

How This Grammar Works

This grammatical phenomenon stems from the conceptual fusion of faire and the following infinitive. Together, they form a single causative verbal unit or semantic block. In this construction, faire is not acting as an independent verb with its own direct object but rather as an auxiliary, effectively lending its causal force to the infinitive that follows.
The direct object of the action expressed by the infinitive is then considered the object of this entire combined structure, not solely of fait.
Consider J'ai fait réparer ma voiture. Here, ma voiture is the object of the entire phrase fait réparer. Because the object is conceptually linked to the combined action (fait réparer) and not just fait, the past participle fait does not perform its usual agreement function. It's as if fait delegates the action to the infinitive, and the agreement rule follows the same delegation.
This is why you will always encounter fait in its base past participle form, fait, never faite or faits or faites in this specific context. This rule simplifies agreement by consistently overriding the standard principle of past participle agreement with a preceding direct object.
For instance, in Les robes que j'ai fait coudre (The dresses that I had sewn), les robes is the preceding direct object. If fait were a regular past participle, you might expect faites. However, because coudre (to sew) follows, fait remains invariable.
The object les robes logically belongs to the act of coudre, which is caused by faire. This linguistic principle minimizes ambiguity and streamlines sentence construction, making fait a reliable component in these causative phrases.

Formation Pattern

1
Mastering the faire + infinitive construction requires understanding its fixed structural pattern. This pattern is consistent and straightforward, minimizing potential agreement errors. It involves combining a subject, the auxiliary verb avoir conjugated in the present tense, the invariable past participle fait, and then the infinitive verb.
2
Basic Structure:
3
| Component | Description |
4
|:-----------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
5
| Subject | The person or thing initiating the cause of the action. |
6
| Auxiliary avoir | Conjugated in the present tense (e.g., ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont). |
7
| fait | The invariable past participle of faire. Stays fait. |
8
| Infinitive Verb | The action verb in its unconjugated form (e.g., -er, -ir, -re endings). |
9
| Object (optional)| The direct or indirect object of the infinitive's action. |
10
Examples of Formation:
11
Elle a fait préparer le dîner. (She had dinner prepared.)
12
Nous avons fait construire une piscine. (We had a swimming pool built.)
13
Ils ont fait rire l'audience. (They made the audience laugh.)
14
Placement of Pronouns:
15
When an object pronoun (like le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en) is used, its placement depends on whether the object is direct or indirect and its relationship to the infinitive. For the causative faire + infinitive structure, direct object pronouns typically precede the conjugated avoir if they refer to the result of the action, while indirect object pronouns often precede the conjugated avoir if they refer to the person who performs the action. However, for A1, the most common and safest rule is that the object pronoun precedes the auxiliary avoir.
16
Pronoun Placement Rule:
17
| Type of Object | Example |
18
|:-----------------|:---------------------------------------------------|
19
| Direct | Ma robe? Je l'ai fait laver. (My dress? I had it washed.) |
20
| Indirect | Les enfants? Je leur ai fait lire une histoire. (The children? I made them read a story.) |
21
Crucially, fait never agrees, even when a direct object pronoun (l', les) precedes the auxiliary avoir. This reinforces its exceptional and consistent invariability within this construction. Avoid placing the pronoun between fait and the infinitive; it must precede the auxiliary avoir.

When To Use It

This construction is indispensable for expressing two primary concepts: causation of an action by someone else and making someone perform an action. It is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, reflecting a common aspect of daily life and communication.
  1. 1To Have Something Done (by someone else): This is the most frequent application, particularly for services. You use this when you arrange for an action to be carried out on your behalf, without performing the action yourself.
  • J'ai fait réparer mon ordinateur. (I had my computer repaired.) - You arranged for someone else to repair it.
  • Elle a fait livrer des fleurs. (She had flowers delivered.) - She requested a delivery service.
  • Nous faisons nettoyer la maison chaque semaine. (We have the house cleaned every week.) - We pay someone to clean it.
This application extends to any situation where you delegate a task or commission a service, from minor repairs to significant projects. It is a critical structure for discussing personal maintenance, household chores, professional services, and administrative tasks. Think of any scenario where you are the initiator but not the executor of an action.
  1. 1To Make Someone Do Something (compulsion or instigation): This usage implies that you cause or compel another person (or sometimes an animal or entity) to perform an action. This can range from mild encouragement to direct command.
  • Les parents ont fait manger les légumes aux enfants. (The parents made the children eat the vegetables.) - The children were compelled to eat.
  • Le professeur a fait réciter la poésie à l'élève. (The teacher made the student recite the poem.) - The student was instructed to recite.
  • Tu lui as fait peur. (You scared him/her.) - You caused fear in him/her. (Note: faire peur à quelqu'un is a common idiom meaning 'to scare someone').
This expresses a direct influence over another's actions. It's common in contexts of parental authority, instruction, or when describing the effect one person has on another's behavior. In all these instances, fait remains consistently in its invariable form, streamlining its application across diverse scenarios.

