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B1 adverb 16 min read

malproprement

Examples
Explanation malproprement in your Level:
At the A1 beginner level, learners are just starting to build their foundational vocabulary in French. The word malproprement is generally considered too long and complex for an absolute beginner to use actively in everyday conversation. At this stage, students are focused on basic adjectives like 'bon' (good), 'mauvais' (bad), 'propre' (clean), and 'sale' (dirty). If an A1 learner wants to express that something is done messily, they will typically use the simple adverb 'mal' (badly) or combine a basic verb with an adjective, such as saying 'C'est sale' (It is dirty) rather than using a complex adverb of manner. However, it is still beneficial for A1 learners to be introduced to the concept of how adverbs are formed in French. Recognizing that the suffix '-ment' often corresponds to the English '-ly' is a crucial stepping stone. If an A1 learner encounters malproprement in a simple text or hears a teacher use it, they can break it down: they might recognize 'mal' (bad) and 'propre' (clean), and deduce that the word means 'not cleanly'. While active usage is not expected, passive recognition helps build confidence and prepares the learner for more advanced vocabulary acquisition in the future.
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As learners progress to the A2 elementary level, their ability to describe actions and routines expands significantly. They begin to use more adverbs to add detail to their sentences. While malproprement is still a relatively advanced word, an A2 learner can start to understand its specific application, especially in contexts related to daily chores, hygiene, and the household—topics that are heavily emphasized at this level. An A2 student might learn this word when discussing how to clean a house or when reading a simple story about someone who is very messy. They can begin to use it in straightforward, simple sentences, primarily in the present tense. For example, they might say, 'Il mange malproprement' (He eats messily) or 'Elle nettoie malproprement' (She cleans messily). At this stage, the focus is strictly on the literal, physical meaning of the word—dirtiness and lack of neatness. The figurative meanings regarding ethics or professional conduct remain too complex. Teachers might encourage A2 students to practice using malproprement as an alternative to always saying 'très mal' or 'pas bien', helping them to slowly diversify their descriptive vocabulary.
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At the B1 intermediate level, malproprement becomes a highly relevant and active part of a learner's vocabulary. B1 students are expected to express opinions, describe experiences in detail, and articulate problems or complaints. Malproprement is the perfect tool for these tasks. Learners at this level can use the word confidently in various tenses, including the passé composé and the imparfait, to describe past events. For instance, 'J'ai dû tout refaire parce qu'il avait nettoyé malproprement' (I had to redo everything because he had cleaned messily). Furthermore, B1 learners begin to grasp the nuances between similar words, understanding why one might choose malproprement over 'salement' or 'négligemment' depending on the exact nature of the messiness. They are also introduced to the broader applications of the word beyond just physical dirt, starting to use it to describe poorly executed tasks or sloppy work in a school or professional context. This is the level where the word transitions from being a passive vocabulary item to an active, precise descriptive tool that enhances the learner's ability to communicate complex evaluations of how actions are performed.
Reaching the B2 upper-intermediate level means the learner has achieved a degree of fluency and spontaneity. At this stage, the use of malproprement should be natural and grammatically flawless. B2 learners are expected to master the placement of long adverbs in complex sentence structures, including conditional and subjunctive clauses. They can effortlessly use it with negation and varying degrees of intensity, such as 'Il ne s'est pas comporté si malproprement que ça' (He didn't behave that improperly). More importantly, B2 students fully unlock the figurative meanings of malproprement. They can use it in discussions about ethics, politics, business, and social behavior to describe actions that are underhanded, dishonest, or morally sloppy. For example, they might write in an essay, 'Le directeur a été renvoyé malproprement suite au scandale' (The director was dismissed improperly/unceremoniously following the scandal). At this level, the word is used not just to describe a messy room, but to critique systems, behaviors, and professional standards, demonstrating a sophisticated command of French vocabulary and cultural nuances.
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At the C1 advanced level, the learner's command of French is flexible, effective, and highly nuanced. The usage of malproprement at this level is characterized by its integration into idiomatic expressions, complex rhetorical structures, and formal writing. C1 speakers intuitively know when malproprement adds the exact right tone of disdain or critique to a sentence. They use it seamlessly in professional correspondence, academic essays, and deep literary analyses. They are acutely aware of the register of the word, knowing it is standard but carries a strong evaluative weight. A C1 learner might use it to describe a botched political cover-up or a poorly executed artistic endeavor. For example, 'L'affaire a été étouffée malproprement, laissant des traces évidentes de corruption' (The affair was covered up clumsily/messily, leaving obvious traces of corruption). The focus here is on the elegance of expression. The C1 speaker uses malproprement not just to communicate a fact, but to convey a specific attitude—often one of critical judgment or intellectual dissatisfaction with how an action was performed.
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At the C2 mastery level, the learner possesses a near-native command of the French language. The use of malproprement is effortless and deeply ingrained in their linguistic repertoire. A C2 speaker understands the historical, etymological, and cultural weight of the word. They can play with its dual meanings—the literal and the figurative—within the same text for stylistic effect. They might use it in poetry, advanced creative writing, or high-level debate to deliver a precise, cutting critique. At this level, the speaker might also invent novel contexts for the word or use it in deliberate contrast with terms like 'proprement' to create rhetorical parallelism (e.g., 'Ce qui devait être fait proprement a été exécuté malproprement'). The C2 speaker does not just know the definition; they own the word, utilizing it to express the subtlest shades of meaning regarding human behavior, societal standards, and the aesthetic or moral quality of actions. They recognize it as a powerful linguistic tool that reflects the deep-seated Francophone cultural appreciation for order, cleanliness, and propriety.
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Examples
The French adverb malproprement is a fascinating and highly descriptive word that carries significant weight in both everyday conversation and more formal contexts. To truly understand what it means and when people use it, one must delve deeply into its etymological roots and its multifaceted applications in the modern French language. At its core, malproprement translates to in an uncleanly manner, untidily, messily, or improperly. It is derived from the adjective malpropre, which means unclean or dirty, combined with the standard adverbial suffix -ment, which is the French equivalent of the English suffix -ly. When an individual performs an action malproprement, they are doing it with a distinct lack of cleanliness, care, or neatness. This can apply to a wide variety of physical actions, such as cleaning a room, eating a meal, painting a wall, or organizing a workspace. For instance, if a child is asked to sweep the floor but leaves dirt in the corners and dust under the furniture, a parent might accurately observe that the sweeping was done malproprement.

