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Tu devrais: French advice you can give and answer

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Give advice with tu devrais and vous devriez, suggest what to avoid, and answer naturally. Three short exchanges plus a form and meaning check.

In short

Tu devrais + infinitive means “you should”: Tu devrais relire ton message. Use vous devriez with a group or someone you address as vous. For advice against an action, use tu ne devrais pas.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

Two friends discuss a phone message over coffee.
Tu devrais offers a gentle way to give advice. Illustration: Atelier

The phrases below pair a problem with a recommendation and a reply. Hide either side with the phrase filters. In each exchange, your part gives the advice; your partner can accept it or explain what makes it difficult.

1

A message written in a hurry

Give one practical action and explain why it helps.

Your partnerJe vais envoyer ma réponse tout de suite.I’m going to send my reply straight away.
YouTu devrais la relire avant de l’envoyer.You should reread it before sending it.La stands for ta réponse. Relire stays in the infinitive.
Your partnerBonne idée. J’ai peut-être oublié quelque chose.Good idea. I may have forgotten something.
YouTu ne devrais pas répondre quand tu es en colère.You shouldn’t reply when you’re angry.The negative recommends avoiding that action.
2

A presentation with a partner

Address two people with vous devriez.

Your partnerOn ne sait pas comment commencer notre présentation.We don’t know how to start our presentation.
YouVous devriez commencer par un exemple court.You should start with a short example.
Your partnerEt après, on explique notre idée ?And then we explain our idea?
YouOui. Vous devriez aussi vous entraîner ensemble.Yes. You should also practise together.The reflexive pronoun vous belongs before entraîner.
3

Joining an evening class

Compare a personal recommendation with a registration requirement.

Your partnerJ’hésite à m’inscrire au cours du soir.I’m hesitating about signing up for the evening class.
YouTu devrais demander à assister à une séance.You should ask to attend a session.
Your partnerPour participer, je dois confirmer avant lundi.To take part, I have to confirm before Monday.
YouÀ ta place, je demanderais les horaires aujourd’hui.If I were you, I’d ask for the timetable today.À ta place introduces the adviser’s imagined choice.

How do you give advice with tu devrais?

Choose the form for the listener
ListenerAdvice frameExample
One person addressed as tutu devrais + infinitifTu devrais te préparer.
One person addressed as vous, or a groupvous devriez + infinitifVous devriez lui écrire.
You and the speaker togethernous devrions + infinitifNous devrions en parler.

Tu dois confirmer states a requirement in the class exchange. Tu devrais demander recommends a useful action. Tu devrais often softens advice, while the explanation and your tone help it sound friendly.

Pick the recommendation

Question 1No account needed
Complete the advice to several people.Vous ___ vérifier l’heure.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

devriez. The subject vous takes devriez. The next verb, vérifier, remains an infinitive.

Question 2No account needed
Give advice against replying immediately.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Tu ne devrais pas répondre tout de suite.. Put ne… pas around devrais. Devoir takes the infinitive directly, with no de.

Question 3No account needed
What does devrait express here?Le colis devrait arriver demain.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

An expected arrival tomorrow.. Devrait arriver predicts an expected arrival. Here devrait is not advice to a person.

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