Common Mistakes

The most prevalent error encountered by French learners with this construction is attempting to apply standard past participle agreement rules to fait. Given that many past participles agree with a preceding direct object, learners instinctively try to make fait agree. However, this is precisely what must be avoided in the faire + infinitive structure.
  1. 1Agreeing fait with a preceding direct object: This is the cardinal mistake. You might recall the rule la voiture que j'ai vue (the car that I saw), where vue agrees with la voiture. This logic does not apply when an infinitive immediately follows fait.
  • Incorrect: Les robes que j'ai faites coudre. (✗ faites is wrong)
  • Correct: Les robes que j'ai fait coudre. (✓ fait remains invariable)
  • Incorrect: La lettre que j'ai faite taper. (✗ faite is wrong)
  • Correct: La lettre que j'ai fait taper. (✓ fait remains invariable)
  1. 1Confusing faire + infinitive with simple faire: When faire is used without an infinitive, its past participle fait does agree with a preceding direct object. This distinction is critical.
  • La tarte que j'ai faite. (The pie that I made.) - Here, faite agrees with la tarte because faire is not followed by an infinitive.
  • La tarte que j'ai fait faire. (The pie that I had made.) - Here, fait is invariable because it's followed by the infinitive faire.
  1. 1Incorrect placement of object pronouns: While less common at A1, some learners might attempt to place object pronouns after fait or even after the infinitive. Remember, they generally precede the conjugated auxiliary avoir.
  • Incorrect: J'ai fait la laver. (✗ la is in the wrong place)
  • Correct: Je l'ai fait laver. (✓ l' precedes ai)
  1. 1Conjugating the infinitive: The second verb in this construction must remain in its infinitive form. Do not attempt to conjugate it.
  • Incorrect: Elle a fait répare mon vélo. (✗ répare is conjugated)
  • Correct: Elle a fait réparer mon vélo. (✓ réparer is infinitive)
To avoid these mistakes, always pause and verify: if faire is immediately followed by an infinitive, its past participle form fait is always invariable.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly grasp the uniqueness of fait + infinitive, it's beneficial to compare it with other superficially similar but grammatically distinct French structures. This highlights why its invariability is an exception rather than a general rule.
  1. 1Standard Past Participle Agreement (without infinitive): When faire is used in a compound tense without an accompanying infinitive, its past participle fait behaves like most other past participles conjugated with avoir: it agrees in gender and number with a direct object that precedes the auxiliary verb.
  • J'ai fait la vaisselle. (I did the dishes.)
  • La vaisselle que j'ai faite. (The dishes that I did.) - Here, faite agrees with la vaisselle (feminine singular).
  • Les efforts que nous avons faits. (The efforts that we made.) - Here, faits agrees with les efforts (masculine plural).
Key Difference: The presence or absence of an infinitive immediately after fait is the decisive factor for agreement.
  1. 1Other Verbs of Perception/Causation + Infinitive: French has other verbs that can be followed by an infinitive, often expressing perception or allowing an action. Examples include voir (to see), entendre (to hear), laisser (to let). While these also involve an infinitive, their agreement rules for the past participle are more nuanced or, in some cases, shifting.
  • Laisser + Infinitive: Historically, laisser also agreed in certain contexts. However, modern French tends towards invariability for laisser + infinitive, mirroring faire. For instance, Les enfants que j'ai laissé jouer (The children whom I let play) often shows laissé as invariable, though agreement can still be found in older or more formal usage. For A1, note that faire is absolutely invariable, while laisser is trending that way.
  • Voir, Entendre, Sentir + Infinitive: These verbs are more complex. Their past participles agree if the preceding direct object performs the action of the infinitive, but remain invariable if the preceding direct object undergoes the action or if the infinitive has its own direct object. (This is a more advanced topic, B1+). For A1, simply recognize that these are distinct from faire + infinitive, and the fait rule is simpler: always invariable.
Key Difference: Faire + infinitive is a uniquely consistent case of invariability, simplifying learning at the foundational level.
  1. 1The Passive Voice (être + Past Participle): This construction expresses that the subject undergoes the action. It always uses the auxiliary être and the past participle always agrees with the subject.
  • La maison a été construite. (The house was built.) - construite agrees with la maison (feminine singular).
  • Les documents ont été envoyés. (The documents were sent.) - envoyés agrees with les documents (masculine plural).
Key Difference: The passive voice (être + past participle) describes what happens to the subject, while faire + infinitive describes what the subject causes to happen to something/someone. They are semantically and structurally distinct.
This comparison highlights that the invariability of fait in faire + infinitive is a specific and dependable rule, offering a clear grammatical path despite the complexities of other agreement scenarios.

