Offline mode

aller chercher (to go and get/fetch)

Grammar & Usage

verbal phrase

neutral

How it works

This construction combines the motion verb 'aller' (conjugated) with the infinitive 'chercher' to express moving to a location with the purpose of retrieving someone or something. Object clitic pronouns are typically placed before the infinitive 'chercher' (e.g., 'je vais le chercher') rather than before 'aller'. In compound tenses, 'aller' takes 'être' as its auxiliary (e.g., 'il est allé chercher').

Sample sentences

Je dois aller chercher les enfants à l'école à seize heures.

I have to go pick up the children from school at four o'clock.

Peux-tu aller chercher du pain à la boulangerie ?

Can you go get some bread at the bakery?

Elle va chercher son manteau avant de sortir dans le froid.

She is going to get her coat before going out into the cold.

Quick facts

auxiliary:Uses 'être' for compound tenses of 'aller' (e.g., 'Je suis allé chercher').

figurative_use:'Aller chercher loin' means to overthink or make far-fetched connections.

pronoun_placement:Direct and indirect object pronouns attach directly before the infinitive 'chercher' (e.g., 'Je vais les chercher').

Often used with

aller chercher les enfants

aller chercher du pain

aller chercher loin

aller chercher midi à quatorze heures

Mnemonic

Get an AI-generated memory hook for aller chercher (to go and get/fetch) — a vivid scene that locks the word in your brain 🧠

Example

Je dois aller chercher les enfants à l'école à seize heures.

I have to go pick up the children from school at four o'clock.

Peux-tu aller chercher du pain à la boulangerie ?

Can you go get some bread at the bakery?