French Phrase
Pour expulser quelqu'un, il faut passer par la procédure légale.
Meaning
The sentence states that if you want to evict a person, you must follow the official legal steps. It emphasizes that informal or extra‑legal methods are not acceptable.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing housing law, tenant‑landlord disputes, or any situation where an eviction is being considered. It is appropriate in formal or semi‑formal conversations, especially with lawyers, property managers, or public officials.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pourexpulserquelqu'un,ilfautpasserparlaprocédurelégale.
Pour + infinitif
The preposition *pour* followed by an infinitive expresses purpose or intention, similar to “in order to” in English.
Impératif impersonnel – il faut
*Il faut* is an impersonal construction meaning “it is necessary”. It is always followed by an infinitive.
Passer par + nom
*Passer par* is an idiom meaning “to go through” or “to use”. It is followed by a noun phrase.
Quelqu'un
A contracted form of *quel que* + *un*, meaning “someone”. Note the apostrophe before the vowel.
La procédure légale
A noun phrase where *procédure* (procedure) is qualified by the adjective *légale* (legal). The adjective follows the noun.
🗨In Conversation
Pour expulser quelqu'un, il faut passer par la procédure légale.
To evict someone, you have to go through the legal process.
Oui, sinon on risque des poursuites et des sanctions.
Yes, otherwise we risk lawsuits and penalties.
✕Common Mistakes
Il faut de passer par la procédure légale.
The impersonal *il faut* is directly followed by an infinitive; do not insert *de*.
la procédure légal.
The adjective *légale* must agree in gender and number with *procédure* (feminine singular).
expulser quelquun
Never write *expulser quelqu’un* without the apostrophe; the contraction is mandatory before a vowel.
↔Alternatives
Il est nécessaire de suivre la procédure légale pour expulser quelqu'un.
It is necessary to follow the legal procedure to evict someone.
On ne peut expulser quelqu'un qu'en respectant la loi.
One can only evict someone by respecting the law.
L'expulsion doit se faire selon la procédure légale.
The eviction must be carried out according to the legal procedure.
Cultural Tip
In France, evictions are tightly regulated by the Code civil and the Code de procédure civile. Landlords must obtain a court order, respect notice periods, and may not resort to self‑help methods. Using formal language like *procédure légale* signals respect for the rule of law and avoids accusations of harassment.