Difference between 2 uses

Jiamu T.B2Kwiziq community member

Difference between 2 uses

J'ai manqué mon père.

Mon père me manque.

Is there a difference?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Jiamu,

This is tricky for learners.

I you want to say -

I missed my father

in the sense that you arrived too late to see him, you would probably use a verb like 'rater'.

J'ai raté mon avion I missed my plane

but to miss someone ( emotionally) you use manquer but it has a strange construction.

Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson -

https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/manquer-a-means-to-miss-someone-something-emotionally

Mon père me manque = I miss my father 

Je manque à mon père = My father misses me

I hope this helps!

David R.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I missed my father

My father misses me. 

Yes, these are clearly different. I don't see how you could think they are the same?

[Edit] Looks like I learned something there too!

Difference between 2 uses

J'ai manqué mon père.

Mon père me manque.

Is there a difference?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
I'll be right with you...