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Thread: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

 
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    Default Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    Hi,

    Do you know if there's an official rule for "merci de " and "merci pour"?
    Or are both of them universally accepted?

    Thanks!

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    Senior Member Frank van den Eeden's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    Hi there,
    I found this on the internet ...:
    Quelle est la différence d’usage entre “merci de” et “merci pour” ?

    Règle 1 : Lorsque “merci” est suivi d’un nom, vous avez le choix entre “de” et “pour”. Certaines personnes affirment cependant que l’usage de “de” se réfère plutôt au futur alors que celui de “pour” fait plus référence au passé. Girodet estime que “de” est utilisé dans un langage plus soutenu que “merci pour”. Une chose est sûre, l’Académie Française n’a pas tranché donc le choix reste libre !Exemples : Merci de votre aide demain. Merci pour votre lettre qui est arrivée hier. Merci de votre attention / Merci pour votre attention.Règle 2 : Lorsque “merci” précède un verbe à l’infinitif, alors il est TOUJOURS suivi de “de” :Exemples : Merci d’avoir écrit cette lettre. Merci de manger rapidement votre nourriture.


    This means in fact that :
    1strule : when “merci” is followed by a noun, you have the choice between “de” and “pour”
    2ndrule : when “merci” is followed by a verb in the infinitive form, it is ALWAYS followed by “de”

    Un saludo,
    Frank.
    beste groeten - sincères salutations - kindest regards - atentamente - mit freundlichen Grüßen

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    Default Re: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    Hi Frank, I'll keep using the "merci de votre réponse" to sound more formal.
    The time difference is pretty interesting too. I indeed always felt like when I say "Merci pour votre réponse", the person already replied, and the "merci de votre réponse" would mean that I'm waiting for this person's reply.

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    Senior Member Frank van den Eeden's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    "l’Académie Française n’a pas tranché donc le choix reste libre"

    You may feel that way, but I would gladly write "je vous remercie d'avance pour une réponse rapide" and the answer would be in the future.

    But then again : "Certaines personnes affirment cependant que l’usage de “de” se réfère plutôt au futur alors que celui de “pour” fait plus référence au passé"

    These are only small differences and it depends mainly on your FEELING of the language.
    Well, that is my opinion.

    Au plaisir,
    Frank.
    Last edited by Frank van den Eeden; 07-21-2017 at 11:42 AM.
    beste groeten - sincères salutations - kindest regards - atentamente - mit freundlichen Grüßen

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    Default Re: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    You may feel that way, but I would gladly write "je vous remercie d'avance pour une réponse rapide" and the answer would be in the future.
    By adding "d'avance" you switch the "futur" meaning of "pour" to a past reference.

    Indeed, I'll avoid any of these issues by using "je vous remercie d'avance pour une réponse rapide" from now on.

    "l’Académie Française n’a pas tranché donc le choix reste libre"
    I thought they had it all figured out, but apparently there are still a few "angles morts" remaining

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    Default Re: Do you say "Merci de" or "Merci pour" in french?

    I've also read that when there are two types of nouns after "merci", the use of "de" and "pour" may change. When there is a concrete noun, "pour" is recommended. When the noun is abstract, "de" is recommended.

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