What to do to tu ?

MikeC1Kwiziq community member

What to do to tu ?

'As you can see, we only ever use the vous form.'

Does that mean you use the vous form even if speaking to a friend with whom you'd normally use 'tu', or does it mean you wouldn't use vouloir imperative at all with such a person (in which case, what would you say?)

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Mike, 

As Chris said the use of 'veuillez' is extremely formal so you will only use it with people you don't know as a polite request.

veuillez patienter = please wait 

veuillez me donner vos coordonnées = please give me your contact details

If you were talking to a friend you will not use 'veuille' ( the tu form) but instead say something like 

Tu peux m'attendre s'il te plaît ?

Veux-tu m'attendre s'il te plaît ?

which is equally polite.

Hope this helps!

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Using the imperative of vouloir to ask someone to do something belongs to a higher register. You wouldn't use that construction with a friend. There are other ways to ask a friend to do something, e.g., imperative + s.t.p.:

Attends-moi, s'il te plaît. -- Wait for me, please. 

MikeC1Kwiziq community member

Thanks, both.

What to do to tu ?

'As you can see, we only ever use the vous form.'

Does that mean you use the vous form even if speaking to a friend with whom you'd normally use 'tu', or does it mean you wouldn't use vouloir imperative at all with such a person (in which case, what would you say?)

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