FR: it must be done

[mingze13]

Bonjour a tous:

In sentences on the model of "X must be done" -- I need clarification about the grammatical forms. Is the third verb the past participle, or is it the infinitive?

Example: He must be seen... Il doit etre vu? voir?

She must be called...
Elle doit etre... appellee? appeller?

I realize that I can use impersonal constructions in many cases, but I still need to sort out this bit of grammar. My text is more interested in the tenses of etre in the middle rather than usefully demonstrating what happens with the third verb. Sigh.

merci beaucoup
Anne

 

[la reine victoria]

Bonjour a tous:

In sentences on the model of "X must be done" -- I need clarification about the grammatical forms. Is the third verb the past participle, or is it the infinitive?

Example: He must be seen... Il doit etre vu? voir?

She must be called...
Elle doit etre... appellee? appeller?

I realize that I can use impersonal constructions in many cases, but I still need to sort out this bit of grammar. My text is more interested in the tenses of etre in the middle rather than usefully demonstrating what happens with the third verb. Sigh.

merci beaucoup
Anne

Bonsoir Anne,

If my memory serves me well, I would say 'Il doit etre vu.' 'Elle doit etre appellée.'

I'm sorry I can't give you a grammatical explanation, it's just the way I would speak in French.

I wait to stand corrected by a French native.

LRV

 

[Monsieur Hoole]

Bonjour a tous:

In sentences on the model of "X must be done" -- I need clarification about the grammatical forms. Is the third verb the past participle, or is it the infinitive?

Example: He must be seen... Il doit etre vu? voir?

She must be called...
Elle doit etre... appellee? appeller?

I realize that I can use impersonal constructions in many cases, but I still need to sort out this bit of grammar. My text is more interested in the tenses of etre in the middle rather than usefully demonstrating what happens with the third verb. Sigh.

merci beaucoup
Anne

Your example is using the passive voice, so yes, the main verb would be in its past participle form. However, the French don't often use the passive. Two ways to avoid it are to use on as the subject, or to use a reflexive verb.

eg. in English He must be seen

On doit le voir
Il doit se faire voir

 

[mingze13]

Merci beaucoup, M. Hoole et Reine Victoria.

Anne

 

[henapen]

Bonjour a tous:

In sentences on the model of "X must be done" -- I need clarification about the grammatical forms. Is the third verb the past participle, or is it the infinitive?

Example: He must be seen... Il doit etre vu? voir?

She must be called...
Elle doit etre... appellee? appeller?

I realize that I can use impersonal constructions in many cases, but I still need to sort out this bit of grammar. My text is more interested in the tenses of etre in the middle rather than usefully demonstrating what happens with the third verb. Sigh.

merci beaucoup
Anne

In fact in this is an occasion when you can practically translate directly: try saying ''she must be (to) call'' and you will see that it must be the p.p.