Gap-fill
Faute de: explain what was missing, then complete the report
Faute de means for lack of. Compare noun and infinitive patterns, distinguish a past cause from a future deadline, and complete a six-gap project report.
- B2
- 6 gaps
- Translation included
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In short
Faute de means “for lack of” or “because of not having”. Follow it with a noun (faute de temps) or an infinitive (faute de pouvoir venir). It names the missing resource or action behind a result.
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faute de + nomfor lack of something
Focus: the missing resource
Faute de moyens, nous avons réduit le programme.
For lack of resources, we reduced the programme.
faute de + infinitifbecause an action is impossible or has not happened
Focus: the missing action
Faute de pouvoir joindre Nora, j’ai laissé un message.
Unable to reach Nora, I left a message.
faute d’avoir + participe passébecause something has not been done or received
Focus: an earlier action that has not happened
Faute d’avoir reçu une confirmation, nous avons gardé l’ancien horaire.
Because we had not received confirmation, we kept the old timetable.
Study first: the short phrase and the full reason
| Short phrase | Full reason |
|---|---|
| faute de temps | parce que nous manquons de temps |
| faute d’informations | parce que nous n’avons pas assez d’informations |
| faute de pouvoir venir | parce que nous ne pouvons pas venir |
| faute d’avoir reçu une réponse | parce que nous n’avons pas reçu de réponse |
Before a vowel, de becomes d’: faute d’informations, faute d’avoir. Common resource phrases use a bare noun: faute de temps, faute de personnel, faute de moyens. In the infinitive examples, the person who cannot come or has received no answer is also the main-clause subject.
How do you use faute de in a sentence?
The hints give the meaning or the verb. Type only the missing words. This report moves from a missing resource to a postponed decision.
Le projet attendra
Nous voulions lancer le projet lundi. Faute de (time), nous n’avons pas terminé la préparation. Faute de (resources), nous avons aussi réduit le nombre d’activités.
Faute (de + informations), nous ne pouvions pas fixer le budget. Faute de (pouvoir) joindre Nora, j’ai envoyé un courriel à toute l’équipe.
Faute (de + avoir reçu) une confirmation, nous avons gardé l’ancien horaire. Le message est clair : faute de (reply) avant vendredi, nous reporterons le lancement.
Read it in English
We wanted to launch the project on Monday. For lack of time, we did not finish the preparation. For lack of resources, we also reduced the number of activities.
For lack of information, we could not set the budget. Unable to reach Nora, I emailed the whole team.
Because we had not received confirmation, we kept the old timetable. The message is clear: if we receive no reply by Friday, we will postpone the launch.
Past cause or future deadline?
Faute de réponse, nous avons annulé la réunion.
Because we received no reply, we cancelled the meeting.
Faute de réponse avant vendredi, nous annulerons la réunion.
If we receive no reply by Friday, we will cancel the meeting.
The first sentence gives the reason for a past decision. The second sets a deadline for a future decision. The tense in the main clause makes that difference visible.