In a meeting, you often need to signal that you want to speak before you say your idea. This workshop gives you three short, polite phrases for that, plus a suggestion phrase you can use once you have the floor. You will read a short meeting exchange, choose the right reply, and then recall the phrases yourself. The goal is to help you take a turn smoothly without sounding abrupt.
Asking for the floor politely
Before you give an idea in a meeting, it helps to ask for permission to speak. Two useful questions let you do this. «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» asks whether you may add a point. «Puis-je faire une remarque ?» is a slightly more formal question that asks whether you may make a remark. A third phrase, «J'ai une suggestion.», is a statement that announces you have an idea to offer; it does not ask for permission, so use it once you already have the floor. All three are polite and short, so they fit naturally between other people's turns. Notice that «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» and «Puis-je faire une remarque ?» are questions, so your voice should rise at the end. «J'ai une suggestion.» is a statement, so your voice stays level. Practice saying each one slowly, then at a normal speed.
Making your suggestion
Once you have permission to speak, you can state your idea. «Je propose de commencer par le budget.» is a clear way to propose a first step: it names the action and the topic. In a real meeting, you would say this after someone invites you to continue. The phrase is direct but polite, and it works well when the group needs to decide where to begin. If you want to connect it to your request to speak, you can say «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» first, wait for a reply, and then say «Je propose de commencer par le budget.». This keeps the exchange orderly and gives the other person a chance to respond.
A short meeting exchange
Here is a short scene between two participants, A and B. A closes one topic and asks the group for ideas: «Nous avons terminé le premier point. Est-ce que quelqu'un a une suggestion ?». B responds by asking to add something: «Oui, est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?». A gives permission: «Bien sûr, je vous en prie.». B thanks A and states the idea: «Merci. J'ai une suggestion : je propose de commencer par le budget.». This sequence shows the normal order: a request for suggestions, a request to speak, permission, and then the suggestion itself. When you practice, keep that order. If you swap roles, you only change who reads A's lines and who reads B's lines; the order of the exchange stays the same.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
J'ai une suggestion.
I have a suggestion.
zhay ewn soo-zhes-TYON
Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?
Can I add something?
es-kuh zhuh puh ah-zhoo-TAY kel-kuh shoz
Puis-je faire une remarque ?
May I make a remark?
pweezh fair ewn ruh-MARK
Je propose de commencer par le budget.
I suggest starting with the budget.
zhuh pro-POZ duh ko-mahn-SAY par luh boo-ZHAY
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Nous avons terminé le premier point. Est-ce que quelqu'un a une suggestion ?
We have finished the first point. Does anyone have a suggestion?Oui, est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?
Yes, can I add something?Bien sûr, je vous en prie.
Of course, please go ahead.Merci. J'ai une suggestion : je propose de commencer par le budget.
Thank you. I have a suggestion: I suggest starting with the budget.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, allow, suggest
You are in a small meeting. One person has just finished a topic and asks the group for ideas. You want to add a suggestion about where to start. Read the lines in order with a partner, or play both roles yourself.
Your task: Read A's first line: «Nous avons terminé le premier point. Est-ce que quelqu'un a une suggestion ?». Then read B's request to speak: «Oui, est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?». Then read A's permission: «Bien sûr, je vous en prie.». Then read B's suggestion: «Merci. J'ai une suggestion : je propose de commencer par le budget.». After you finish, swap roles and read the same four lines again in the same order.
Choose the right reply
A participant has just asked the group for a suggestion. You want to speak next, but you are not sure which phrase fits. Read the situation and choose the best line.
Your task: The situation is: A has just said «Nous avons terminé le premier point. Est-ce que quelqu'un a une suggestion ?». You want to ask if you can add something. Which line do you say? Option 1: «J'ai une suggestion.». Option 2: «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?». Option 3: «Je propose de commencer par le budget.». Say your choice out loud, then say the line.
Recall the exchange with correct roles
Now test your memory. You will rebuild the short meeting exchange without looking at the lines. One person is A, who leads the meeting, and one person is B, who wants to add a suggestion. If you are alone, say both roles aloud.
Your task: A starts by closing the first point and asking for a suggestion. Say A's line from memory. Then B asks to add something. Say B's line. Then A gives permission. Say A's line. Then B thanks A and gives the suggestion. Say B's line. After you finish, swap roles and do it again in the same order.
Common questions
What is the difference between «J'ai une suggestion.», «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?», and «Puis-je faire une remarque ?»?
«J'ai une suggestion.» is a statement that announces you have a suggestion. «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» is a question that asks if you can add something. «Puis-je faire une remarque ?» is a more formal question that asks if you can make a remark. Use «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» or «Puis-je faire une remarque ?» when you want to ask for the floor, and use «J'ai une suggestion.» when you are ready to state your idea.
Can I use these phrases if I am not leading the meeting?
Yes. «Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» and «Puis-je faire une remarque ?» are polite ways for any participant to ask for the floor. «J'ai une suggestion.» and «Je propose de commencer par le budget.» are useful once you have permission to speak. In the short exchange, B uses «Oui, est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?» to ask and «Merci. J'ai une suggestion : je propose de commencer par le budget.» to suggest, while A uses «Bien sûr, je vous en prie.» to give permission.
Sources and further reading
- french: participate in meetingChecked September 2026
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