Mastering the art of suggestion is essential for navigating daily conversations in French. While English relies heavily on the versatile phrase "how about," French requires a more nuanced approach depending on the context, the grammar of the following word, and the level of formality. There is no single direct translation; instead, learners must choose between several distinct structures. Understanding these differences transforms a textbook speaker into someone who sounds natural and confident.
The Most Common Standard: Et si...
The go-to structure for making suggestions in everyday spoken French is Et si... followed by the imperfect tense (l’imparfait). This construction literally translates to "And if..." but functions idiomatically as "How about..." or "What if...
This is the most versatile tool in your arsenal. It works for proposing activities, outings, or changes of plan.
- Et si on allait au cinéma ce soir ? (How about we go to the movies tonight?)
- Et si tu venais dîner chez moi ? (How about you come over for dinner?)
- Et si on prenait un café ? (How about we grab a coffee?)
Grammar Note: The subject pronoun (on, tu, nous, vous) comes immediately after si, followed by the verb in the imperfect. On (meaning "we") is overwhelmingly the most common subject in casual conversation.
The Casual Favorite: Qu'est-ce que tu dis de... ?
When you want to sound spontaneous and friendly, **Qu'est-ce que tu dis de... ** (What do you say about...?) is the perfect choice. It invites the other person’s opinion directly. Because de is a preposition, it must be followed by a noun or a verb in the infinitive The details matter here..
- Qu'est-ce que tu dis d'une pizza ? (How about a pizza?)
- Qu'est-ce que tu dis de faire une promenade ? (How about going for a walk?)
- Qu'est-ce que vous dites d'un verre ? (How about a drink? — formal/plural)
In rapid speech, the que often elides: Qu'est-c'que tu dis d'aller...? This contraction signals native-level fluency.
The "Idea Proposal": Et si on... ? vs. Pourquoi ne pas... ?
While *Et si on...On top of that, * proposes a joint action, **Pourquoi ne pas... ** (Why not...?) suggests an idea slightly more objectively, often used when brainstorming or offering a solution to a problem. It is followed by the infinitive.
- Pourquoi ne pas essayer ce nouveau restaurant ? (Why not try / How about trying that new restaurant?)
- Pourquoi ne pas partir plus tôt ? (How about leaving earlier?)
This structure carries a subtle tone of persuasion or logical reasoning. It implies, "There is no good reason not to do this."
Suggesting Nouns: Et... ? and Qu'en est-il de... ?
Sometimes "How about" introduces a simple noun phrase rather than a full action. In real terms, "How about lunch? " "How about the blue one?
1. The Elliptical Et... ?
In fast-paced dialogue, French speakers often just use Et + a stressed pronoun (moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, eux) or a noun with a definite article.
- Et toi ? (How about you? / And you?)
- Et le film ? (How about the movie?)
- Et une glace ? (How about an ice cream?)
This is extremely colloquial. The intonation rises at the end to mark the question.
2. The Formal Qu'en est-il de... ?
In professional settings, written reports, or polite interviews, Qu'en est-il de... ? (What is the situation regarding...? / How about...?) is the standard.
- Qu'en est-il du budget ? (How about the budget? / What about the budget?)
- Qu'en est-il de votre proposition ? (How about your proposal?)
Do not use this with friends at a bar; it sounds stiff and administrative.
The "Opinion Seeker": Ça te dit... ?
Unique to French is the idiomatic expression **Ça te dit... Here's the thing — ** (Does that say something to you? And / Does that appeal to you? Think about it: ). It is softer than a direct invitation and checks the other person's desire before committing But it adds up..
- Ça te dit un ciné ? (How does a movie sound? / Fancy a movie?)
- Ça vous dit de venir ? (Would you like to come? / How about coming along?)
Grammatically, ça is the subject, dire is conjugated (dit), and te/vous is the indirect object. The activity follows as a noun or infinitive (Ça te dit de danser ?).
Making Suggestions with On pourrait...
