passer du temps em 30 segundos
- Passer du temps means to spend time.
- Used for activities (à) or people (avec).
- Essential for describing daily life and leisure.
- Common in everyday French conversations.
The French verb phrase passer du temps directly translates to 'to spend time' in English. It's a versatile and frequently used expression that describes the act of dedicating a period of time to an activity, a person, or a place. You'll hear it in everyday conversations, whether people are talking about leisure activities, work, or relationships.
- Core Meaning
- To dedicate a duration of time to something or someone.
- Common Usage
- Used to express how one's time is occupied, whether for enjoyment, necessity, or obligation.
J'aime passer du temps avec mes amis le week-end.
Il faut passer du temps à étudier pour réussir cet examen.
The phrase is incredibly adaptable. You can specify what you are spending time on by using prepositions like 'à' (to do something) or 'avec' (with someone). It's a fundamental building block for describing daily routines, social interactions, and personal habits in French. Understanding passer du temps will significantly enhance your ability to communicate about how you and others allocate their time.
- Connotation
- Generally neutral, but can imply enjoyment when used in contexts of leisure or relationships, and necessity or effort when referring to tasks or studies.
- Versatility
- Can be used with a wide range of activities, people, and places.
Nous avons passé beaucoup de temps à chercher une place de parking.
The phrase is a core component of describing how people experience and utilize their time. It’s one of those phrases that, once you grasp it, unlocks a significant portion of everyday French conversation.
The structure for passer du temps is generally straightforward: Subject + passer du temps + [preposition] + [activity/person/place]. The most common prepositions used are 'à' for activities and 'avec' for people. You will also see it used with adverbs or phrases that quantify the amount of time spent.
- With Activities (using 'à')
- This is perhaps the most frequent usage. It indicates dedicating time to performing a specific action. The structure is passer du temps à + infinitive verb.
Elle passe beaucoup de temps à lire des romans.
Nous avons passé notre après-midi à jouer dans le parc.
- With People (using 'avec')
- This signifies spending time in the company of others. The structure is passer du temps avec + person/people.
Je veux passer plus de temps avec ma famille.
Ils ont passé la soirée avec leurs voisins.
- With Places (less common, but possible)
- While not as direct as 'à' or 'avec', you can imply spending time in a place, often through context or with verbs like 'passer du temps dans...' or 'passer du temps à [location]'.
Il passe ses vacances à la montagne.
The verb 'passer' conjugates like a regular -er verb in most tenses, but its meaning changes significantly with context. Remember to pay attention to the preposition that follows passer du temps, as it dictates the nature of the time being spent.
- Quantifying Time
- You can add adverbs or phrases to specify the duration or quality of time spent.
Nous avons passé une bonne partie de la journée à travailler.
Il passe trop de temps sur les réseaux sociaux.
Passer du temps is a staple in everyday French conversations. You'll encounter it in a wide array of contexts, reflecting its broad applicability. Listening to native speakers will quickly familiarize you with its natural flow and usage.
- Social Gatherings
- When friends discuss plans or recount past events, they often use passer du temps. For example, 'On a passé un super moment ensemble hier soir.' (We spent a great time together last night.)
J'ai hâte de passer du temps avec toi.
- Family Life
- Parents often talk about how they spend time with their children, or vice versa. 'Mes parents aiment passer du temps dans leur jardin.' (My parents like to spend time in their garden.)
Il est important de passer du temps en famille.
- Work and Study
- Discussions about productivity, hobbies, or academic pursuits frequently involve this phrase. 'Je passe trop de temps à répondre aux e-mails.' (I spend too much time answering emails.)
Les étudiants doivent passer du temps à réviser leurs leçons.
- Leisure and Hobbies
- People describe their free time activities using this phrase. 'J'aime passer mon temps libre à faire de la randonnée.' (I like to spend my free time hiking.)
Il passe des heures à jouer de la guitare.
To truly internalize passer du temps, immerse yourself in French media: watch French films, listen to French podcasts, and read French articles. Pay attention to how native speakers naturally incorporate this phrase into their speech and writing. You'll soon find yourself using it with confidence.
While passer du temps is a common phrase, learners can sometimes make errors that affect clarity or grammatical correctness. Being aware of these potential pitfalls can help you avoid them.
- Incorrect Preposition Usage
- The most common mistake is using the wrong preposition after passer du temps. While 'à' is used for activities and 'avec' for people, learners might mistakenly use other prepositions or omit them entirely.
Mistake: Je passe du temps pour lire.
Mistake: Il passe du temps de ses amis.
- Overuse or Underuse of 'du temps'
- Sometimes learners might forget the 'du temps' part, or use it incorrectly. For instance, trying to say 'to spend time' as just 'passer' can be ambiguous.
