In this workshop you will practice asking for a small favor in French and responding when someone asks you. You will use informal and formal ways to ask, learn what each line means in English, and then use the recorded lines in three short speaking tasks. The focus is on polite requests and simple replies, so you can sound natural with friends and respectful with people you do not know well.
Informal and Formal Ways to Ask a Favor
French has two common ways to ask someone to do you a favor. With a friend, family member, or classmate, you can use the informal form. «Tu peux me rendre un service ?» means 'Can you do me a favor?' and uses 'tu', the informal word for 'you'. With a stranger, an older person, or someone in a professional setting, use the formal form. «Pourriez-vous me rendre un service ?» means 'Could you do me a favor?' and uses 'vous', the formal or plural word for 'you'. The formal line uses the conditional 'pourriez' to make the request softer and more polite. Listen to the recorded lines and repeat each line slowly before moving on.
Borrowing Notes Politely
When you want to borrow something like class notes, you can use a question with 'Est-ce que'. The informal version is «Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes ?», which means 'Can I borrow your notes?' Here 'tes' is the informal word for 'your' before a plural noun. The formal version is «Est-ce que je pourrais emprunter vos notes ?», which means 'Could I borrow your notes?' Here 'vos' is the formal word for 'your', and the conditional 'pourrais' makes the request softer and more polite. Notice that both questions start with 'Est-ce que je peux' or 'Est-ce que je pourrais', a simple way to ask permission.
A Short Exchange Between Two People
The next recorded lines show a short conversation. Speaker A says «Salut, tu peux me rendre un service ?», which means 'Hi, can you do me a favor?' Speaker B answers with «Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?», meaning 'Yes, of course. What do you want?' Then Speaker A asks «Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes de cours ?», 'Can I borrow your class notes?' Speaker B replies with «Pas de problème, je te les prête.», 'No problem, I'll lend them to you.' This exchange uses informal 'tu' forms. As you listen, notice how the request is made and how the other person agrees.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Tu peux me rendre un service ?
Can you do me a favor? (informal)
tew puh muh rahn-druh uhn sair-veess
Pourriez-vous me rendre un service ?
Could you do me a favor? (formal)
poo-ree-ay voo muh rahn-druh uhn sair-veess
Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes ?
Can I borrow your notes? (informal)
ess-kuh zhuh puh ahn-prun-tay tay nut
Est-ce que je pourrais emprunter vos notes ?
Could I borrow your notes? (formal)
ess-kuh zhuh poo-ray ahn-prun-tay vo nut
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Salut, tu peux me rendre un service ?
Hi, can you do me a favor?Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?
Yes, of course. What do you want?Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes de cours ?
Can I borrow your class notes?Pas de problème, je te les prête.
No problem, I'll lend them to you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Respond
Imagine you are talking to a classmate you know well. You want to ask for a favor and then borrow their notes. You will play both roles using the recorded lines.
Your task: First, play the role of Speaker A. Say the line from «Salut, tu peux me rendre un service ?» to ask for a favor. Then play the role of Speaker B and respond with «Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?». Next, as Speaker A, ask to borrow notes using «Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes de cours ?». Finally, as Speaker B, agree using «Pas de problème, je te les prête.». Repeat the whole exchange twice, trying to match the recorded lines.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Response
You will hear a request and choose the best reply from two options. This checks if you understand the meaning of the lines.
Your task: Listen to «Salut, tu peux me rendre un service ?». Then choose the correct reply: (a) «Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?» or (b) «Pas de problème, je te les prête.». Say your chosen reply out loud. Next, listen to «Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes de cours ?». Choose the correct reply: (a) «Pas de problème, je te les prête.» or (b) «Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?». Say your chosen reply out loud. Finally, listen to «Tu peux me rendre un service ?» and decide if it is informal or formal, then say which form you would use with a teacher.
Recall and Role Swap: Formal and Informal
Now you will recall the lines from memory and practice switching between informal and formal roles. Imagine two situations: one with a friend and one with a teacher.
Your task: First, with a friend, say the informal request for a favor from memory. Then say the informal request to borrow notes. Next, with a teacher, say the formal request for a favor from memory. Then say the formal request to borrow notes. Finally, play both roles in the short exchange: say «Salut, tu peux me rendre un service ?», then «Oui, bien sûr. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?», then «Est-ce que je peux emprunter tes notes de cours ?», then «Pas de problème, je te les prête.», without looking at the text.
Common questions
When should I use the informal form and when should I use the formal form?
Use the informal form with friends, family, and people your own age you know well. Use the formal form with strangers, older people, teachers, and in professional situations. If you are not sure, use 'vous' with strangers, teachers, or anyone older.
What is the difference between 'tu peux me rendre un service' and 'pourriez-vous me rendre un service'?
Both mean 'Can you do me a favor?' but the first is informal and uses 'tu', while the second is formal and uses 'vous'. The formal version also uses 'pourriez', the conditional form used for politeness. Choose based on who you are talking to.
What is the difference between 'emprunter' and 'prêter'?
'Emprunter' means 'to borrow' (to take something temporarily), while 'prêter' means 'to lend' (to give something temporarily). For example, 'J'emprunte un livre' means 'I borrow a book', while 'Je prête un livre' means 'I lend a book'.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for favorChecked September 2026
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