Real Conversations

Understanding how faire + infinitive functions in everyday French conversations reinforces its practical utility. This construction is common across various registers, from casual chat to more formal exchanges, demonstrating its versatility and importance in sounding natural.

Casual Text/Chat:

- J'ai fait refaire mon CV pour la nouvelle offre. (I had my CV redone for the new offer.) - A quick update on a personal task.

- Elle a fait venir son frère de Paris pour le week-end. (She had her brother come from Paris for the weekend.) - Announcing a visitor.

Everyday Dialogue:

-

Conjugation of 'Faire' in the Causative

Subject Faire Infinitive Example
Je
fais
réparer
Je fais réparer
Tu
fais
réparer
Tu fais réparer
Il/Elle
fait
réparer
Il fait réparer
Nous
faisons
réparer
Nous faisons réparer
Vous
faites
réparer
Vous faites réparer
Ils/Elles
font
réparer
Ils font réparer

Meanings

This construction indicates that the subject is causing an action to be performed by someone else.

1

Service Causative

Having a professional perform a service.

“Je fais construire ma maison.”

“Il fait laver sa voiture.”

2

Command/Instruction

Ordering or instructing someone to do an action.

“Le professeur fait lire les élèves.”

“Elle fait sortir le chien.”

3

Indirect Causation

Causing a state or reaction.

“Cette nouvelle me fait pleurer.”

“Il fait rire tout le monde.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
S + faire + inf
Je fais réparer.
Negative
S + ne + faire + pas + inf
Je ne fais pas réparer.
Interrogative
Faire + S + inf?
Fais-tu réparer?
Passé Composé
S + avoir fait + inf
J'ai fait réparer.
Futur Proche
S + aller + faire + inf
Je vais faire réparer.
Imperative
Fais + inf!
Fais réparer!
Short Answer
Oui, je le fais.
Oui, je le fais.
Passive-like
S + faire + inf + par + agent
Je fais réparer par lui.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je fais procéder à la réparation de mon véhicule.

Je fais procéder à la réparation de mon véhicule. (Mechanic)

Neutral
Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Je fais réparer ma voiture. (Mechanic)

Informal
Je fais réparer ma caisse.

Je fais réparer ma caisse. (Mechanic)

Slang
Je fais retaper ma bagnole.

Je fais retaper ma bagnole. (Mechanic)

The Causative Logic

Faire

Action

  • réparer repair
  • laver wash

Result

  • service service
  • delegation delegation

Direct vs. Causative

Direct Action
Je répare I repair
Causative Action
Je fais réparer I have it repaired

Do I use 'Faire'?

1

Are you doing the work yourself?

YES
Use standard verb
NO
Use 'Faire' + Infinitive
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Examples by Level

1

Je fais réparer mon vélo.

I am having my bike repaired.

2

Il fait couper ses cheveux.

He is having his hair cut.

3

Nous faisons laver la voiture.

We are having the car washed.

4

Elle fait nettoyer sa robe.

She is having her dress cleaned.

1

Ne fais-tu pas réparer ton téléphone ?

Aren't you having your phone repaired?

2

Je fais construire une maison.

I am having a house built.

3

Ils font peindre le salon.

They are having the living room painted.

4

Elle fait réparer ses chaussures.

She is having her shoes repaired.

1

Cette musique me fait danser.

This music makes me dance.

2

Il fait savoir la nouvelle à tout le monde.

He is letting everyone know the news.

3

Je fais examiner ce document par un expert.

I am having this document examined by an expert.

4

Elle fait traduire son livre en anglais.

She is having her book translated into English.

1

Le directeur fait signer le contrat aux employés.

The director is having the employees sign the contract.

2

Il a fait installer un nouveau système de sécurité.

He had a new security system installed.

3

Elle fait réviser ses notes par son professeur.

She is having her notes reviewed by her teacher.

4

Nous faisons vérifier les comptes chaque année.