Mistake: Nous passons nos vacances.
- Confusion with 'temps' as 'weather'
- The word 'temps' also means 'weather'. While unlikely in the context of 'passer du temps', it's good to remember the distinct meanings.
Mistake: Il passe le temps beau.
To avoid these mistakes, always focus on the preposition that follows passer du temps. 'À' for actions, 'avec' for people. Practice constructing sentences with both and listen to how native speakers use them. The phrase 'passer du temps' is about allocating a portion of your existence to something, so the connection to the activity or person is crucial.
While passer du temps is a widely used and versatile phrase, French offers other ways to express the concept of dedicating time, each with its own nuance and register.
- Être (to be)
- Often used in simpler contexts, especially with time expressions. It implies presence rather than active spending.
- Passer du temps: 'Je passe du temps à lire.' (I spend time reading.) - Focuses on the action and allocation of time.
- Être: 'Je suis en train de lire.' (I am reading.) - Focuses on the current activity.
- Être: 'Je suis chez moi.' (I am at home.) - Implies spending time there without explicitly stating it.
- Occuper son temps (to occupy one's time)
- This phrase is more formal and emphasizes filling one's time, often with a sense of purpose or even necessity.
- Passer du temps: 'Il passe du temps à jouer aux échecs.' (He spends time playing chess.) - Casual, can imply enjoyment.
- Occuper son temps: 'Elle occupe son temps libre en faisant du bénévolat.' (She occupies her free time by volunteering.) - More formal, suggests a deliberate use of time.
- Consacrer du temps (to dedicate time)
- This implies a more serious or committed allocation of time, often for important goals or people.
- Passer du temps: 'J'aime passer du temps avec mes grands-parents.' (I like to spend time with my grandparents.) - General affection.
- Consacrer du temps: 'Il consacre beaucoup de temps à son projet de recherche.' (He dedicates a lot of time to his research project.) - Implies commitment and importance.
- Consacrer du temps: 'Elle consacre du temps à aider les autres.' (She dedicates time to helping others.) - Suggests a significant effort and purpose.
- Se consacrer à (to devote oneself to)
- This is a stronger, more intense commitment, suggesting that one's life or primary focus is on a particular activity or cause.
- Passer du temps: 'Je passe du temps à peindre.' (I spend time painting.) - A hobby.
- Se consacrer à: 'Il se consacre entièrement à sa carrière d'artiste.' (He devotes himself entirely to his career as an artist.) - A life's work.
- Travailler (to work)
- When the activity is work-related, 'travailler' can be used, but passer du temps can still be used to describe the duration or effort.
- Passer du temps: 'J'ai passé toute la journée à travailler.' (I spent the whole day working.) - Emphasizes the duration.
- Travailler: 'Je travaille aujourd'hui.' (I am working today.) - Simple statement of activity.
Choosing the right phrase depends on the context and the degree of commitment or formality you wish to convey. Passer du temps remains the most general and frequently used option for everyday situations.
How Formal Is It?
Curiosidade
The word 'temps' in French can mean both 'time' and 'weather'. This duality can sometimes lead to humorous misunderstandings if the context isn't clear. For example, 'Quel temps fait-il?' means 'What is the weather like?', whereas 'Quel temps as-tu passé ici?' means 'What time did you spend here?'
Guia de pronúncia
- Pronouncing the final 's' in 'temps'.
- Not nasalizing the 'an' sound in 'temps'.
- Incorrectly pronouncing the liaison between 'du' and 'temps'.
Nível de dificuldade
The phrase itself is straightforward, but understanding the nuances of prepositions ('à', 'avec') and quantifiers (beaucoup, peu) requires practice. Reading comprehension improves with exposure to various contexts.
Constructing grammatically correct sentences with the right prepositions and verb conjugations can be challenging for beginners. Accuracy improves with practice.
Pronunciation, especially the nasal vowel and liaison, can be tricky. Fluency comes with regular practice and mimicking native speakers.
Recognizing the phrase in spoken French requires familiarity with its pronunciation and common usage patterns.
O que aprender depois
Pré-requisitos
Aprenda a seguir
Avançado
Gramática essencial
Conjugation of 'passer' in different tenses (présent, passé composé, imparfait)
Je passe / J'ai passé / Je passais.
Use of prepositions 'à' and 'avec' after 'passer du temps'
Passer du temps à lire (activity), passer du temps avec des amis (people).
Partitive article 'du' with 'temps'
Il faut avoir du temps. (You need to have time.)
Quantifiers with 'temps' (beaucoup, peu, assez, trop)
Nous passons trop de temps à attendre.