Il a nettoyé la cuisine malproprement, laissant des taches partout.

Beyond the purely physical realm of dirt and grime, malproprement also possesses a strong figurative meaning that is frequently employed by native speakers. In a figurative sense, it describes an action that is done dishonestly, unethically, or with a lack of moral propriety. If a businessperson conducts a transaction in a shady or underhanded manner, prioritizing personal gain over ethical standards, their conduct can be described as having been executed malproprement. This dual nature of the word—encompassing both physical messiness and moral untidiness—makes it an incredibly versatile tool in the French vocabulary.
Physical Context
Used when referring to tangible dirt, lack of hygiene, or a disorganized environment where physical cleanliness is expected but entirely absent.

Le travail a été fait malproprement, ce qui a causé de nombreux problèmes.

When examining when people use this word, it is essential to consider the cultural context of Francophone societies, which often place a high value on presentation, order, and proper behavior. The concept of being propre (clean/proper) is instilled early in childhood. Therefore, doing something malproprement is not just a neutral observation of messiness; it often carries a subtle or overt tone of criticism and disapproval. If a teacher tells a student that their homework was written malproprement, it implies not only that the handwriting is illegible or the paper is stained, but also that the student failed to demonstrate the respect and diligence required for the task.
Figurative Context
Employed to describe actions that violate social norms, ethical standards, or professional expectations, akin to doing something in a dirty or underhanded way.

Ils ont géré cette crise financière malproprement.

Furthermore, the adverb is frequently used in professional settings to critique subpar workmanship. A carpenter who leaves rough edges, a painter who drips paint on the floor, or a software developer who writes messy, undocumented code could all be accused of working malproprement. In these scenarios, the word highlights a lack of professionalism and attention to detail.

Ne t'habille pas malproprement pour cet entretien d'embauche.