We have the accounts audited every year.

1

Il fait valoir ses droits devant le tribunal.

He is asserting his rights in court.

2

Cette situation fait ressortir les tensions latentes.

This situation brings out latent tensions.

3

Elle fait fi des critiques.

She ignores the criticisms.

4

Le gouvernement fait adopter une nouvelle loi.

The government is having a new law passed.

1

Il fait montre d'une grande intelligence.

He demonstrates great intelligence.

2

Elle fait grand cas de cette tradition.

She attaches great importance to this tradition.

3

Le poète fait vibrer les cordes sensibles de son public.

The poet makes the sensitive chords of his audience vibrate.

4

Il fait sienne cette philosophie.

He adopts this philosophy as his own.

Easily Confused

The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive) vs Faire + Infinitive vs. Simple Verb

Learners often use the causative when they should use a simple verb.

The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive) vs Faire + Infinitive vs. Passive Voice

Both describe actions done by others.

The 'Unchangeable' Fait (Faire + Infinitive) vs Faire + Infinitive vs. 'Laisser' + Infinitive

Both are causative.

Common Mistakes

✗

Je fais répare ma voiture.

✓

Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Second verb must be infinitive.
✗

Il fait réparer sa voiture.

✓

Il fait réparer sa voiture.

Wait, this is correct. Common mistake is 'Il faire réparer'.
✗

Je fais ma voiture réparer.

✓

Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Word order error.
✗

Je fais réparé ma voiture.

✓

Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Confusing past participle with infinitive.
✗

Je fais le faire.

✓

Je le fais faire.

Pronoun placement is tricky.
✗

Je fais réparer par moi.

✓

Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Unnecessary agent.
✗

Il me fait réparer.

✓

Il me fait réparer la voiture.

Missing object.
✗

Je me fais couper les cheveux par le coiffeur.

✓

Je me fais couper les cheveux.

Redundant agent.
✗

Il a fait réparé la voiture.

✓

Il a fait réparer la voiture.

Past participle confusion.
✗

Je le fais réparer à lui.

✓

Je le fais réparer par lui.

Wrong preposition.
✗

Il fait faire le travail par les employés.

✓

Il fait faire le travail aux employés.

Causative with transitive verbs requires 'à'.
✗

Elle fait savoir la vérité à tout le monde.

✓

Elle fait savoir la vérité à tout le monde.

This is actually correct, but learners often use 'par'.
✗

Il fait valoir ses droits par le juge.

✓

Il fait valoir ses droits.

Contextual error.

Sentence Patterns

Je fais ___ mon/ma ___.

Est-ce que tu fais ___ ton/ta ___ ?

Cela me fait ___.

Le directeur fait ___ le ___ aux employés.

Real World Usage

Mechanic shop constant

Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Hairdresser very common

Je fais couper mes cheveux.

Social media common

Cette vidéo me fait rire !

Job interview occasional

Je fais vérifier mes rapports par mon équipe.

Travel common

Je fais laver mon linge à l'hôtel.

Food delivery common

Je fais livrer mon repas.

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💡

The 'Boss' Rule

Remember: if you are the boss, you use 'faire'. If you are the worker, you don't.
⚠️

Don't Conjugate!

The second verb is always in the infinitive. Never add an ending to it.
🎯

Pronoun Placement

When using pronouns, they go before 'faire', not the infinitive.
💬

Sounding Native

Use 'faire' for all services. It's the most natural way to speak.

Smart Tips

Check if you are the one doing the work. If not, use 'faire'.

Je répare ma voiture (at the shop). → Je fais réparer ma voiture.

Use the causative to describe delegated tasks.

J'ai demandé à mon équipe de signer. → Je fais signer le contrat par mon équipe.

Always start with 'Je fais...'.

Je veux une coupe. → Je fais couper mes cheveux.

It is ALWAYS the infinitive. No exceptions.

Je fais réparé. → Je fais réparer.

Pronunciation

fait-il [fɛ-t‿il]

Liaison

When 'fait' is followed by a vowel, link the 't'.

réparer [ʁepaʁe]

Infinitive ending

-er verbs end in an 'ay' sound.

Question

Fais-tu réparer ↑ ?

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Faire is the Boss: The boss doesn't do the work, he makes others do it.

Visual Association

Imagine a king sitting on a throne (the subject) pointing at a worker (the infinitive verb) to do a task.

Rhyme

When you want it done but not by you, use 'faire' and the verb too.