Pronoun direct and indirect objects with 'passer'
Je le passe bien ici. (I'm having a good time here.)
Exemplos por nível
Je passe du temps avec ma famille.
I spend time with my family.
Simple present tense, common preposition 'avec'.
J'aime passer du temps à lire.
I like to spend time reading.
Infinitive after 'aimer', preposition 'à' before activity.
Nous passons du temps au parc.
We spend time at the park.
Preposition 'au' (à + le) for location.
Il passe du temps à jouer.
He spends time playing.
Simple present tense, 'à' + infinitive.
Elle passe son temps à chanter.
She spends her time singing.
'Son temps' emphasizes her personal time.
Vous passez du temps ensemble?
Do you spend time together?
Interrogative form, 'ensemble' means together.
Je passe un peu de temps ici.
I spend a little time here.
'Un peu de temps' means a little time.
Ils passent du temps à regarder la télévision.
They spend time watching television.
'À' + infinitive for the activity.
J'aime passer du temps avec mes amis le week-end.
I like to spend time with my friends on the weekend.
Use of 'le week-end' for regular occurrences.
Nous avons passé toute la journée à visiter la ville.
We spent the whole day visiting the city.
Passé composé tense, 'toute la journée' quantifies time.
Il passe trop de temps sur son téléphone.
He spends too much time on his phone.
'Trop de temps' indicates an excessive amount.
Elle préfère passer du temps seule pour réfléchir.
She prefers to spend time alone to think.
'Seule' (alone), 'pour réfléchir' (to think).
Combien de temps passez-vous à étudier chaque jour?
How much time do you spend studying each day?
'Combien de temps' (how much time), 'chaque jour' (each day).
Ils ont passé une semaine de vacances à la mer.
They spent a week on holiday by the sea.
'Une semaine de vacances' (a week of holiday), 'à la mer' (by the sea).
Je voudrais passer plus de temps à apprendre le français.
I would like to spend more time learning French.
Conditional tense 'voudrais' (would like), 'plus de temps' (more time).
Le chat aime passer du temps à dormir au soleil.
The cat likes to spend time sleeping in the sun.
Simple present tense, 'au soleil' (in the sun).
Il est important de passer du temps de qualité avec ses enfants.
It is important to spend quality time with one's children.
'Temps de qualité' (quality time), 'ses enfants' (one's children).
Nous avons passé une partie de notre budget à rénover la cuisine.
We spent part of our budget on renovating the kitchen.
'Une partie de notre budget' (part of our budget), 'à rénover' (on renovating).
Elle passe beaucoup de temps à s'occuper de ses plantes.
She spends a lot of time taking care of her plants.
'S'occuper de' (to take care of).
Je pense que nous devrions passer plus de temps à discuter de ce problème.
I think we should spend more time discussing this problem.
'Devrions' (should), 'discuter de' (to discuss).
Ils ont passé leur soirée à jouer aux cartes.
They spent their evening playing cards.
Passé composé, 'leur soirée' (their evening).
Malgré son emploi du temps chargé, il essaie de passer du temps à peindre.
Despite his busy schedule, he tries to spend time painting.
'Malgré' (despite), 'emploi du temps chargé' (busy schedule), 'essaie de' (tries to).
Combien de temps comptez-vous passer sur ce projet?
How much time do you intend to spend on this project?
'Comptez-vous' (do you intend/plan), 'sur ce projet' (on this project).
Pour se détendre, il passe souvent du temps à la pêche.
To relax, he often spends time fishing.
'Pour se détendre' (to relax), 'à la pêche' (fishing).
Il est crucial de passer du temps à développer des compétences interpersonnelles.
It is crucial to spend time developing interpersonal skills.
'Crucial' (crucial), 'compétences interpersonnelles' (interpersonal skills).
Nous avons passé la majeure partie de notre voyage à explorer les musées.
We spent the majority of our trip exploring museums.
'La majeure partie de' (the majority of), 'notre voyage' (our trip).
Elle consacre une partie de son temps libre à l'écriture créative.
She dedicates part of her free time to creative writing.
'Consacre' (dedicates), 'écriture créative' (creative writing).
Je crois qu'il faut passer plus de temps à comprendre les motivations des autres.
I believe we need to spend more time understanding others' motivations.
'Il faut' (it is necessary/one must), 'motivations' (motivations).
Ils ont passé des années à perfectionner leur art.
They spent years perfecting their art.
'Des années' (years), 'perfectionner' (to perfect).
Compte tenu de la complexité du dossier, il est préférable de passer plus de temps à l'analyser.
Given the complexity of the file, it is preferable to spend more time analyzing it.
'Compte tenu de' (given), 'complexité' (complexity), 'dossier' (file/case), 'préférable' (preferable).
