Asking Basic Questions
Today we are learning a few questions you can easily use in your everyday life when meeting or talking to French-speaking people. From personal information to daily small talk, here's your first insight into French conversations.
When asking questions to someone new, you have to consider the degree of formality you want to use. In this lesson, we provide you with both the formal "vous" and the informal "tu" forms. Check out the modifications on the verbs!
Where audio files are available, we advise you to practice the pronunciation by repeating a minimum of 3 times, for your brain to assimilate the structure.
1. Breaking the ice
You would want to start off with a nice "Bonjour !" and a smile, before using the following questions, which will serve as standard icebreakers. As a general rule, starting a conversation with a bit of information about you is always welcome. You can then move on to asking the other person your question:
- "Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Laura, et toi ? Comment tu t'appelles ?"
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VOUS |
TU |
English appr. |
|
Comment vous vous appelez ? |
Comment tu t'appelles ?
|
What's your name? |
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Vous habitez ici/où ? |
Tu habites ici/où ?
|
Do you live here/where? |
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Vous êtes français(e) ?
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Tu es français(e) ? |
Are you French? |
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Vous travaillez ou vous étudiez ?
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Tu travailles ou tu étudies ?
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Do you work or study? |
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Vous êtes marié(e) ?
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Tu es en couple ? |
Are you married? In a relationship?
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Vous avez une grande famille ?
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Tu as une grande famille ? |
Do you have a big family? |
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Quel est votre numéro de téléphone ?
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C'est quoi ton numéro de téléphone ? |
What's your phone number? |
2. Localize the conversation - make it real.
Making the conversation about practical "on-the-spot" things can spare you a lot of awkward tension. It is even more important when the conversation is very much context-dependent... Here we give you a few examples in various daily situations.
2.1 On public transport.
Here's the perfect time to meet new people, especially if you're bound to see them again every morning on your way to work or university, and you've got a long way to travel!
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VOUS |
TU |
English appr. |
|
Vous allez bien, aujourd'hui ?
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Ça va, aujourd'hui ?
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How are you today? |
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Vous allez travailler ?
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Tu vas travailler ? |
On your way to work?
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Il fait froid, n'est-ce pas ?
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Il fait froid, non ? |
Isn't it cold today? |
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Il est quelle heure, s'il vous plaît ?
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Il est quelle heure, s'il te plaît ? |
What time is it, please? |
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Le bus/train est en retard ?
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Le bus/train est en retard ?
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The bus/train is late? |
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Vous aimez quelle musique ?
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Tu aimes quelle musique ? |
What music do you like? |
2,2 At school/university.
Here use "tu", unless you're talking to a teacher or a professor, naturally.
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VOUS |
TU |
English appr. |
|
Vous allez bien, aujourd'hui ?
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Ça va, aujourd'hui ?
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How are you today? |
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Vous allez en cours ?
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Tu vas en cours ? |
Going to class now?
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|
--
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Tu es dans quelle classe/année ?
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What class/year are you in? |
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--
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Tu étudies quoi ? |
What do you study? |
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A quelle heure est la pause déjeuner ?
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La pause déjeuner est à quelle heure ? |
What time is lunch break? |
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-- |
Tu as beaucoup d'heures aujourd'hui ?
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Do you have a lot of hours/classes today? |
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--
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Tu veux faire quoi l'an prochain ? |
What do you want to do next year?
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|
--
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Tu connais un café sympa ici ? |
Do you know a good café near here?
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2.3 At work.
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VOUS |
TU |
English appr. |
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Vous allez bien aujourd'hui ?
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Ça va aujourd'hui ?
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How are you today? |
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Vous travaillez dans quel département ?
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Tu travailles dans quel département ?
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What department do you work in?
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Quel est votre travail exactement ?
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Tu fais quoi exactement ? |
What exactly do you do? |
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Vous travaillez ici depuis longtemps ? |
Tu travailles ici depuis longtemps ?
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Have you worked here long? |
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Vous travaillez avec qui ? Sur quel projet ?
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Tu travailles avec qui ? Sur quel projet ? |
Who do you work with? On what/which project? |
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A quelle heure est la pause déjeuner ?
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La pause déjeuner est à quelle heure ? |
What time is lunch break? |
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Journée difficile? |
Dure journée?
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Long day, today? |
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Vous voulez un café ?
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Tu veux un café ? |
Would you like a coffee?
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Tu connais un restaurant sympa pour déjeuner ?
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Tu connais un resto sympa pour déjeuner ? |
Do you know any nice place for lunch?
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Remember that pronunciation is key for people to understand you. Use the audio files where possible.
Two quick tips for answering these questions:
1) Copy the question! Don't underestimate the power of a simple repetition using a different intonation. « Ça va ? Oui, ça va. »
2) The classic "me too!" « Ça va ? Oui, ça va. Et toi ? Moi aussi.»
As this lesson cannot cover all possible answers, that's it for today. Well done!
Thanks for visiting!
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