The conditional tense offers a polite, hypothetical softness. ** (We could...) functions effectively as "How about we...?Because of that, **On pourrait... " but with a tentative, non-pushy vibe.
- On pourrait commander des sushis. (How about we order sushi? / We could order sushi.)
- On pourrait y aller à pied. (How about walking there?)
This is ideal when you aren't sure of the other person's schedule or preference. It leaves the door wide open for refusal Most people skip this — try not to..
Responding to Suggestions
Knowing how to propose is only half the battle; you must also recognize the answers.
Positive:
- Volontiers ! (Willingly! / Gladly!)
- Bonne idée ! (Good idea!)
- Pourquoi pas ? (Why not?)
- Ça marche ! (That works! / Deal! — very common slang)
- C’est noté. (Noted / Consider it done — semi-formal)
Negative / Hesitant:
- Bof... (Meh... / Not really — the ultimate French shrug)
- Pas terrible. (Not great / Not really my thing.)
- J’ai pas trop envie. (I don't really feel like it.)
- On verra. (We’ll see — often a polite "no".)
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Translating "About" as À propos de
Learners often try to say Comment à propos de... ? or Comment sur... ?. This does not exist. À propos de means "regarding" or "concerning" (e.g., Un livre à propos de l'histoire — A book about history). It cannot introduce a suggestion.
2. Using Comment as "How"
Comment means "How" in the sense of manner (Comment ça va ? — How are you?) or "What?" as a polite request for repetition. It never means "How about."
3. Forgetting the Imperfect with Et si
Saying Et si on va... (Present tense) is a grammatical error in standard French for suggestions. The hypothetical nature requires the imperfect: Et si on allait...
4. Mixing Registers
Avoid saying Qu'en est-il d'une bière ? to a close friend (too formal) or Et si on kiffait ? (using slang kiffer) in a job interview. Match the register to the relationship.
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Context | French Structure | Followed By | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard / Versatile | Et si... | Subject + Imperfect | Et si on partait ? |
| Casual / Enthusiastic | **Qu'est-ce que tu |
| Contexte | Structure française | Suivi par | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard / Polyvalent | Et si… | Sujet + Imparfait | Et si on allait au cinéma ?* |
| Offre polie | On pourrait… | Infinitif | *On pourrait vérifier les horaires ensemble. That said, * |
| Direct / Personnel | **Ça te dit… ? ** | Phrase | Pourquoi pas une visite guidée ? |
| Invite informelle | *Tu veux… ? | ||
| Suggestion avec alternative | À la place de… | Infinitif | À la place de manger dehors, on pourrait cuisiner à la maison. |
| Hypothétique / Spéculative | *Et si on… ? | ||
| Négociation douce | J’aimerais… | Infinitif | *J’aimerais qu'on reporte la réunion.Even so, ** |
| Formelle / Semi‑formelle | *Pourquoi pas… ? | ||
| Casual / Enthousiaste | **Qu'est-ce que tu dirais de… ?And ** (imparfait) | Sujet + Imparfait | *Et si on essayait une nouvelle recette ? Day to day, * |
| Question de clôture | **Qu’en penses‑tu ? ** | (pas de suite obligatoire) | *Qu’en penses‑tu de ce plan ? |
Conclusion
Maîtriser les différentes façons de formuler des suggestions en français va bien au-delà de l’ajout d’un nouveau vocabulaire ; il s’agit de choisir la tournure qui correspond exactement à l’ambiance, au niveau de politesse et à la dynamique relationnelle de chaque échange. Because of that, que vous optiez pour l’hypothétique *et si on… ? Consider this: *, la proposition douce on pourrait…, l’invite directe *tu veux… ? *, chaque structure vous donne le pouvoir d’orienter une conversation avec précision et courtoisie. *, ou la question polie *pourquoi pas… ?En gardant à l’esprit les registres appropriés et les temps grammaticaux (imparfait pour et si, infinitif après ça te dit, présent après qu'est-ce que tu dirais), vous éviterez les erreurs courantes et vous exprimerez vos idées avec naturel Turns out it matters..