Les scientifiques passent beaucoup de temps à mener des expériences.
Scientists spend a lot of time conducting experiments.
'Mener des expériences' (to conduct experiments).
Pour maintenir une bonne forme physique, il faut passer du temps à faire de l'exercice régulièrement.
To maintain good physical fitness, one must spend time exercising regularly.
'Maintenir' (to maintain), 'forme physique' (physical fitness), 'faire de l'exercice' (to exercise).
L'entreprise a décidé de passer davantage de temps à former son personnel aux nouvelles technologies.
The company decided to spend more time training its staff in new technologies.
'Davantage de temps' (more time), 'former son personnel' (to train its staff), 'aux nouvelles technologies' (in new technologies).
Il est essentiel de passer du temps à cultiver des relations authentiques plutôt que superficielles.
It is essential to spend time cultivating authentic rather than superficial relationships.
'Essentiel' (essential), 'cultiver' (to cultivate), 'authentiques' (authentic), 'superficielles' (superficial).
Les artistes passent souvent des heures à peaufiner les détails de leurs œuvres.
Artists often spend hours refining the details of their works.
'Peaufiner les détails' (to refine the details), 'œuvres' (works).
Le gouvernement cherche à passer moins de temps sur des mesures temporaires et plus de temps sur des réformes structurelles.
The government seeks to spend less time on temporary measures and more time on structural reforms.
'Cherche à' (seeks to), 'mesures temporaires' (temporary measures), 'réformes structurelles' (structural reforms).
Ils ont passé une décennie à mener des recherches approfondies sur le sujet.
They spent a decade conducting in-depth research on the subject.
'Une décennie' (a decade), 'approfondies' (in-depth).
Il est primordial de passer du temps à réfléchir aux conséquences de nos actions.
It is paramount to spend time reflecting on the consequences of our actions.
'Primordial' (paramount), 'conséquences' (consequences).
Les gestionnaires doivent passer du temps à évaluer les performances de leurs équipes.
Managers must spend time evaluating their teams' performance.
'Gestionnaires' (managers), 'évaluer les performances' (evaluate performance).
Elle a choisi de passer le reste de sa vie à promouvoir la paix.
She chose to spend the rest of her life promoting peace.
'Le reste de sa vie' (the rest of her life), 'promouvoir la paix' (to promote peace).
La société moderne tend à nous inciter à passer le plus de temps possible à consommer plutôt qu'à créer.
Modern society tends to encourage us to spend as much time as possible consuming rather than creating.
'Tend à' (tends to), 'inciter à' (to encourage/prompt), 'consommer' (to consume), 'créer' (to create).
Il est impératif de passer du temps à déconstruire les stéréotypes nuisibles qui persistent dans notre culture.
It is imperative to spend time deconstructing harmful stereotypes that persist in our culture.
'Impératif' (imperative), 'déconstruire' (to deconstruct), 'stéréotypes nuisibles' (harmful stereotypes), 'persistent' (persist).
Les penseurs de l'Antiquité passaient une grande partie de leur existence à contempler l'univers.
Ancient thinkers spent a large part of their existence contemplating the universe.
'Penseurs de l'Antiquité' (ancient thinkers), 'existence' (existence), 'contempler' (to contemplate).
Le défi réside dans la capacité à passer efficacement du temps entre la recherche théorique et l'application pratique.
The challenge lies in the ability to effectively spend time between theoretical research and practical application.
'Le défi réside dans' (the challenge lies in), 'efficacement' (effectively), 'recherche théorique' (theoretical research), 'application pratique' (practical application).
Ils ont consacré des années à passer en revue la littérature existante pour bâtir leur nouvelle théorie.
They dedicated years to reviewing the existing literature to build their new theory.
'Consacré' (dedicated), 'passer en revue' (to review), 'littérature existante' (existing literature), 'bâtir' (to build).
La longévité d'une relation dépend souvent de la volonté de passer du temps à nourrir la compréhension mutuelle.
The longevity of a relationship often depends on the willingness to spend time nurturing mutual understanding.
'Longévité' (longevity), 'volonté' (willingness), 'nourrir' (to nurture), 'compréhension mutuelle' (mutual understanding).
Les décideurs politiques doivent passer du temps à anticiper les répercussions à long terme de leurs stratégies.
Policy makers must spend time anticipating the long-term repercussions of their strategies.
'Décideurs politiques' (policy makers), 'anticiper' (to anticipate), 'répercussions' (repercussions).
L'éducation vise à permettre aux individus de passer leur vie à apprendre et à s'épanouir.
Education aims to enable individuals to spend their lives learning and flourishing.
'Vise à' (aims to), 'permettre à' (to enable), 's'épanouir' (to flourish).
