je peux y aller
In French, "can I go" is expressed as je peux y aller.
This phrase is used to request permission to leave a place or go to a specific destination.
Which one should you use?
You can also use Est-ce que je peux y aller ? for a more casual tone or Puis-je y aller ? for a more polite, formal tone. If your intention is specifically to ask if you may leave a place rather than go somewhere, you might use Pourrais-je partir ? or the informal Je peux partir ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal contexts, the subject and verb are inverted to form a question, using 'Puis-je' instead of 'Je peux'.
Did you know?
- The formal version Puis-je uses a unique form of the verb pouvoir that cannot be used in any other declarative sentence.
- In the phrase je peux y aller, the word y is essentially a linguistic fossil of the Latin word 'hīc', meaning 'here'.
- In certain regions, such as Quebec, y can be a spoken contraction for il or ils, which changes the meaning of the sentence entirely.
Examples in context
- Je peux y aller ?Can I go?This sentence is useful for asking the basic question "Can I go?" using je peux y aller.Tatoeba #11721059 by Aiji, translation #5825527 by CK
- Je peux y aller maintenant ?Can I go in there now?This sentence is useful for asking if you can go in a specific place now using je peux y aller.Tatoeba #11778355 by lbdx, translation #3327783 by CK
- Est-ce que je peux y aller aussi ?Can I go, too?This sentence is useful for asking if you can also go somewhere using je peux y aller.Tatoeba #8401550 by Aiji, translation #3172314 by CK
- Est-ce que je peux y aller maintenant ?Can I go there now?
- Je peux partir ou est-ce qu'il faut que j'attende ?Can I leave, or should I wait?
Example conversation
Nathan is asking his colleague Léa for permission to go to a meeting.
- NathanLéa, est-ce que je peux y aller ?Léa, can I go?
- LéaOui, tu peux y aller maintenant.Yes, you can go now.
- NathanMerci, je reviens bientôt.Thanks, I will be back soon.
- LéaD'accord, à tout à l'heure.Okay, see you later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aller, je, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
