Why You Should Never Say "As-tu ?" in Spoken French (Spoken French Lesson!)
When you started learning French, you probably had one goal: be able to have a conversation where you can understand and be understood in return. And this is an excellent goal! But as you continue to learn, and as your level increases, you probably want to start sounding more fluent. And this is where it’s incredibly important to start learning the nuances of everyday spoken French.
The differences between technical, written French and everyday spoken French are often subtle. For example, the way that we tend to ask questions in spoken French is different from the way you learned to write questions in your essays and other written assignments.
In this lesson, we’ll go over those differences. We’ll also give you lots of opportunities to practice asking questions in everyday spoken French, so it all becomes more natural to you.
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Yes / No questions: “As-tu” → “T’as”
9:32 - “Est-ce que” ?
12:23 - Interrogative pronouns: “Où es-tu ?” → “T’es où ?”
14:09 - Review, practice and special cases
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At Comme une Française, we specialize in everyday spoken French. We focus on three unique aspects that are different from school French, self-study books, Duolingo, etc:
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Géraldine
In the early 60's we started to learn French at our secondary school, which was a bit of a novelty as 'ordinary' schools didn't have languages on the curriculum, generally , at that time. It was so much fun and we learned fairly quickly because the teacher would have us singing the songs that small children sang. So, even now I can sing about cabbages , singing birds, echoes, sick donkeys, and more. When The Singing Nun had her song Dominique in the top ten we entertained our parents with our rendition of it.
This channel tells me so many things never to say that I fear I'll never say anything in French. As you, a native French speaker speaking in English are well aware, actually speaking a foreign language requires willingness to make errors.
You are taking it too seriously. This is just a very convenient way to teach spoken language. Please don't discourage Geraldine - she is fantastic and the way she explains things is invaluable!
Geraldine, thank you for doing this course, keeping this channel - you are incredibly talented as a teacher, so sharing your talent to the advantage of others is wonderful.
In Switzerland, we would add “ou bien”: “j’ai raison, ou bien?”
I use “as-tu” most the time, to the point that saying “tu as” in a question can feel weird. I probably use “as-tu” even more when as (avoir) is used as an auxiliary. It all happens without thinking though. To comment on one of the examples mentioned in the video, I say “as-tu faim” every time. I am French.
Hello Vincent, As Frenchmen, we must recognize she’s right. In everyday language, we most often hear, “t’as du feu ?” or “t’as faim ?” rather than “As-tu du feu ?” or “As-tu faim ?” which seems a bit pedantic. Peace, folks (Paix, les gens). ☮👈😎
@@LetsChillPage No I always say and hear as-tu faim, both forms are correct anyway but verb first just sounds better to my ears. I would say tu as du feu but that’s perhaps to avoid the “tu du“ which doesn’t flow. But verb first in most cases.
Merci. So helpful
Merci beaucoup pour cette nouvelle thème de grammaire française pour comprendre mieux la belle langue française du jour
Merci bien!!
Love the shaun the sheep pops up 😂
Next time you are back in England, you may notice that certain young people add an inflection to everything they say. As we use it the same way as French, it sounds like they are asking questions all the time or arent sure of what they just said. My late first wife had french ancestry and spoke fluently, but never lived in France. She was somewhat shocked by the use of the "informal" french being used (even 30 years ago). Plus ca change...
The so-called "high rising terminal". I strongly suspect that, as with "uni", it arrived in the UK thanks to 'Neighbours'.
@@webrarianyip
Merci!
Suggestion for next vídeo how do you say this in french whatever whichever whenever however whoever forever / everything something anything nothing everybody somebody anybody nobody everywhere anywhere nowhere
_As-tu_ is seldom used in spoken French, but you cannot say it is never used. I do use it from time to time, and I am sure I am not the only one.
So what do you use?
I am French and I used everyday « As-tu » . T’as is really the language of the street.
I watched her full video and she's talking about the correct way, the formal & informal way, the common, native etc. So she's teaching us, she's not wrong so nega-people kindly have Open minds please, avoir ouvre d'esprit.❤
Merci. This is really helpful as I still have a lot to learn (I been wanting to learn French and Spanish then later other languages such as Korean as I want to be an interpreter where I live as my state gets a lot of tourist and a lot of people speak different languages).
Every day spoken French uses formal version. "Desirez-vous le ticket" - the shop seller asks me often.
I think it's wise for English speakers to consistently use 'Est-ce que?'. I'm rather elderly and would feel too self-conscious to use very informal structures, especially 'T'as' and 'T'es' which I associate with youngsters chatting among themselves.
As a French, I agree .
Yes, agree. This is super informal.
