j'ai commandé
j'ai commandé is the French way to say "I ordered".
The phrase is used to say that you requested a product or a meal to be delivered or prepared.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), the auxiliary verb ai (have) and the past participle commandé (ordered).
How does it change in a sentence?
j'ai commandé uses the passé composé tense, which is the standard way to express a completed action in the past in spoken French. It can be translated as "I ordered" or "I have ordered".
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use the imperfect je commandais (I was ordering/used to order) when they actually mean to state a specific completed action like 'I ordered'.
Did you know?
- The word commander is a linguistic 'double agent' that functions in both a kitchen and a battlefield. You can use it to order a simple coffee or to issue high-level military commands to a troop.
- While English speakers say 'I ordered', French speakers often use the verb prendre, meaning 'to take', when placing an order at a table, such as in Je vais prendre…
- Using commander in a poetic context, such as commander un désir, implies dictating or controlling one's own emotions.
Examples in context
- J'ai commandé à manger.I ordered some food.This sentence shows how to use j'ai commandé to talk about ordering food.Tatoeba #11167000 by lbdx, translation #5936317 by CK
- J'ai commandé une pizza.I ordered a pizza.This sentence shows how to use j'ai commandé to talk about ordering a pizza.Tatoeba #7696467 by Maxence, translation #2389578 by CK
- J'ai commandé une bière.I ordered a beer.This sentence shows how to use j'ai commandé to talk about ordering a beer.Tatoeba #11724518 by Aiji, translation #5856436 by CK
- J'ai commandé le plat du jour.I ordered the daily special.
- Je viens de passer commande pour les billets de train.I have just placed an order for train tickets.
- J'ai commandé deux pizzas pour ce soir.I ordered two pizzas for tonight.
- J'ai passé commande pour les derniers livres à la librairie.I ordered the latest books at the bookstore.
- J'ai commandé des frites à la friterie.I ordered fries at the friterie.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are talking at home about a recent delivery.
- GabrielJ'ai commandé un colis pour toi.I ordered a package for you.
- ChloéC'est gentil, Gabriel, merci beaucoup !That's kind, Gabriel, thank you very much!
- GabrielIl arrive demain.It is arriving tomorrow.
- ChloéSuper, j'ai hâte de le voir.Great, I can't wait to see it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