The usage extends to personal grooming and attire as well. Dressing malproprement means wearing clothes that are stained, wrinkled, or entirely inappropriate for the occasion. It suggests a disregard for oneself and for the people one is interacting with.
Grooming Context
Relates to personal hygiene and the state of one's clothing, indicating a disheveled or unwashed appearance that falls below acceptable societal standards.

Il a été renvoyé parce qu'il se comportait malproprement avec les clients.

In summary, malproprement is a robust adverb that bridges the gap between literal dirtiness and figurative impropriety. It is an essential vocabulary word for intermediate and advanced learners of French, as it allows for precise articulation of criticism regarding cleanliness, orderliness, ethics, and professionalism. Mastering its nuances enables speakers to navigate complex social and professional evaluations with native-like fluency, accurately conveying their dissatisfaction with substandard or unethical actions.
Understanding how to use the adverb malproprement correctly in sentences is crucial for mastering French syntax and expressing precise meanings regarding cleanliness and propriety. In French grammar, adverbs typically follow specific placement rules depending on the verb tense and the type of adverb. Because malproprement is an adverb of manner—describing how an action is performed—its placement is highly predictable but requires careful attention from English speakers who might be accustomed to different sentence structures. In simple tenses, such as the present indicative (le présent) or the imperfect (l'imparfait), malproprement is placed immediately after the conjugated verb. This directly modifies the action, providing immediate context to the listener or reader. For example, if you want to say that someone eats messily, you would say, 'Il mange malproprement.' The adverb directly follows 'mange'.

Les enfants dessinent malproprement sur les murs du salon.

Simple Tense Placement
In simple tenses like the present or imperfect, the adverb malproprement must be positioned directly after the conjugated verb it modifies.
When dealing with compound tenses, such as the passé composé or the plus-que-parfait, the placement of long adverbs ending in -ment can sometimes be flexible, but there is a standard convention. Generally, short adverbs (like bien, mal, beaucoup) go between the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and the past participle. However, long adverbs of manner, including malproprement, are typically placed after the past participle. Therefore, to say 'He cleaned the room messily,' you would structure it as 'Il a nettoyé malproprement la chambre' or 'Il a nettoyé la chambre malproprement.' Both are acceptable, but placing it after the direct object is very common in everyday speech to emphasize the result on the object.

Elle a rédigé son rapport très malproprement.

Compound Tense Placement
In tenses with an auxiliary verb, malproprement usually follows the past participle, unlike short adverbs which precede it.
Furthermore, malproprement can be modified by adverbs of intensity to amplify or soften its meaning. You can use words like 'très' (very), 'assez' (quite), 'trop' (too), or 'un peu' (a little) before malproprement. For instance, 'Il s'habille très malproprement' means 'He dresses very untidily.' This allows for a nuanced expression of exactly how messy or improper an action is.

Ce document a été imprimé malproprement, l'encre bave partout.

It is also important to note the use of malproprement in negative sentences. The negation (ne... pas) surrounds the conjugated verb, and the adverb follows. 'Il ne mange pas malproprement' means 'He does not eat messily.' If it is a compound tense, the negation surrounds the auxiliary verb: 'Il n'a pas nettoyé malproprement.'

Je refuse de valider un travail exécuté aussi malproprement.

With Negation
The negative particles 'ne' and 'pas' frame the verb, and malproprement is placed afterward, maintaining its role as the modifier of the negated action.
Finally, in the context of the passive voice, malproprement is extremely useful. When emphasizing the result of a poorly executed action on an object, the passive voice shines. 'La chambre a été peinte malproprement' (The room was painted messily). This structure shifts the focus away from the person who did the bad job and places the emphasis squarely on the messy result itself.

La plaie a été recousue malproprement par le jeune interne.

By mastering these sentence structures, learners can confidently integrate malproprement into their active vocabulary, ensuring that their critiques of cleanliness, methodology, and propriety are expressed with grammatical precision and natural flow.
To fully grasp the practical utility of the adverb malproprement, it is highly beneficial to explore the specific environments, social contexts, and types of media where native French speakers actually utilize this word. While it is a standard dictionary word, its usage is concentrated in situations that require a critical evaluation of a process, a physical state, or an ethical standard. One of the most common places you will hear malproprement is within the domestic sphere, particularly in the context of household chores, parenting, and family dynamics. Parents frequently use this word when correcting their children's behavior or evaluating their completion of assigned tasks. If a teenager is asked to wash the dishes but leaves grease on the plates and food residue on the silverware, a parent might express their frustration by saying, 'Tu as fait la vaisselle malproprement, il faut recommencer.' In this domestic setting, the word serves as a direct critique of physical cleanliness and the lack of effort applied to a chore.