Can you please recommend me some french novels written in french used by native french speakers? Merci d'avance
Amélie Nothomb may please you
For German speaking learners the inversion question is much easier to use as its structure is similar to the way you ask a question in German. It’s always a big deal to explain the pupils at school to use words in a structure that don’t exist in their mother tongue like „est-ce que“ in French or the auxiliary „do/does“ for questions in English. This is the reason why at first I allow my 12 year old pupils to use the inversion explaining them that it works like in German but also telling them that it would sound very formal. But at least they can ask questions without having a long and boring grammar lesson about how to build questions in everyday French. Later, when these pupils already have a certain command of the French language and they are old enough to get along with the complexity of grammar, it would make sense to compare the 3 different ways of asking questions in French and to talk about the socio-linguistic aspects. ✌️
You used the expression "little dash" (petit tiret) to refer to the 'trait d'union'. The English word for the trait d'union is the HYPHEN.
I love your explnations. Thanks so much! But as a beginner it beats me how the French do understand those contracted tricks which sounds like flicks of almost nothingnes, and nosal sounds flowing in and out. Like, it took me quite a while to tune my ear to whip of "Elle n'a qu'un frère". And only adding a little span by "que" instead of " qu' " in "Elle n'a que trois livres" helped. But there was the text I could see and expect the sense. And what if it had been only just a sudden remark snapped by some one? 😂
Aw, but I love asking my friends "Qu'as-tu donc?"
Thanks. Your videos are really very helpful. Would like some training in how to use negation.
We’re so glad this lesson helped, @truptidesai1462! If you’re interested in more lessons like this, please join our mailing list to get a new lesson each week: www.commeunefrancaise.com/youtube-welcome?&source=youtubecom -Lyndsie Comme une Française Team
T'as l'heure? Whatever happened to "quelle heure est-il?
Les deux sont possibles ! Fabien Comme une Française Team
Je pensais le même chose
@@Commeunefrancaise Merci!
@@Commeunefrancaise Les deux sont possibles, sauf que l'un est correct et l'autre ne l'est pas . NON, les deux ne sont PAS possibles .
Even at the age of 66, I can still remember being told by my French teacher, 54 years ago, that I was wrong to use intonation as a way of asking a question. Just as we do in English. I knew - instinctively - I was wrong and he was right. But I do love "cours-je". "Mange-je" seems even worse.
She must have been American
Je suis américain, et tout ce qu'elle dit c'est absolument vrai,,,, sans d'ec. J'ai fait des études à Montpellier et je voulais rester avec des parce qu'ils n'arrêtaient de parler en p*****n entre eux même. Donc, j'ai traîné avec que des français pour bien apprendre.
Je voulais pas rester avec les américains,,,,
Merci Géraldine !
Géraldine t'es un super prof! Could you please make a lesson on when the "d" is liaison and pronounced like a " t",,,,par exemple,,, quand est ce qu'il arrive ?
How about ‘quelle heure est-il?’
I’m dutch, so not a native speaker. Started to learn French in elementary school, in the sixties. And I always use ‘tu as’, because ‘as tu’ feels unnatural. And now I learn that ‘as tu ‘is the formal correct way to write it. I think I’ll stick to avez vous in that case. But I wonder where I picked up this ‘street language’ as some of the comments call it. Probably from the streets is France. 😀
Muito bom 👍 Garota 🌹
"Never", except when… - … some reason - you want. - … some reason - … some other reason
Avez vous le temp à dire l'heure?
What time is it, please?
If you have to ask, it's time to buy a montre-bracelet😉
@@furstjakobderschwabe i have no idea when or why I commented that but thank you 😊
Oh wait wait wait … it is not a « question » question ( no pun intended) It is the sequencing of the words. I speak French oui oui I am from Québec. I have been learning linguistics, teaching French …. So I would have presented the « question » of « t’as » VS « tu as » Never with « As-tu « Est- e que tu as fait … = as-tu faim = ok Heard way more often BUT « tu as » Become « t’as » in as we say in linguistics « the oral familiar code » I wouldn’t have mixed a question ? and an affirmation. Alors, en français Bon je n’aurais pas Pris comme exemple Une question As-tu devient T’as Non non « Tu as « va déserté transformer en « t’as » Mais la question « As-tu « restera là, dans le code oral en comparaison avec Est-ce que tu as … ? = plus formel un petit peu , juste un petit peu. J’écris et je pense mon message n’est pas vraiment organisé. Oups désolée Avez-vous compris ? 😂 As-tu compris ? 😊
Où es-tu ? >> Où est-ce que t'es ? (quatrième possibilité)
Je n'en reviens pas de ce que j'entends. L'inversion n'est jamais utilisée chez les européens francophones alors qu'ici en Amérique du nord, l'inversion (as-tu/avez-vous/êtes-vous) c'est la norme dans la langue parlée de tous les jours...!