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
— To spend time with someone. This is a very common way to express social interaction.
J'aime passer du temps avec mes amis quand je suis en vacances.
— To spend time doing something. This is used when specifying an activity.
Elle passe du temps à apprendre de nouvelles langues.
— To spend a lot of time. This indicates a significant duration.
Nous avons passé beaucoup de temps à préparer ce projet.
— To spend little time. This indicates a short duration.
Il passe peu de temps à la maison car il voyage beaucoup.
— To spend all one's time. This suggests complete dedication or preoccupation with an activity.
Il passe tout son temps à jouer à des jeux vidéo.
— To spend one's free time. This refers to leisure activities.
J'aime passer mon temps libre à lire des romans.
— To spend quality time. This emphasizes meaningful and focused time spent with others.
Il est essentiel de passer du temps de qualité avec les enfants.
— To spend time outdoors / indoors. This specifies the location of the activity.
En été, nous préférons passer du temps à l'extérieur.
— To spend time thinking. This refers to contemplation or deliberation.
Parfois, il faut passer du temps à réfléchir avant de prendre une décision.
— To spend a good part of the day. This refers to a significant portion of the day.
Nous avons passé une bonne partie de la journée à visiter le musée.
Frequentemente confundido com
This means 'to pass through' a place or 'to go through' an experience. It's about transit, not spending time. Example: 'Je suis passé par Paris.' (I passed through Paris.)
This means 'to pass in front of' something or someone. It's about physical proximity and movement. Example: 'Il est passé devant ma maison.' (He passed in front of my house.)
This idiom means 'to while away the time' or 'to pass the time', often implying doing something to fill a void or boredom, rather than a dedicated activity. Example: 'On jouait aux cartes pour passer le temps.' (We played cards to pass the time.)
Expressões idiomáticas
— To pass the time, to while away the time. This often implies doing something to fill time, especially when bored or waiting.
On jouait aux cartes pour passer le temps en attendant le train.
neutral— To spend one's time doing useless things. This is a critical expression implying wasted effort.
Il passe son temps à se plaindre au lieu de trouver des solutions.
informal— To have a good time, to enjoy oneself. This is a more colloquial way of saying one is enjoying the time spent.
Nous avons passé du bon temps à la plage.
informal— To spend the night under the stars. This evokes a romantic or adventurous image of sleeping outdoors.
Pour une expérience unique, nous avons décidé de passer la nuit à la belle étoile.
poetic/literary— To do cartwheels to pass the time. This is a playful idiom, often used humorously to describe frivolous activities.
Les enfants passaient leur après-midi à faire la roue dans le jardin.
playful/humorous— To spend time counting sheep (to fall asleep). This is a common idiom for trying to fall asleep.
Je n'arrivais pas à dormir, alors j'ai passé mon temps à compter les moutons.
common idiom— To spend time sleeping in, having a lie-in. This refers to sleeping late in the morning.
Le dimanche, j'aime passer le temps à faire la grasse matinée.
common— To spend time courting someone, to woo someone. This refers to the act of romantically pursuing someone.
Il est venu passer du temps à faire la cour à sa bien-aimée.
literary/dated— To spend time pouting. This describes showing displeasure through facial expression.
Elle passait son temps à faire la moue parce qu'elle n'avait pas eu ce qu'elle voulait.
informal— To spend time making unrealistic or overly ambitious plans. This implies planning for things that are unlikely to happen.
Arrête de passer ton temps à faire des plans sur la comète et concentre-toi sur ce que tu peux faire maintenant.
idiomaticFácil de confundir
This is the core noun. The confusion arises from its dual meaning: 'time' and 'weather'.
'Passer du temps' specifically refers to the duration or allocation of time. 'Passer le temps' is an idiom about occupying oneself. When 'temps' means weather, it's used with 'faire' (e.g., 'il fait beau temps').
'J'ai passé du temps à la plage' (I spent time at the beach) vs. 'Il fait beau temps aujourd'hui' (The weather is nice today).
Both 'durer' (to last) and 'passer du temps' relate to duration.
'Passer du temps' focuses on the active allocation of time by a subject to an activity or person. 'Durer' describes how long something lasts or continues, often without an active agent. Example: 'Le film a duré deux heures.' (The movie lasted two hours.) vs. 'J'ai passé deux heures à regarder le film.' (I spent two hours watching the movie.)
Le spectacle a duré une heure. (The show lasted an hour.) vs. J'ai passé une heure à regarder le spectacle. (I spent an hour watching the show.)
Both imply being in a place for a period.