Le plombier a réparé l'évier malproprement, et maintenant ça fuit de nouveau.

Domestic Life
Frequently heard in homes when discussing chores, hygiene, and the general tidiness of living spaces, often used by parents addressing children.
Moving beyond the home, the professional workplace is another major domain where malproprement is actively used, though often with a slightly different nuance. In professional environments, the word shifts from meaning literally dirty to meaning botched, unprofessional, or poorly executed. Supervisors, managers, and quality control inspectors use it to describe substandard work. For example, in construction or trades, if a contractor finishes a job with visible flaws, exposed wires, or uneven surfaces, the client might complain that the work was executed malproprement. Similarly, in an office setting, a report that is full of formatting errors, typos, and disorganized data could be described as having been prepared malproprement.

Le contrat a été rédigé malproprement, laissant de nombreuses failles juridiques.

Professional Settings
Used to critique the quality of work, indicating that a task was completed without professional care, attention to detail, or adherence to standards.
Educational institutions also provide a rich context for encountering this word. Teachers and professors use malproprement when grading assignments that are messy, illegible, or carelessly assembled. A student who scribbles their essay, crosses out multiple lines heavily, and spills coffee on the paper will likely receive feedback that their work was presented malproprement. It addresses the presentation rather than the intellectual content.

L'élève a collé les images malproprement dans son cahier d'exercices.

In literature, journalism, and political discourse, you will encounter the figurative use of malproprement. Journalists might write that a political scandal was handled malproprement by the government, meaning it was dealt with in a clumsy, unethical, or dishonest manner. In literature, authors use it to describe characters who act without moral integrity or who conduct their affairs in an unsavory way.

Le politicien a écarté ses rivaux malproprement lors des élections.

Media and Literature
Appears frequently in written texts to describe unethical behavior, botched cover-ups, or actions lacking moral clarity and transparency.
Finally, you might hear it in the hospitality and restaurant industries. A restaurant critic might write that a dish was plated malproprement, indicating a messy presentation. A hotel guest might complain that their room was cleaned malproprement.

La table a été débarrassée malproprement, laissant des miettes partout.

By recognizing these diverse contexts, learners can develop a sophisticated intuition for when and where to deploy malproprement, ensuring their French sounds natural, contextually appropriate, and culturally attuned.
When learning to use the adverb malproprement, English speakers often encounter several linguistic pitfalls. These common mistakes stem from direct translation errors, misunderstandings of nuanced meanings, grammatical placement issues, and pronunciation difficulties. By identifying and analyzing these frequent errors, learners can refine their usage and avoid sounding unnatural or conveying unintended messages. One of the most prevalent mistakes is confusing malproprement with other adverbs that translate to 'badly' or 'incorrectly' in English. Because English uses 'badly' as a catch-all for many negative actions (e.g., 'He did the job badly'), learners often default to malproprement when they should use 'mal' or 'incorrectement'. Malproprement specifically implies a lack of cleanliness, neatness, or ethical propriety. It does not simply mean 'incorrectly'. For instance, if someone solves a math problem wrong, they did it 'incorrectement' or 'mal', not 'malproprement'. Using malproprement in this context would bizarrely imply that they solved the math problem while smearing dirt on the paper.

Ne dites pas : Il a répondu à la question malproprement (s'il a fait une erreur). Dites : Il a mal répondu.

Semantic Confusion
Applying malproprement to situations involving factual errors or incorrect methods, rather than situations involving physical messiness or moral impropriety.
Another frequent grammatical mistake involves the placement of the adverb in the sentence. As discussed previously, English speakers tend to place adverbs at the very end of long sentences. In French, placing malproprement too far from the verb it modifies can lead to awkward phrasing. For example, 'Il a nettoyé le grand tapis du salon qui était très sale malproprement' is grammatically clunky. It is much better to keep the adverb closer to the verb: 'Il a nettoyé malproprement le grand tapis...'

