Which one should you use?
The choice of phrase depends on how formal you wish to be. The default form pouvons-nous commander is formal, while the version on peut commander is a more common and informal way to ask this in a casual restaurant or cafe. You may also use the standard form Est-ce qu'on peut commander ? which is a very common way to ask a question in spoken French.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal options include pouvons-nous commander, Pouvons-nous passer commande, s'il vous plaît?, Pourrions-nous commander, s'il vous plaît? and Serait-il possible de prendre notre commande, s'il vous plaît? For informal situations, you can use On peut commander?, Est-ce qu'on peut passer commande? or Vous permettez qu'on commande?
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form pouvons-nous commander uses inversion, which places the verb before the subject. This is the most formal way to structure a question in French. Alternatively, using Est-ce que at the beginning of a sentence is a standard way to turn a statement into a question in spoken French.
Did you know?
- In many French-speaking cultures, rather than asking pouvons-nous commander, it is often more polite to catch the server's eye and simply say S'il vous plaît to signal you are ready.
- The French word commander shares a root with the English word 'command'. Both derive from the Latin commendō, which originally meant to entrust or commit something to someone.
- In France, the word commander is also used to describe the process of 'ordering' a custom-made piece of clothing or furniture, moving beyond just food and drinks.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, pouvons-nous passer commande, s'il vous plaît?Excuse me, can we place an order, please?
- Bonjour, pourrions-nous commander, s'il vous plaît?Hello, could we order, please?
- Excusez-moi, serait-il possible de prendre notre commande, s'il vous plaît?Excuse me, would it be possible to take our order, please?
- Salut, on peut commander?Hi, can we order?
- Coucou, est-ce qu'on peut passer commande?Hey, can we place an order?
- Pouvons-nous commander maintenant ?Can we order now?
- Monsieur, pouvons-nous commander les boissons ?Sir, can we order the drinks?
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are sitting at a restaurant table.
- LucasExcusez-moi, pouvons-nous commander ?Excuse me, can we order?
- EmmaOui, bien sûr. Vous avez choisi ?Yes, of course. Have you chosen?
- LucasOui, Emma veut le poulet.Yes, Emma wants the chicken.
- EmmaC'est noté, je vous apporte ça.Noted, I'll bring that to you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries commander, CC BY-SA 4.0.
