Use Est-ce que je devrais? (Should I?) followed by the verb in the infinitive to ask if you should do something. devrais comes from the verb devoir. For more information on devoir, see here.
Should I?
Est-ce que je devrais inviter Anna?Should I invite Anna?Est-ce que je devrais la rappeler?Should I call her back?Est-ce quon devrait aller dans un restaurant italien?Should we go to an Italian restaurant?EXPRESSING OPINIONS
When talking to people in a social or work situation, you may wish to express your opinion of something. In French you can use je crois or je pense (I think). When you use croire and penser with a negative, as in je ne pense pas que or je ne crois pas que, the verb which follows is in the subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
I think
Je pense que Sonia a raison.I think Sonias right.Je pense vraiment quil est trop tard pour aller au cinéma.I really think its too late to go to the cinema.Je pense quon devrait partir à minuit.I think we should leave at midnight.Je ne pense pas que ça soit le cas du tout.I dont think thats the case at all.Je crois que cest une excellente idée.I think its a great idea.BON À SAVOIR!
Dont forget to add que (that) after croire and penser. Its optional in English, but not in French.
In my opinion
À mon avis, cest une bonne proposition.In my opinion, its a good suggestion.À mon avis, ça va poser des problèmes.In my opinion, its going to cause problems.À mon avis, ce nest pas vrai.In my opinion, its not true.À mon avis, cest un bon employeur, cette société.In my opinion, its a great company to work for.If you want to ask other people what they think of something, use Quest-ce que tu penses de? (What do you think of?).
What do you think of?
Quest-ce que tu penses de son dernier film?What do you think of his latest movie?Quest-ce que tu penses de cette idée?What do you think of this idea?Quest-ce que vous diriez de sortir dîner ce soir?What do you think about going out for dinner tonight?Quest-ce que vous en pensez?What do you think?To agree or disagree with what other people say, use je suis daccord or je ne suis pas daccord.
I agree
Je suis daccord.I agree.Je suis daccord avec Nigel.I agree with Nigel.Je ne suis pas daccord avec cette décision.I dont agree with this decision.Je ne suis pas tout à fait daccord avec Claire.I dont completely agree with Claire.Je suis entièrement de ton avis!I entirely agree with you!Youre right
Tu as raison!Youre right!Je pense que vous avez raison.I think youre right.Cest Matthieu qui a raison.Matthieus right.Je crois que tu as tort.I think youre wrong.Tu as tort de ne pas lécouter.Youre wrong not to listen to her.BON À SAVOIR!
Where we use the verb to be in English in the phrases to be right or to be wrong, French speakers use avoir (to have): avoir raison (to be right), avoir tort (to be wrong).
TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS
When talking to your colleagues and friends you will want to tell them about your plans. In French, as in English, the present is very often used to talk about plans, especially for things that have been arranged and that are definite. For more on the present tense, see here.
Im seeing
Je vois Philippe jeudi.Im seeing Philippe on Thursday.Je la vois cet après-midi.Im seeing her this afternoon.On va au cinéma ce soir.Were going to the cinema tonight.Nous allons déjeuner ensemble vendredi prochain.Were going for lunch next Friday.In English, when we talk about the future we often say Im going to. French works the same way. To say that youre going to do something, use je vais (Im going to) or on va (were going to) before a verb in the infinitive. vais and va come from the verb aller. For more information on aller, see here.
Im going to
Je vais lui téléphoner.Im going to phone him.Je vais le prévenir que je ne peux pas venir.Im going to let him know I cant come.Je vais leur dire de venir un peu plus tard.Im going to tell them to come a little later.On va sortir au restaurant demain soir.Were going to go out for dinner tomorrow night.On va se revoir.Were going to see each other again.Are you going to?
Est-ce que tu vas lui annoncer la nouvelle aujourdhui?Are you going to tell him the news today?Est-ce que vous allez le revoir?Are you going to see him again?Tu vas aller à cette soirée?Are you going to go to this party?Tu vas acheter une maison?Are you going to buy a house?When talking about what you intend to do, you can use jai lintention de or je compte (I intend to) followed by a verb in the infinitive.
I intend to
Jai lintention de linviter à prendre un verre.I intend to ask her out for a drink.Jai lintention daller les voir cet été.I intend to go and see them this summer.On a lintention de linviter pendant les vacances.We intend to invite him during the holidays.Je compte régler ce problème le plus vite possible.I intend to sort out this problem as quickly as possible.Do you intend to?
Est-ce que tu as lintention daller au mariage dYves et Julie?Do you intend to go to Yves and Julies wedding?Est-ce que vous avez lintention de les contacter?Do you intend to get in touch with them?Quest-ce que vous avez lintention de dire?What do you intend to say?Tu comptes rester dans la région?Do you intend to stay in this area?Comment est-ce que tu comptes lui annoncer la nouvelle?How do you intend to tell him the news?MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
When making arrangements with someone, use Est-ce que ça vous va si? or Est-ce que ça te va si? to ask someone if something suits them. va comes from the verb aller. For more information on aller, see here.
Will it suit you if?
Est-ce que ça te va si on dîne à neuf heures?Does it suit you if we have dinner at nine?Est-ce que ça vous va si je vous appelle la semaine prochaine?Will it suit you if I phone you next week?Ça tirait comme arrangement?Would this arrangement suit you?To ask somebody if they would prefer something, use Est-ce que tu préférerais que? or Est-ce que vous préféreriez que? (Would you prefer it if?), which comes from the verb préférer in the conditional. The conditional is very useful to make polite requests or offers. You can find out more about it here. For more information on -er verbs like préférer, see here.
Would you prefer it if?
Est-ce que tu préférerais quon se donne rendez-vous en ville?Would you prefer it if we met in town?Est-ce que vous préféreriez quon se retrouve au restaurant?Would you prefer it if we met at the restaurant?Tu préférerais que je passe te chercher?Would you prefer it if I came to collect you?Is it better to?
Est-ce quil vaut mieux inviter aussi les conjoints?Is it better to invite partners as well?Est-ce quil vaut mieux tappeler le soir?Is it better to ring you in the evening?Est-ce quil vaut mieux vous prévenir avant de passer?Is it better to let you know before we call in?If you want to confirm an arrangement with somebody, you can use Est-ce quon est daccord sur? (Are we agreed on?).
Are we agreed on?
Est-ce quon est daccord sur la date?Are we agreed on the date?Est-ce quon est daccord sur le lieu du rendez-vous?Are we agreed on where to meet?Tu es daccord?Do you agree?Daccord!Agreed!BON À SAVOIR!
Daccord is used to accept offers or to agree: On y va ensemble? Daccord! (Shall we go together? OK!).
SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
When you want to say that you have to do something in French, you use il faut que (I have to) followed by the subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
I have to
Il faut que je passe un coup de fil.I have to make a phone call.Il faut que je reste chez moi ce soir.I have to stay in tonight.Il faut quon y soit à huit heures pile.We have to be there at eight o clock sharp.Je suis obligé de sortir dîner avec mes collègues.I have to go out to dinner with my colleagues.Tu nes pas obligé de loger à lhôtel.You dont have to stay at the hotel.BON À SAVOIR!