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Verb drill

B2 French formal requests: turn assumed approval into a question

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Repair an equipment-loan letter that confirms too much. Compare requests and commitments, then practise six precise French request forms.

In short

Replace a statement of approval with the question you still need answered. In this letter, the date, availability and loan conditions are all open, so ask about each one before confirming the arrangements.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two association volunteers discussing the loan of plain mobile display panels in a French community hall; panels empty with no images or text.
Ask to borrow des panneaux mobiles. Illustration: Atelier

The brief: enquire about display equipment

Your association is preparing a photography display. You want to borrow mobile panels from an association centre. The date is still open and the centre has yet to reply. Your letter needs to explain the project and ask about availability, loan conditions and the application process.

Equipment for the photography display

What needs changing in this opening?

Madame, Monsieur, nous confirmons que vous nous prêterez les panneaux à la date prévue. Merci de préparer le matériel selon les conditions habituelles.

Dear Sir or Madam, we confirm that you will lend us the panels on the planned date. Please prepare the equipment under the usual conditions.

Change the action, then polish the wording
Draft wordingProblem in this briefUseful purpose
nous confirmonsThe centre has yet to answer.Ask whether a loan is possible.
à la date prévueThe date is still open.Ask how to check availability.
les conditions habituellesThe group has yet to receive the terms.Request the loan conditions.

Notre association prépare une présentation de photographies. Serait-il possible d’emprunter des panneaux mobiles ? La date reste à fixer ; pourriez-vous nous indiquer comment vérifier les disponibilités ?

Our association is preparing a photography display. Would it be possible to borrow mobile display panels? The date remains to be set; could you tell us how to check availability?

This opening gives the recipient a useful next action: answer the questions. Serait-il possible de introduces feasibility; pourriez-vous nous indiquer asks for information. Keep your project description concrete, and use the closing to thank the service for its reply rather than for a loan still being discussed.

Question 1No account needed
The service replies: Nous examinerons votre demande lorsque vous aurez choisi une date. What is the next step?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Choose a date and submit the request.. The service offers to examine a request after a date is chosen. The loan decision is still pending.

Question 2No account needed
Which subject line fits an initial enquiry?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Demande de renseignements sur le prêt de panneaux. An enquiry asks for information; the third subject line accurately names that purpose.

How do you make a formal request in French at B2?

Complete each sentence using the verb and tense in the hint. Type only the missing words. These six frames let you ask about possibility, conditions and procedure while leaving the centre room to answer.

1 · Conditional requests: use the stated verb

  1. Nous connaître les conditions du prêt. (souhaiter · present conditional · nous)
  2. Votre service -il prêter des panneaux mobiles ? (pouvoir · present conditional · votre service)
  3. Quelles les conditions du prêt ? (être · present conditional · plural subject)
  4. Pourriez-vous nous la démarche à suivre ? (indiquer · infinitive after pourriez-vous)
  5. Nous aimerions quels documents fournir. (savoir · infinitive after aimerions)
  6. Nous vous de votre réponse. (remercier · present indicative · nous)

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