'Rester' means 'to stay' or 'to remain' in a place. 'Passer du temps' emphasizes the duration and often implies an activity or social interaction happening during that time. Example: 'Je vais rester à la maison.' (I will stay at home.) vs. 'Je vais passer du temps à la maison à lire.' (I will spend time at home reading.)
Il est resté à Paris pendant un mois. (He stayed in Paris for a month.) vs. Il a passé un mois à Paris à visiter des musées. (He spent a month in Paris visiting museums.)
Both can refer to filling time.
'Occuper son temps' means to occupy one's time, often to fill it or keep busy. 'Passer du temps' is more general and can imply enjoyment or purpose. 'Occuper' itself can also mean to occupy a physical space.
Elle occupe son temps libre en faisant du bénévolat. (She occupies her free time by volunteering.) vs. Elle passe son temps libre en faisant du bénévolat. (She spends her free time by volunteering.) - 'Occupe' here is slightly more formal or emphasizes filling the time.
Both imply dedicating time.
'Consacrer du temps' implies a more dedicated, serious, or significant commitment of time, often for important goals or people. 'Passer du temps' is more general and can be for casual activities. Example: 'Il consacre sa vie à la recherche.' (He dedicates his life to research.) vs. 'Il passe du temps à faire de la recherche.' (He spends time doing research.)
Elle consacre beaucoup de temps à sa famille. (She dedicates a lot of time to her family.) vs. Elle passe du temps avec sa famille. (She spends time with her family.) - 'Consacrer' implies a deeper commitment.
Padrões de frases
Subject + passer du temps + avec + Personne
Je passe du temps avec ma sœur.
Subject + passer du temps + à + Infinitif
Il passe du temps à jouer.
Subject + passer + Quantité + temps + à + Infinitif
Nous passons beaucoup de temps à lire.
Passé Composé: J'ai passé du temps + à + Infinitif
J'ai passé du temps à regarder la télévision.
Subject + passer du temps + avec + Personne + [Description]
Elle passe du temps avec ses amis et ils discutent.
Imparfait: Il passait du temps + à + Infinitif
Il passait du temps à rêver quand il était enfant.
Subject + passer + Quantité + temps + à + Infinitif + [Complément]
Ils passent une partie de leur week-end à faire du jardinage.
Subject + passer du temps + à + Infinitif + [Phrase prépositionnelle]
Elle passe du temps à écrire des poèmes dans son journal intime.
Família de palavras
Substantivos
Verbos
Relacionado
Como usar
Very high
-
Using 'passer du temps' without a preposition for activities.
→
Je passe du temps à lire.
When referring to an activity, you must use the preposition 'à' followed by the infinitive verb. Omitting 'à' makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
-
Using the wrong preposition with people.
→
J'aime passer du temps avec mes amis.
The correct preposition for spending time in the company of others is 'avec'. Using other prepositions like 'à' or 'de' would be incorrect.
-
Forgetting 'du temps'.
→
Nous passons du temps ensemble.
The phrase requires 'du temps' to indicate that time is being spent. Simply saying 'Nous passons ensemble' is incomplete and grammatically incorrect in this context.
-
Confusing 'temps' (time) with 'temps' (weather).
→
J'ai passé du temps à la plage. (I spent time at the beach.)
While 'temps' can mean weather, in 'passer du temps', it always refers to duration. For weather, you use 'faire' (e.g., 'Il fait beau temps').
-
Incorrect conjugation of 'passer'.
→
Elle passe du temps à peindre.
Learners might incorrectly conjugate 'passer' for the subject. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject in number and person (e.g., 'je passe', 'elle passe', 'nous passons').
Dicas
Master the Prepositions
The key to using 'passer du temps' correctly lies in the prepositions. Use 'à' followed by an infinitive verb for activities (e.g., 'passer du temps à lire'). Use 'avec' followed by a person or people for company (e.g., 'passer du temps avec des amis'). Mastering these will significantly improve your accuracy.
Nasalize 'Temps'
The word 'temps' contains a nasal vowel sound ('an'). Practice saying it like 'tahn' but with air passing through your nose. Remember that the final 's' is silent. This pronunciation is crucial for sounding natural.
Quantify Your Time
Don't just say you spend time; quantify it! Use adverbs and phrases like 'beaucoup de temps' (a lot of time), 'peu de temps' (little time), 'tout son temps' (all his time), 'une partie de la journée' (part of the day), or 'une heure' (an hour) to add detail and precision to your sentences.
Conjugate 'Passer' Correctly
The verb 'passer' is regular for '-er' verbs in most tenses, but it's essential to know its conjugation for different subjects and tenses (présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur simple, etc.) to form correct sentences describing past, present, or future time spending.
