French Phrase
Mes parents vont le voir.
Meaning
This phrase means "My parents are going to see him/it." It uses the semi-auxiliary verb "aller" (to go) followed by an infinitive ("voir" - to see) to express a near future action. The pronoun "le" acts as a direct object, referring to a masculine singular person or thing.
When to use
Use this phrase when talking about your parents' plans to visit or meet someone (him) or to attend an event/place (it). It's a common way to express future actions in French, similar to "going to" in English, indicating an imminent or certain event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Mes parentsvontlevoir
Mes parents
"Mes" is a possessive adjective (my) used for plural nouns. "Parents" is a plural noun, so it correctly takes "mes" instead of "mon" or "ma".
Vont (Aller)
This is the third-person plural conjugation of the verb "aller" (to go). It's used here as a semi-auxiliary verb to form the "futur proche" (near future) tense.
Le (Direct Object Pronoun)
"Le" is a direct object pronoun, meaning "him" or "it" (masculine singular). In French, direct object pronouns are typically placed before the verb, even before an infinitive in a two-verb construction like this.
Voir (Infinitive)
This is the infinitive form of the verb "to see." It follows the conjugated form of "aller" to complete the "futur proche" construction, indicating the action that will take place.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce que tes parents font ce week-end?
What are your parents doing this weekend?
Mes parents vont le voir.
My parents are going to see him/it.
✕Common Mistakes
Mes parents vont voir lui.
Direct object pronouns like "le" come before the verb in French, not after. "Lui" is an indirect object pronoun or a stressed pronoun.
Mes parents vont le regarder.
"Voir" means to see or meet, while "regarder" means to watch (e.g., a show or a movie). Use "voir" for people or general seeing.
Mes parents vont le voient.
After "vont" (a conjugated form of "aller"), the following verb must be in the infinitive form ("voir"), not conjugated.
↔Alternatives
Mes parents iront le voir.
My parents will go see him/it.
Mes parents ont l'intention de le voir.
My parents intend to see him/it.
Mes parents vont lui rendre visite.
My parents are going to visit him.
Cultural Tip
The "futur proche" (near future) construction with "aller + infinitive" is extremely common in spoken French and often preferred over the simple future tense for actions that are certain or imminent. It conveys a sense of immediacy and is generally less formal than the simple future, making it a staple in everyday conversation.