Haha exact! C'est tellement courant, et approprié dans tous les contextes!
C'est faux, on utilise l'inversion même si c'est moins fréquent, elle raconte un peu n'importe quoi sur le fait que vous ne devez pas utiliser l'inversion. Surtout que l'intonation en ce qui concerne les questions est pour un débutant trop difficile, un Français ne va pas vous comprendre.
As a French i'm disagree you can used both of them. Intonation is too difficult for a foreign.
Vous frappez cette fille mais elle a un point. Quand je essayer de apprendre le francais avec de film chanson etc je compris rien. Mon francais est basique mais je comprend presque tout a l ecrit
As tu ton Tuc?
Honestly, don’t use this formulation in all circumstances - it can come off as too informal, even uneducated. You might sound like you’re from a not-so-nice part of town if you talk like that to everyone. When in doubt, use “est-ce que” - it’s very neutral yet natural.
Once again I find that the persistence of 'tu' in lessons like this is unrealistic. Those of us who are not native Fr speakers are overwhelmingly more likely to be in situations where 'tu' is not acceptable. I live in France. I would never use 'tu' to anyone I know or meet, except the two children who live opposite me. My neighbours never use 'tu' to me, tho' one is very fond of making jokes about the English [in a nice way]. Everyday life for me here in FR is a world of 'vous'. Tomorrow I will go to Renault to discuss fitting new diesel injectors to my van. There won't be a 'tu' in sight. After 4 months of daily visits from a nurse, however friendly we have become - she's just come back from a holday in Valencia which I recommended - she has never said 'tu' to me nor I to her - and we never will.
Lovely. In English, we do not say "Do you have the time?" to inquire about what time it is. We say, "Would you please tell me what time it is?" to inquire the hour. Or, "Do you have time to..." as in, do you have time to help me with something, or to do something.
Oh we do say "do you have the time?" .
I don't know where you're from, but in American English people do indeed say "Do you have the time?" It's a little formal, and would be more likely something you would ask a stranger. If you were asking a friend, you'd probably just say "What time is it?" Or, a little more politely, "Do you know what time it is?"
Sure we say, "do you have the time?" At least English speakers in America say it.
Vous ressemblez à Liza Minelli. Cordialement d'Autriche!
I'm French and strongly disagree here. "T'as" and "T'es" are way too informal! You can't say that in all settings and should only be used with close friends, but it's definitely not everyday speech! I wouldn't even like close friends being that informal, I think that's both rude and child-like. Adults should use "As-tu" and "Est-ce que tu" as much as possible.
Thank you to both Geraldine and this commenter. Both perspectives are valuable. I’m not yet able to quickly speak French and clip words (Il y a --> Ya, Tu as --> T’as), and I’m a middle aged woman who doesn’t want to try to speak like a youth anyway, but it is still immensely helpful to know how people talk on the street and informally, which is where many of my impromptu interactions with French speakers took place on my last trip to France . Thank you both.
I trust Geraldine & her expertise of many years than someone trolling. You can be the polite one Bravo!
@@fabz1509 He’s not trolling, he has a point. Plus, it depends a lot on how you say it. “T’as…?” said by someone used to say “As-tu…?” might sound educated while the same “T’as…?” from someone unable to express it otherwise will probably sound vulgar. There are subtleties in the prosody.
Exactly
@@leexmentis2168 yes of course tone of voice makes a difference. However I still disagree with the original over exaggeration that not even close friends speak like that. In movies, TV, radio and social media what Geraldine is teaching is well demonstrated to be the norm.
Every day spoken French seems to more resemble English.
à pleines dents = joyfully ??
T'as du pognon ?
"Est-elle ici ?", not "Elle est ici ?", unless you have first elucidated who you are talking about ! "As-tu faim ?", not "Tu as faim ?", unless a sign calling for that was made by someone ! Or in both cases you can use "Est-ce que...?"
1) there's no such an informal grammar. grammar is always formal. it's not bad to use the inversion when you speak French. For example: As-tu faim? Avez-vous l'heure? like in any language the more you use correct grammar when you speak the better. You then sound more posh or educated. So what? Why should I use slang? 2) "Est-ce que" is indeed formal (i.e. correct grammar), it's not middle formal level which doesn't exist. You're either formal or not. It's frequently used in spoken French, lot more than the inversion. I prefer the inversion because it's shorter to say 3) You would tend to use the inversion when you speak to a child to show example. Who wants to use bad grammar when talking with children? 4) The question using phrasal higher intonation like "Tu as faim?" exists in all languages. I still prefer the inversion because it's less confusing that you're asking a question. If you raise your pitch not enough in saying "Tu as faim?" people may not be sure you're asking a question or just expressing a fact. 5) Like with any languages, one should speak according to their level of education. If you're educated use the inversion when you speak. All journalists use inversion when they ask questions to anybody. In a job environment: interviewers, clients,.. will use inversion. If you go to shop. At your doctor, hospital, university,.. many other places. Everyone use and you should use inversion when speaking. So why saying it's too formal? You don't interact only with your friends, relatives,... where you could be more relax and use slang.