Listen and Imitate
The best way to learn how 'passer du temps' is used naturally is by listening to native French speakers. Watch French films, listen to podcasts, or engage in conversations. Pay attention to the context in which the phrase is used and try to imitate it.
Write About Your Day
Make a habit of writing a few sentences in French each day describing how you spent your time. For example, 'Aujourd'hui, j'ai passé du temps à travailler sur ce projet et un peu de temps à lire.' This active practice will solidify your understanding.
Distinguish from Similar Expressions
Be aware of phrases like 'passer par' (to pass through) or 'passer devant' (to pass in front of). These are about movement and transit, not spending time. Ensure you use 'passer du temps' when the focus is on the duration and allocation of time.
Think 'Dedicate Time'
When you hear or use 'passer du temps', think of it as 'dedicating time'. This helps reinforce the idea of actively allocating a portion of your time to something specific.
Partitive Article 'Du'
The use of the partitive article 'du' before 'temps' indicates an unspecified quantity of time. It's not 'le temps' (the time) unless you're referring to a specific, defined period. 'Passer du temps' is about spending an amount of time, not a specific block.
Use It in Social Settings
This phrase is perfect for casual social interactions. Talking about spending time with friends, family, or enjoying leisure activities is a great opportunity to practice and internalize 'passer du temps'.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Imagine time as a river ('temps' sounds a bit like 'river' if you squint your ears!). You are 'passing' ('passer') a certain amount of that river's flow. So, you 'passer du temps' by letting the river of time flow by while you are engaged in something.
Associação visual
Picture a clock face. As the hands move, time is 'passing'. Now, imagine a person sitting by the clock, reading a book. They are 'spending' ('passer') that passing time ('temps') by reading.
Word Web
Desafio
For the next week, consciously try to use 'passer du temps' whenever you talk about how you spend your day, even if it's just to yourself in English. For example, 'I spent time watching a movie' becomes 'J'ai passé du temps à regarder un film.'
Origem da palavra
The phrase 'passer du temps' is a direct combination of the verb 'passer' (to pass) and the noun 'temps' (time). The verb 'passer' itself comes from the Latin 'passare', meaning 'to pass, to go'. The noun 'temps' also derives from Latin 'tempus'. The construction is straightforward and literal, indicating the act of time moving forward and being occupied.
Significado original: Literally 'to pass time'.
Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance > FrenchContexto cultural
There are no particular sensitivities associated with 'passer du temps' itself. However, context is key. For example, saying someone 'spends too much time' on a certain activity might imply criticism, while saying someone 'spends quality time' with their family is positive.
In English-speaking cultures, the emphasis can sometimes be more on productivity and efficiency, leading to phrases like 'making the most of your time' or 'using your time wisely'. While 'spending time' is common, the French 'passer du temps' often carries a slightly more relaxed or experiential connotation, especially in contexts of leisure or social interaction.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Socializing with friends and family
- J'aime passer du temps avec mes amis.
- Nous avons passé un bon moment ensemble.
- Il faut passer du temps en famille.
Describing hobbies and leisure activities
- Elle passe son temps libre à lire.
- J'aime passer du temps à peindre.
- Il passe des heures à jouer de la guitare.
Discussing work or studies
- Je passe trop de temps au travail.
- Il faut passer du temps à étudier.
- Nous avons passé la journée à travailler sur ce projet.
Talking about daily routines
- Je passe du temps à faire la cuisine.
- Il passe une partie de la matinée à faire du sport.
- Elle passe du temps à se préparer le matin.
Planning or recounting events
- Nous allons passer le week-end à la campagne.
- Ils ont passé leur anniversaire à Paris.
- Combien de temps as-tu passé là-bas ?
Iniciadores de conversa
"Comment aimes-tu passer ton temps libre ?"
"Avec qui aimes-tu passer le plus de temps ?"
"Quel est ton passe-temps favori, celui auquel tu passes beaucoup de temps ?"
"As-tu passé du temps à faire quelque chose d'intéressant récemment ?"
"Combien de temps penses-tu qu'il faut pour apprendre une nouvelle langue ?"
Temas para diário
Décris une journée où tu as passé beaucoup de temps à faire une activité que tu aimes. Qu'as-tu ressenti ?
Pense à quelqu'un avec qui tu aimes passer du temps. Pourquoi est-ce que ces moments sont importants pour toi ?
Si tu avais plus de temps libre, qu'est-ce que tu aimerais faire ? Décris comment tu passerais ce temps.
Parle d'une fois où tu as passé du temps à apprendre quelque chose de nouveau. Qu'est-ce que cela t'a apporté ?
Comment pourrais-tu passer du temps plus 'de qualité' avec tes proches cette semaine ?
