Proofread a short French message in three useful passes

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Check one French reply for its purpose, practical details and language. Work through a before-and-after example, a checklist and four questions.

A2Practical guide3 min readIn the A2 notebook →

In short

Read three times with a different question: does the message do its job, do its details match the exchange, and are its forms correct? Start with meaning so you catch a wrong day as well as a wrong verb.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

A host welcoming a friend carrying a small dish to dinner at a French apartment doorway.
An invitation reply keeps chez toi clear. Illustration: Atelier

Read the message you are answering

Salut Léa ! Tu veux venir chez moi samedi à 19 h ? Dis-moi si tu es libre. À bientôt ! Hugo

Hi Léa! Would you like to come to my place on Saturday at 7 pm? Let me know whether you’re free. See you soon! Hugo

Léa’s draft — errors to repair
Draft wordingWhat to check
Merci pour ton invitation.Has Léa actually said yes or no?
Je viens dimanche à 19 h chez moi.Compare the day and whose home it is.
Je suis contente de te voir bientôt.For Léa, the feminine adjective already fits.
Est-ce que tu veux que je apporte quelque chose ?Check the vowel after je.

How do you proofread a French message?

One question per pass
PassAsk yourselfRepair in this reply
1. PurposeIs the acceptance explicit?Add Oui, je viens !
2. DetailsWho hosts, on which day and at what time?Keep Saturday and 19 h; use chez toi.
3. LanguageDo forms and apostrophes fit?Use j’apporte; keep contente for Léa.

Salut Hugo ! Merci pour ton invitation. Oui, je viens samedi à 19 h chez toi ! Je suis contente de te voir bientôt. Est-ce que tu veux que j’apporte quelque chose ? À samedi ! Léa

Hi Hugo! Thank you for your invitation. Yes, I’m coming to your place on Saturday at 7 pm! I’m happy to see you soon. Would you like me to bring something? See you on Saturday! Léa

Hugo’s chez moi becomes Léa’s chez toi because they are talking about Hugo’s home. If Léa wants Sunday instead, she needs to ask about a change. A proposal can be clear and correct, but it is a different reply from accepting Saturday.

Samedi, je ne suis pas libre. Est-ce que dimanche à 19 h te convient ?

I’m not free on Saturday. Does Sunday at 7 pm suit you?

Your final three-pass check

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
Which phrase clearly accepts Hugo’s invitation?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Oui, je viens samedi !. The explicit oui and je viens confirm attendance; thanks alone leaves it open.

Question 2No account needed
Léa is going to Hugo’s home. What does she write to Hugo?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

chez toi. In Léa’s reply, toi refers to Hugo, the person receiving the message.

Question 3No account needed
Correct the elision.Tu veux que ___ quelque chose ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

j’apporte. Je becomes j’ before the vowel in apporte; the verb keeps its je ending.

Question 4No account needed
Léa needs a different day. Which sentence marks that as a question?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Est-ce que dimanche te convient ?. Asking whether Sunday suits Hugo makes the proposed change clear.

Keep going