Gardez l'adverbe près du verbe : Il a malproprement exécuté sa tâche.

Adverb Placement
Separating malproprement too far from the conjugated verb or past participle, which disrupts the natural rhythm and clarity of the French sentence.
Pronunciation also presents a significant hurdle. The word malproprement contains several challenging phonetic elements for English speakers. The most common error is mispronouncing the nasal vowel 'en' at the end of the word. English speakers often pronounce it like the English word 'ment' (as in 'mental'). In French, the suffix '-ment' is pronounced with a nasal 'ah' sound (/mɑ̃/), without sounding the 'n' or the 't'. Additionally, the 'r' sounds in 'propre' require the French guttural 'r', which can be difficult to articulate clearly in the middle of a long word.

Faites attention à la prononciation nasale finale de malproprement.

A final, more subtle mistake is overusing the word. Because it is a strong, highly descriptive term, using it for minor infractions can sound overly dramatic or harsh. If someone leaves a single crumb on a table, saying they cleaned it malproprement might be an exaggeration. It is better reserved for noticeable, significant messiness or clear breaches of professional or ethical standards.
Overstatement
Using malproprement to describe very minor messes, which can make the speaker sound overly critical, dramatic, or lacking in proportion.

Pour une petite erreur, dites 'un peu négligé' plutôt que malproprement.

By being mindful of these semantic, grammatical, phonetic, and contextual nuances, learners can avoid these common mistakes and use malproprement with the precision and confidence of a native French speaker.
Expanding your French vocabulary involves not only learning a word like malproprement but also understanding its synonyms, alternatives, and related terms. The French language offers a rich tapestry of adverbs that convey various shades of messiness, impropriety, and poor execution. Knowing when to use malproprement versus one of its alternatives allows for greater precision and stylistic variety in both speech and writing. One of the closest and most common synonyms is salement. Salement translates directly to 'dirtily' or 'nastily'. While malproprement emphasizes the lack of properness or neatness, salement focuses more directly on the presence of actual dirt (la saleté) or, in a figurative sense, a very nasty or vicious action. For example, 'Il m'a parlé salement' (He spoke to me nastily) is common, whereas 'Il m'a parlé malproprement' is less typical for speech, though perfectly fine for describing a botched action.

Il a été renvoyé malproprement, sans aucun préavis.

Salement vs. Malproprement
Salement is often more visceral and focuses on actual dirt or nasty behavior, while malproprement leans slightly more towards a lack of neatness, order, or professional execution.
Another excellent alternative is négligemment. This adverb translates to 'negligently' or 'carelessly'. It is frequently used when the poor result is due to a lack of attention or effort rather than an active attempt to be dirty. If someone throws their clothes on the floor instead of folding them, they are acting négligemment. This action results in a room that is arranged malproprement. Negligemment addresses the attitude behind the action, while malproprement addresses the quality of the execution.

Il a jeté ses affaires malproprement sur le lit.

Négligemment vs. Malproprement
Négligemment highlights the carelessness or laziness of the actor, whereas malproprement highlights the messy or improper nature of the action itself.
For contexts involving poor quality or shoddy workmanship, the adverb médiocrement (mediocrely) or the simple adverb mal (badly) are highly relevant. If a student writes an essay with poor grammar and weak arguments, it is written médiocrement or mal. If it is covered in coffee stains and crossed-out words, it is written malproprement. Understanding this distinction is vital for providing accurate feedback or criticism.

Le mur a été repeint malproprement, on voit encore l'ancienne couleur.

In the figurative sense of dishonesty or lack of ethics, malhonnêtement (dishonestly) is a strong alternative. If a politician handles a situation malproprement, they might also be acting malhonnêtement. However, malproprement carries a sense of 'botched' or 'messy' dishonesty—a cover-up that was handled clumsily and left traces. Malhonnêtement simply denotes the lack of honesty without necessarily implying that the execution was messy.

Les fonds ont été détournés malproprement, laissant des preuves évidentes.

Malhonnêtement vs. Malproprement
Malhonnêtement refers strictly to deceit or fraud, while malproprement in a moral context implies that the unethical act was also poorly executed or unseemly.
By familiarizing yourself with these alternatives—salement, négligemment, médiocrement, mal, and malhonnêtement—you can choose the exact word that fits the context, thereby elevating your French expression from basic competence to nuanced fluency.
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Examples by Level

1

Il mange malproprement.