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntas'Passer du temps' means to spend time, which can be for enjoyable, productive, or neutral activities. 'Perdre du temps', on the other hand, specifically means to waste time, implying that the time spent was unproductive or useless. For example, 'J'ai passé du temps à lire un livre intéressant' (I spent time reading an interesting book) is positive, while 'J'ai perdu mon temps à attendre' (I wasted my time waiting) is negative.
Yes, 'passer du temps' can be used with abstract nouns that represent activities or states. For example, 'passer du temps à réfléchir' (to spend time thinking) or 'passer du temps à attendre' (to spend time waiting). The key is that the noun or infinitive verb following indicates how the time is being spent.
The most common uses are 'passer du temps avec [personne]' (to spend time with someone) and 'passer du temps à [infinitif]' (to spend time doing something). These cover most everyday situations, from socializing to engaging in hobbies.
Usually, yes. If you are specifying an activity, you use 'à' followed by the infinitive verb (e.g., 'passer du temps à jouer'). If you are specifying who you are with, you use 'avec' (e.g., 'passer du temps avec mes parents'). If you are just stating that time is spent, you might use adverbs or phrases like 'beaucoup de temps' or 'peu de temps'.
'Passer du temps' is a neutral expression and can be used in almost any context, from casual conversations to more formal writing. However, more formal alternatives like 'consacrer du temps' or 'employer son temps' exist for specific nuances.
You use the passé composé of 'passer'. The auxiliary verb is 'avoir'. So, for 'I spent time', it would be 'J'ai passé du temps'. For example, 'J'ai passé du temps à lire hier.' (I spent time reading yesterday.)
While 'passer du temps' describes how a subject spends time, it's not the primary way to state the duration of an event itself. For that, you would use verbs like 'durer' (to last). For example, 'Le film a duré deux heures' (The movie lasted two hours), not 'J'ai passé du temps à durer deux heures'.
'Passer du temps' means to spend a specific amount of time on an activity or with someone. 'Passer le temps' is an idiom meaning to while away the time, often implying doing something to fill time, perhaps out of boredom or while waiting. For instance, 'Il passe le temps en regardant par la fenêtre' (He passes the time by looking out the window).
The common phrase is 'passer du temps de qualité'. It emphasizes the meaningfulness and focus of the time spent together. For example, 'Il est important de passer du temps de qualité avec ses enfants.' (It is important to spend quality time with one's children.)
No, 'passer du temps' is a verb phrase. 'Passer' itself means 'to pass', and 'du temps' specifies what is being passed or dedicated. There isn't a single verb that directly translates to 'to spend time' in the same way 'to eat' translates to 'manger'.
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Summary
The French phrase 'passer du temps' is a fundamental expression meaning 'to spend time'. It is used with prepositions like 'à' before activities and 'avec' before people, and is essential for describing how time is allocated in daily life, work, and social interactions.
- Passer du temps means to spend time.
- Used for activities (à) or people (avec).
- Essential for describing daily life and leisure.
- Common in everyday French conversations.
Master the Prepositions
The key to using 'passer du temps' correctly lies in the prepositions. Use 'à' followed by an infinitive verb for activities (e.g., 'passer du temps à lire'). Use 'avec' followed by a person or people for company (e.g., 'passer du temps avec des amis'). Mastering these will significantly improve your accuracy.
Nasalize 'Temps'
The word 'temps' contains a nasal vowel sound ('an'). Practice saying it like 'tahn' but with air passing through your nose. Remember that the final 's' is silent. This pronunciation is crucial for sounding natural.
Quantify Your Time
Don't just say you spend time; quantify it! Use adverbs and phrases like 'beaucoup de temps' (a lot of time), 'peu de temps' (little time), 'tout son temps' (all his time), 'une partie de la journée' (part of the day), or 'une heure' (an hour) to add detail and precision to your sentences.
Conjugate 'Passer' Correctly
The verb 'passer' is regular for '-er' verbs in most tenses, but it's essential to know its conjugation for different subjects and tenses (présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur simple, etc.) to form correct sentences describing past, present, or future time spending.
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à charge
B2Dependente; pessoa que é sustentada financeiramente por outra.
à deux
A2A dois; juntos como um par ou casal.
à domicile
A2Em domicílio.
à jamais
A2Forever, for all time.
à la charge de
B2Dependent on; at the expense of.
à la mémoire de
B2Em memória de; uma expressão formal para homenagear alguém que já faleceu.
à la place de
B21. Tomei um café em vez do meu chá habitual. 2. O professor deu-me um exercício extra em vez do exame.
à l'amiable
B2Amicably, by mutual agreement.
à l'égard de
A2With regard to; concerning.
à l'image de
B2À imagem de; à semelhança de.