Depends on how educated you and your circle of friends are and what your status is. Some people can't afford speaking like bums.
Acceptons (une fois pour toutes) que toutes les langues parlées sur la planète ont plusieurs registres et que le français n'est pas une exception à la règle. J'ai honte de l'avouer, (surtout parce que j'adore ma langue) mais il y a trop d'élitisme dans la Francophonie et cela m'énerve. Je suis désolé, messieurs-dames, mais le registre soutenu n'est pas le seul registre acceptable et ceux qui croient autrement ne vivent pas dans la réalité. "On est pas des livres avec des pattes!" (Nous ne sommes pas des livres ambulants! Pardonnez-moi, les puristes.) Les différents registres enrichissent notre langue et nous ferions mieux de ne plus réagir comme si cela était un signe d'appauvrissement verbal. Autrement dit... "Arrêtons de péter pu haut que l'trou!" Là-dessus, bonne fin de semaine et à tantôt.
I don't agree . Je ne conseille pas de dire "t'as faim ?" ou t'as l'heure ?" à n'importe qui . C'est très familier et ne s'adapte pas dans tous les cas . Cela dépend largement de l'âge ou des catégories socio-culturelles, mais un excès de familiarité passe parfois très mal . C'est plus fréquent entre jeunes . Si vous l'employez, on pensera simplement que , parce que vous êtes étranger, vous ne connaissez pas suffisamment la langue française . " Le chat est sur le canapé ? " est acceptable, parce qu'on ne se montre pas familier avec le chat ! Et ne jamais oublier la différence entre "tu" et "vous" . Ce formalisme est toujours très important . En anglais , il n'y a que le "you" , ce n'est pas le cas en français . Quand on apprend une langue, on l'apprend correctement . On ne reprochera pas à quelqu'un d'être poli, mais on lui reprochera de ne pas l'être . As a french , I say : no informal french, please . If you use informal french, you must know in what circumstances you use it . If not, don't !
Tu esfotu
“As-tu” is correct, if cool young French people can’t accept their own language that’s their problem.
N'importe quoi 😒 Personne ne dit "as tu", ou alors très rarement J'ai 55 ans pour info
Faut quand même arrêter de dire n'importe quoi. Comme quoi on n'aurait plus le droit de dire m'as-tu-vu ou ton-thé-t'a-t'il-ôté-ta-toux ?
You could have explained this in 2 minutes, not 20.
The problem with this presenter's approach is that they assume lowest-common-denominator speech is desirable. Sure, in English plenty of people say "who's this intended for?" But educated speakers will say "for whom is this intended?" The formal speech is not only grammatically correct but also conveys that the speaker is educated, intelligent, and precise. Which can be a huge advantage in certain situations. It's inadvisable always to reduce speech to demotic, innit?
I agree. Context and environment are everything. French registers are somewhat more defined that in English, and which one you chose makes a big difference in how you are perceived. This was the genius of Molière. He could write his characters authentically at any level.
I don’t know any educated English speaker who would use « whom » in this way…except in the most formal setting…unless they wanted to sound really pedantic…French culture can be more generally formal, but she is clear to say this form is used in informal spoken French…not formal or written French.
It is more likely you would be perceived as so formal that you would build a wall of separation between yourself and your listener. The nuances of French and the subtleties of place for formality are extremely important in the culture. The purpose of language is not to show off your education and self- proclaimed status but to communicate and connect to others. Frankly, if I walked around speaking literary French (which has tenses and forms never ever used in speech) I would be seen as someone so pretentious that people would back away quickly. Or burst out laughing just as they would if I asked "Is this the party with whom I am speaking?"
@@wesleyy2792I'm a native English speaker and I do use "whom" in that way.
Exact! Ce que cette dame prêche est le nivellement par la base ou familier, à déconseiller dans tout milieu professionnel, car trop familier! Malheureusement, le français de plus bas niveau et surtout des ignorants, de plus en plus courant en France maintenant!
Don't French people get colds?
Bah si comme tous le monde... C'est quoi le rapport en fait ? 🤔
@@thierry-yonathanmeyer5976 In English we say the sound of a sneeze is: Atishoo or Achoo. "Achoo" and "As tu" have similar sounds.
@@T0NYD1CK not really the same sound 😅 But OK 😎