He eats messily.

Adverb placed directly after the present tense verb.

2

Le garçon dessine malproprement.

The boy draws untidily.

Modifies the verb 'dessine'.

3

Elle écrit malproprement.

She writes messily.

Simple present tense usage.

4

Le chien boit malproprement.

The dog drinks messily.

Basic subject-verb-adverb structure.

5

Il peint malproprement.

He paints untidily.

Adverb describes the action of painting.

6

Tu nettoies malproprement.

You clean messily.

Used with the second person singular 'tu'.

7

Le bébé joue malproprement.

The baby plays messily.

Simple descriptive sentence.

8

Ils mangent malproprement.

They eat messily.

Plural subject with the adverb.

1

J'ai nettoyé ma chambre malproprement hier.

I cleaned my room messily yesterday.

Passé composé; adverb placed after the direct object.

2

Il a fait ses devoirs très malproprement.

He did his homework very untidily.

Adverb modified by 'très' (very).

3

Ne mange pas si malproprement au restaurant !

Don't eat so messily at the restaurant!

Negative imperative sentence.

4

Elle s'habille souvent malproprement le week-end.

She often dresses untidily on the weekend.

Adverb used with a reflexive verb.

5

Le peintre a travaillé malproprement dans le salon.

The painter worked messily in the living room.

Passé composé with adverb after the past participle.

6

Pourquoi as-tu rangé tes affaires malproprement ?

Why did you put your things away untidily?

Question structure in the past tense.

7

Il coupe le pain malproprement, il y a des miettes partout.

He cuts the bread messily, there are crumbs everywhere.

Two clauses connected by a comma to show result.

8

La voiture a été lavée malproprement.

The car was washed messily.

Introduction to passive voice concept.

1

Le rapport a été rédigé malproprement, avec beaucoup de fautes.

The report was written messily, with many mistakes.

Passive voice in the passé composé.

2

Si tu continues à travailler malproprement, tu seras renvoyé.

If you continue to work untidily, you will be fired.

'Si' clause with present and future tense.

3

Il s'est comporté malproprement lors de la réunion d'hier.

He behaved improperly during yesterday's meeting.

Figurative use of the word meaning 'improperly'.

4

Je déteste quand les gens laissent la cuisine malproprement arrangée.

I hate when people leave the kitchen messily arranged.

Adverb modifying a past participle used as an adjective.

5

Ils ont géré ce projet malproprement du début à la fin.

They managed this project messily from start to finish.

Used to describe poor management or execution.

6

Bien qu'il soit intelligent, il écrit ses essais malproprement.

Although he is smart, he writes his essays untidily.

Contrast using 'Bien que' with the subjunctive.

7

La réparation a été faite malproprement, le tuyau fuit encore.

The repair was done messily, the pipe is still leaking.

Cause and effect sentence structure.

8

Elle a refusé de signer le document imprimé malproprement.

She refused to sign the messily printed document.

Adverb modifying a past participle.

1

Le politicien a été écarté malproprement de son propre parti.

The politician was ousted improperly/unceremoniously from his own party.

Figurative use meaning 'unceremoniously' or 'dishonestly'.

2

Il est inacceptable de traiter un client aussi malproprement.

It is unacceptable to treat a client so improperly.

Infinitive phrase following 'Il est inacceptable de'.

3

L'enquête a été menée malproprement, ce qui a faussé les résultats.

The investigation was conducted messily, which distorted the results.

Use of relative pronoun 'ce qui'.

4

Je crains qu'il n'ait agi malproprement pour obtenir cette promotion.

I fear he may have acted dishonestly to get this promotion.

Subjunctive mood triggered by 'Je crains que'.

5

Cette affaire financière a été conclue malproprement, en secret.

This financial deal was concluded improperly, in secret.

Adverb adding detail to a passive construction.

6

Au lieu de résoudre le problème, ils l'ont caché malproprement.

Instead of solving the problem, they hid it clumsily.

'Au lieu de' followed by an infinitive.

7

Son licenciement s'est fait malproprement, sans aucun respect pour ses années de servic

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