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Je voulais vous demander: polite French request openings

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Use je voulais vous demander to open a current request. Practise short exchanges, choose tu or vous and distinguish voulais from conditional voudrais.

In short

Je voulais vous demander… can politely open a request you are making now. Voulais is imparfait; voudrais is conditional. Follow the opening with the information or action you need: Je voulais vous demander une précision sur la réunion.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A visitor politely asking a colleague for clarification at a French meeting-room doorway.
A current request can begin je voulais vous demander. Illustration: Atelier
1

Ask a colleague for clarification

Use vous with this colleague.

YouBonjour, je voulais vous demander une précision sur la réunion.Hello, I wanted to ask you for a detail about the meeting.
The person you are askingOui, je vous écoute.Yes, go ahead.
YouÀ quelle heure commence-t-elle ?What time does it start?
The person you are askingÀ neuf heures.At nine.
2

Ask a friend for advice

These friends use tu.

YouTu as un moment ? Je voulais te demander un conseil.Do you have a moment? I wanted to ask your advice.
The person you are askingBien sûr. De quoi s’agit-il ?Of course. What is it about?
YouJe prépare un entretien. Tu pourrais m’aider ?I’m preparing for an interview. Could you help me?
The person you are askingOui, on peut en parler ce soir.Yes, we can talk about it this evening.
Three openings, with their actual tense
OpeningTenseUse here
Je voulais vous poser une question.ImparfaitIntroduce a current question gently.
Je voudrais une précision.Present conditionalState a wish politely.
J’aimerais avoir votre avis.Present conditionalAsk for someone’s opinion.

The first opening places the intention at a small conversational distance. At the start of an exchange, it can lead into a question about now. In a past account, the same form describes an earlier wish: Hier, je voulais vous appeler, mais je n’avais pas votre numéro.

Hier, je voulais vous appeler, mais je n’avais pas votre numéro.

Yesterday, I wanted to call you, but I didn’t have your number.

Keep the address consistent: vous → vous demander, tu → te demander. For a short exchange, a greeting, one opening and the real question are enough. The friend’s tu pourrais is conditional; it asks for help after the imparfait opening.

  • Je voulais vous demander est-ce que vous êtes disponible.Je voulais vous demander si vous êtes disponible.

    An indirect yes/no question uses si and statement word order. The present êtes keeps the question focused on current availability.

  • Je voulais vous demander un question.Je voulais vous poser une question.

    Question is feminine. Use poser une question for “ask a question”, or demander un renseignement for “ask for information”.

Question 1No account needed
Which opening contains an imparfait form?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je voulais vous parler.. Voulais is imparfait. Voudrais and aimerais are conditional forms.

Question 2No account needed
Ask the friend you call tu for advice.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je voulais te demander un conseil.. The object pronoun for the friend addressed as tu is te: te demander.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the indirect yes/no question about current availability.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je voulais savoir si vous êtes disponible.. After savoir si, keep statement order: vous êtes disponible.

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