as-tu
The English phrase "do you have" is translated into French as as-tu.
This phrase is used to ask if someone possesses or owns something.
Which one should you use?
While as-tu is used with friends or family, avez-vous is the polite or formal version used with strangers or superiors. Another formal option is Possédez-vous, which uses the verb posséder.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form as-tu uses subject-verb inversion, which is a common way to form questions in French. The word tu is the singular, informal form of "you".
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget the hyphen required when inverting the verb and subject to form a question.
Did you know?
- The word avoir is used to express age, so instead of saying 'I am ten', a French speaker says j'ai dix ans, meaning 'I have ten years'.
- When asking if someone has a physical sensation like hunger or thirst, French uses the verb avoir (to have) instead of 'to be'.
- The phrase as-tu is a cousin of the English word 'have' through their shared Indo-European roots, but it shares a more direct ancestor with the Latin word habere.
Examples in context
- En as-tu un ?Do you have one?This example shows how to ask if someone has one of a specific object using as-tu.Tatoeba #474096 by sacredceltic, translation #16547 by CK
- As-tu un GSM ?Do you have a cellphone?This example shows how to ask if someone has a cellphone using as-tu.Tatoeba #541800 by sacredceltic, translation #535419 by CM
- As-tu du feu ?Do you have a light?This example shows how to ask if someone has a light using as-tu.Tatoeba #960072 by sacredceltic, translation #607944 by virgil
- Avez-vous un stylo?Do you have a pen?
- Avez-vous une réservation?Do you have a reservation?
- Avez-vous des informations sur les horaires de train?Do you have any information about train schedules?
- Possédez-vous une voiture?Do you have a car?
- Possédez-vous de l'expérience dans ce domaine?Do you have experience in this field?
- Tu as de l'argent?Do you have money?
- Tu as un téléphone portable?Do you have a cell phone?
- Tu as rendez-vous avec Marie?Do you have an appointment with Marie?
- T'as des problèmes?Do you have any problems?
- T'as un peu de temps libre?Do you have some free time?
- 491 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are getting ready to leave the house.
- ChloéLucas, as-tu les clés de la voiture ?Lucas, do you have the car keys?
- LucasNon, je ne les trouve pas.No, I can't find them.
- ChloéRegarde dans ton sac.Look in your bag.
- LucasAh, oui ! Je les ai.Ah, yes! I have them.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
