manquer/mɑ̃.ke/
verb · A2 · Frequency 399
verb
Meanings
to lack, to be missing or lacking in something
Commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something, often with the preposition à.
to miss
Often used with the preposition à to express longing for a person or place.
to miss (an opportunity, event, or to fail to do something)
Used to indicate missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish something.
to almost do something, to run the risk of doing something
Indicates an action or event that nearly happened but did not.
Examples
Manquer de sommeil réduit rapidement la concentration.
Lacking sleep quickly reduces concentration.
Après plusieurs mois à l'étranger, manquer à sa famille devient douloureux.
After several months abroad, missing one's family becomes painful.
Manquer le dernier train obligerait les voyageurs à dormir à l'hôtel.
Missing the last train would force the travelers to sleep at a hotel.
Manquer de tomber dans l'escalier m'a fait perdre l'équilibre.
Almost falling down the stairs made me lose my balance.
Collocations
- manquer de patienceto lack patience
- manquer à quelqu'unto be missed by someone
- manquer un rendez-vousto miss an appointment
Common mistakes
J'ai manqué tomber dans l'escalier.
J'ai manqué de tomber dans l'escalier.
For the meaning “to almost do something,” manquer must be followed by de before the infinitive.
Related words
antonymabonderTo be found in large amounts; to abound; to be full of or teeming with (usually with preposition en)
Grammar note
The verb manquer, when meaning “to miss” (someone), uses the indirect object introduced by à (e.g., Tu me manques); when meaning “to lack,” the thing missing is the subject, and manquer can be followed directly by a noun.
verb
Meanings
to lack, to be missing or lacking in something
Commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something, often with the preposition à.
to miss
Often used with the preposition à to express longing for a person or place.
to miss (an opportunity, event, or to fail to do something)
Used to indicate missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish something.
to almost do something, to run the risk of doing something
Indicates an action or event that nearly happened but did not.
Examples
Le rapport, manquant de données fiables, doit être révisé.
The report, lacking reliable data, needs to be revised.
Manquant à sa famille depuis son départ, il téléphone chaque soir.
Missed by his family since his departure, he calls every evening.
Manquant le dernier bus, nous avons dû rentrer à pied.
Missing the last bus, we had to walk home.
Manquant de tomber sur le sol mouillé, elle s'est retenue à la rampe.
Almost falling on the wet floor, she held on to the handrail.
Grammar note
The verb manquer, when meaning “to miss” (someone), uses the indirect object introduced by à (e.g., Tu me manques); when meaning “to lack,” the thing missing is the subject, and manquer can be followed directly by a noun.
verb
Meanings
to lack, to be missing or lacking in something
Commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something, often with the preposition à.
to miss
Often used with the preposition à to express longing for a person or place.
to miss (an opportunity, event, or to fail to do something)
Used to indicate missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish something.
to almost do something, to run the risk of doing something
Indicates an action or event that nearly happened but did not.
Examples
Le rapport a manqué de clarté.
The report lacked clarity.
Après son départ, elle m'a beaucoup manqué.
I missed her a lot after she left.
J'ai manqué le dernier métro.
I missed the last subway train.
Il a manqué de tomber dans l'escalier.
He almost fell down the stairs.
Collocations
- manquer de patienceto lack patience
- manquer à quelqu'unto be missed by someone
- manquer un rendez-vousto miss an appointment
Common mistakes
J'ai manqué tomber dans l'escalier.
J'ai manqué de tomber dans l'escalier.
For the meaning “to almost do something,” manquer must be followed by de before the infinitive.
Related words
antonymabonderTo be found in large amounts; to abound; to be full of or teeming with (usually with preposition en)
Grammar note
The verb manquer, when meaning “to miss” (someone), uses the indirect object introduced by à (e.g., Tu me manques); when meaning “to lack,” the thing missing is the subject, and manquer can be followed directly by a noun.
verb
Meanings
to lack, to be missing or lacking in something
Commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something, often with the preposition à.
to miss
Often used with the preposition à to express longing for a person or place.
to miss (an opportunity, event, or to fail to do something)
Used to indicate missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish something.
to almost do something, to run the risk of doing something
Indicates an action or event that nearly happened but did not.
Examples
Cette explication manque de précision.
This explanation lacks precision.
Ma sœur me manque depuis son départ.
I have missed my sister since she left.
Il manque souvent le début des réunions.
He often misses the beginning of meetings.
Il manque de tomber dans l'escalier.
He almost falls down the stairs.
Grammar note
The verb manquer, when meaning “to miss” (someone), uses the indirect object introduced by à (e.g., Tu me manques); when meaning “to lack,” the thing missing is the subject, and manquer can be followed directly by a noun.
verb
Meanings
to lack, to be missing or lacking in something
Commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something, often with the preposition à.
to miss
Often used with the preposition à to express longing for a person or place.
to miss (an opportunity, event, or to fail to do something)
Used to indicate missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish something.
to almost do something, to run the risk of doing something
Indicates an action or event that nearly happened but did not.
Examples
Tu manques de patience avec les débutants.
You lack patience with beginners.
Tu me manques depuis ton départ.
I have missed you since you left.
Tu manques une bonne occasion de progresser.
You are missing a good opportunity to improve.
Tu manques de tomber dans l'escalier.
You almost fall down the stairs.
Grammar note
The verb manquer, when meaning “to miss” (someone), uses the indirect object introduced by à (e.g., Tu me manques); when meaning “to lack,” the thing missing is the subject, and manquer can be followed directly by a noun.