This French A2 lesson explains giving advice in French step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on giving advice in French and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: In French, give advice with tu devrais or vous devriez for a gentle suggestion, tu dois or il faut for a strong need, the imperative for a direct order, and si tu veux to offer an option. The conditional makes advice sound polite, as in Pourriez-vous…?
Level: French A2 (CEFR elementary) · Standards: CEFR A2, Spoken interaction
Giving advice in French: the lesson
How do you give advice in French?
French has several ways to advise someone, and the choice depends on how strong you want to sound. Think of a ladder: the higher the step, the less choice the other person has.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Si tu veux, … (option) | Si tu veux, je viens avec toi. — If you like, I’ll come with you. |
| Tu devrais + infinitive | Tu devrais appeler ton propriétaire. — You should call your landlord. |
| Tu dois + infinitive | Tu dois te reposer. — You must rest. |
| Il faut + infinitive | Il faut valider le billet. — The ticket has to be validated. |
| Imperative | Prends ce médicament. — Take this medicine. |
How do you use devoir?
| Subject | Present (must) | Conditional (should) |
|---|---|---|
| je | dois | devrais |
| tu | dois | devrais |
| il / elle | doit | devrait |
| nous | devons | devrions |
| vous | devez | devriez |
| ils / elles | doivent | devraient |
Il faut
Il faut never changes and is always followed by an infinitive. It states a general need: Il faut réserver à l’avance. The negative il ne faut pas expresses a prohibition.
How do you form the imperative?
Use the tu, nous and vous present forms without the pronoun. For tu with -er verbs, drop the final s.
| Verb | tu | nous | vous |
|---|---|---|---|
| parler | parle | parlons | parlez |
| prendre | prends | prenons | prenez |
| aller | va | allons | allez |
| être | sois | soyons | soyez |
Negative: Ne fume pas ici. · N’oublie pas ton badge.
How do you make a polite request?
The conditional also softens requests, which matters at the post office, at the pharmacy or with a manager.
- Je voudrais un renseignement, s’il vous plaît. — I would like some information, please.
- Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? — Could you repeat, please?
- Tu pourrais m’aider avec ce formulaire ? — Could you help me with this form?
Watch out
“You don’t have to” is not tu ne dois pas, which means “you must not.” Say tu n’as pas besoin de or tu n’es pas obligé(e) de. Also, after devoir there is no de: Tu devrais te reposer.
At the pharmacy
French pharmacies, marked by a green cross, are a first stop for minor health problems, and pharmacists give advice freely.
Zoé’s tip
To sound kind, soften an order: replace Tu dois with Tu devrais and add si tu veux or à ta place. Your advice will land better.
Key points to remember
- Devoir in the present means must: je dois, nous devons.
- Tu devrais (conditional) means should and sounds kinder than tu dois.
- Il faut + infinitive states a general need; il ne faut pas means must not.
- In the imperative, -er verbs lose the s of the tu form: Parle !
- After si tu veux, use the present: Si tu veux, je viens.
How to Advise Someone Politely: frequently asked questions
How do you give advice politely in French?
Use the conditional: tu devrais, tu pourrais or à ta place, je…. Add si tu veux to leave the choice to the other person.
What is the difference between tu dois and il faut?
Tu dois speaks to one person and sounds personal. Il faut is impersonal and invariable, so it states a general rule or need.
How do you form the imperative in French?
Take the present forms of tu, nous or vous and drop the pronoun. With -er verbs, drop the s of the tu form: Tu parles becomes Parle.
How do you say you don’t have to do something?
Say tu n’as pas besoin de or tu n’es pas obligé(e) de. Tu ne dois pas means you must not.
Which tense follows si tu veux?
Use the present or the imperative: Si tu veux, je t’aide. or Si tu veux, viens avec nous. Never use the conditional right after si.