oui, je l'ai fait
The English phrase "yes, I did" is translated into French as oui, je l'ai fait.
This phrase is used as a response to confirm that a specific action was performed in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of oui (yes), je (I), l’ (it/him/her), ai (have) and fait (done).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the passé composé tense to express a completed action in the past.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the direct object pronoun l’ (it) by saying oui, j'ai fait instead of the correct oui, je l'ai fait.
Did you know?
- If someone asks you a negative question like 'You didn't do it?', you cannot use oui to answer 'yes, I did'. You must use the special word si to contradict the negative assumption.
- The word fait is a direct relative of the English word 'fact', as both derive from the Latin 'factum', meaning 'something done'.
- The pronoun je is a direct descendant of the Classical Latin word egō̆, which is the same ancestor that gave English the word 'egotistical'.
Examples in context
- Oui, je l'ai fait.Yes, I did it.
- Tout à fait ! Je l'ai terminé hier.Absolutely! I finished it yesterday.
- Ouais, je l'ai fait. On va s'éclater !Yeah, I did it. We're going to have a blast!
- Yep, je l'ai fait. C'est ton parfum préféré.Yep, I did it. It's your favorite flavor.
- Oui, je l'ai fait hier.Yes, I did it yesterday.
- Oui, je l'ai fait pour toi.Yes, I did it for you.
Example conversation
Lucas asks Emma if she finished the laundry.
- LucasEst-ce que tu as fait la lessive, Emma ?Did you do the laundry, Emma?
- EmmaOui, je l'ai fait ce matin.Yes, I did it this morning.
- LucasMerci beaucoup, c'est gentil.Thanks a lot, that's kind.
- EmmaDe rien, Lucas !You're welcome, Lucas!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fait, je, oui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
