je me demandais
In French, "I was wondering" is expressed as je me demandais.
The phrase is a polite way to introduce a request or a question. For example, when you want to ask if something is possible, you can use the phrase je me demandais si, which translates to "I was wondering if".
What does it mean word for word?
The expression je me demandais is a reflexive construction that literally means "I was asking myself".
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between using the present and the imperfect tense. Use je me demande (present tense) for a direct statement of your current curiosity. Use je me demandais (imperfect tense) to make a request or a question sound more indirect and polite.
How does it change in a sentence?
While English uses the past continuous ("I was wondering") to soften a request, the French equivalent je me demandais uses the imperfect tense to achieve the same effect of politeness and indirectness.
Did you know?
- The reflexive nature of je me demandais means that if you were to use it without the 'me', the meaning of the verb 'demander' would shift from 'to wonder' to 'to ask' someone else a question.
- The use of the imperfect tense in je me demandais creates a psychological distance that allows the listener to refuse a request more easily without feeling rude.
- While je me demandais is polite, using it to ask for a favor from a close friend or family member can sometimes feel overly formal or stiff.
Examples in context
- Je me demandais où tu étais.I was wondering where you were.This sentence shows the use of je me demandais to ask about someone's location.Tatoeba #11905204 by Rovo, translation #11904946 by CK
- Je me demandais la même chose.I was wondering the same thing.This sentence uses je me demandais to express shared curiosity.Tatoeba #5912819 by Aiji, translation #2542033 by CK
- Je me demandais ce que c’était.I was wondering what that was.This sentence uses je me demandais to ask for clarification about something.Tatoeba #10712503 by sacredceltic, translation #2542596 by CK
- Excusez-moi, je me demandais si vous aviez un moment pour m'aider.Excuse me, I was wondering if you had a moment to help me.
- Puis-je vous poser une question ? Je me demandais où se trouve la gare.May I ask you a question? I was wondering where the train station is.
- Dis, je me demandais si tu pouvais me prêter ton stylo.Hey, I was wondering if you could lend me your pen.
- Tu sais quoi ? Je me demandais si tu voulais sortir ce soir.You know what? I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight.
- J'me demandais si on pourrait se retrouver demain.I was wondering if we could meet up tomorrow.
- 60 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé is asking her colleague Lucas for a favor at the office.
- ChloéLucas, je me demandais si tu avais un moment.Lucas, I was wondering if you had a moment.
- LucasOui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?Yes, of course. What is it?
- ChloéPourrais-tu relire ce rapport pour moi ?Could you reread this report for me?
- LucasPas de problème, je m'en occupe.No problem, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