Story

I wanted a new haircut. I didn't cut it myself. I went to the salon. I said: 'Je fais couper mes cheveux.' The hairdresser did the work, but I caused it.

Word Web

réparerlavercouperconstruirenettoyerpeindresignertraduire

Challenge

Look around your room and list 3 things you could 'have done' by someone else (e.g., 'faire peindre le mur').

Cultural Notes

French people value professional services; the causative 'faire' is used constantly in daily life.

Similar to France, but 'faire' is often used in more casual contexts.

Used in formal and professional settings to show respect for the service provider.

Derived from the Latin 'facere' (to do/make).

Conversation Starters

“

Qu'est-ce que tu fais réparer en ce moment ?

“

Est-ce que tu fais couper tes cheveux souvent ?

“

Qu'est-ce qui te fait rire le plus ?

“

Penses-tu qu'il est important de faire vérifier sa voiture régulièrement ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your last visit to the hairdresser.
What services do you pay for every month?
Write about a time someone made you laugh.
Discuss the importance of professional delegation in business.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'faire'.

Je ___ réparer ma voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fais
Je takes 'fais'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais réparer ma voiture.
Infinitive is required.
Correct the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il fait mange le gâteau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait manger le gâteau.
Infinitive required.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais réparer ma voiture.
Standard word order.
Translate to French. Translation

I am having my hair cut.

Answer starts with: Je ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais couper mes cheveux.
Causative structure.
Conjugate 'faire' for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ réparer la voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: faisons
Nous form of faire.
Match the causative to the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: To have repaired
Causative meaning.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Elle / faire / nettoyer / sa robe

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle fait nettoyer sa robe.
Correct structure.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'faire'.

Je ___ réparer ma voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fais
Je takes 'fais'.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais réparer ma voiture.
Infinitive is required.
Correct the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Il fait mange le gâteau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait manger le gâteau.
Infinitive required.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

voiture / ma / réparer / fais / je

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais réparer ma voiture.
Standard word order.
Translate to French. Translation

I am having my hair cut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais couper mes cheveux.
Causative structure.
Conjugate 'faire' for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ réparer la voiture.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: faisons
Nous form of faire.
Match the causative to the meaning. Match Pairs

Faire réparer

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: To have repaired
Causative meaning.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Elle / faire / nettoyer / sa robe

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle fait nettoyer sa robe.
Correct structure.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Elle a ___ venir le médecin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fait
Select the modern correct usage: Multiple Choice

Talking about an Instagram photo (la photo):

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je l'ai fait prendre par un pro.
Correct the agreement error: Error Correction

Les devoirs ? Je les ai faits faire par mon frère.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je les ai fait faire par mon frère.
Order the words to say: 'I had my hair cut.' Sentence Reorder

Order the words:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai fait couper mes cheveux
Translate to French: Translation

I had the pizza delivered.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai fait livrer la pizza.
Match the English to the French: Match Pairs

Match the services:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I had it repaired | Je l'ai fait réparer
Which one sounds like a real French person? Multiple Choice

Context: Uber delivery

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai fait venir un Uber.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Ma sœur ? Je l'ai ___ pleurer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fait
Find the mistake Error Correction

Nous les avons faits signer hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous les avons fait signer hier.
Translate to French: Translation

Did you have the house built?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu as fait construire la maison ?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Mostly for services and causing states. Don't use it for simple actions you do yourself.

Because 'faire' is the main verb carrying the tense and person.

Use 'par' + person, e.g., 'Je fais réparer ma voiture par le mécanicien'.

Yes, it is very common in all registers.

Put 'ne...pas' around 'faire', e.g., 'Je ne fais pas réparer ma voiture'.

Yes, use the passé composé of 'faire', e.g., 'J'ai fait réparer ma voiture'.

Yes, the causative focuses on the initiator, the passive focuses on the object.

They work similarly, e.g., 'Je me fais couper les cheveux'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hacer + infinitive

Spanish uses 'hacer' for weather, French uses 'faire'.

German moderate

Lassen + infinitive

German 'lassen' can also mean 'to let'.

English partial

To have + past participle

French keeps the verb in the infinitive form.

Japanese low

Causative form (-seru)

Japanese changes the verb itself, French adds a helper verb.

Arabic low

Form IV verbs

Arabic changes the root structure.

Chinese moderate

使 (shǐ) / 让 (ràng)

Chinese does not conjugate the verb at all.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Past Participle with Implied Infinitive (pu, voulu, dû)
Next
Letting Things Happen: The Verb 'Laisser' with Infinitives

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