Discussion:s’occuper à

Can anyone please explain the difference between s'occuper à and s'occuper de?

There is a very little difference which is not necessary undestood by everybody : s’occuper à is to do something, paying close attention to this thing, involving a certain length of time, while s’occuper de is to spend time, caring for someone or something, or just doing something. Compare : Je m’occupe de faire la vaisselle : I take care of the dishes. Je m’occupe à lire : I devote my time to the reading. Also note that s’occuper à is by far much less used with a substantive (in this case, only an activity) than s’occuper de and, particularly, when the substantive is a person, only s’occuper de is possible : Je m’occupe de lui I take care of him. — Unsui Discuter 15 novembre 2016 à 12:43 (UTC)