tu as
In French, tu as is a way to say "did you".
This phrase is used to initiate a question regarding whether a person performed a specific action in the past.
How does it change in a sentence?
In more structured or standard French, you can introduce the question by placing the phrase Est-ce que before tu as, creating Est-ce que tu as, which literally translates to "is it that you have".
Did you know?
- Using tu as to address a stranger or a superior in France can be perceived as an aggressive act of 'tutoiement', essentially forcing an intimacy on them.
- The word as is a shortened descendant of the Latin verb 'habere', which means 'to have', meaning that when you ask 'did you' in French, you are literally asking 'have you'.
- In very casual spoken French, people often drop the tu entirely and simply start the question with as, provided the context makes it clear who they are talking to.
Examples in context
- Tu as pété ?Did you fart?This example shows how to use tu as to ask if someone farted.Tatoeba #11151441 by lbdx, translation #11146315 by DJ_Saidez
- Tu as vu ça ?Did you see that?This example shows how to use tu as to ask if someone saw something.Tatoeba #4271053 by mariezou, translation #1652316 by Spamster
- Tu as pu dormir ?Did you manage to sleep?This example shows how to use tu as to ask if someone managed to sleep.Tatoeba #7695149 by Maxence, translation #2554697 by CK
- As-tu pris le train aujourd'hui ?Did you take the train today?
- Avez-vous parlé avec le directeur ?Did you speak with the director?
- Est-ce que vous avez acheté des cadeaux ?Did you buy any gifts?
- Tu as visité Paris ?Did you visit Paris?
- As-tu mangé à la maison ?Did you eat at home?
- 265 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are talking in the kitchen after a party.
- HugoTu as fini ton verre ?Did you finish your drink?
- ChloéOui, c'était très bon.Yes, it was very good.
- HugoTu as passé une bonne soirée ?Did you have a good evening?
- ChloéOui, je me suis bien amusée.Yes, I had a lot of fun.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries as, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
