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French Phrase

Tu peux aller chercher mes enfants ?

/ty pø a.le ʃɛʁ.ʃe mɛz ɑ̃.fɑ̃/
Meaning"Can you go pick up my children?"
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Meaning

Literally, “You can go fetch my children?” It is a polite, informal request asking someone to pick up the speaker’s kids, usually from school, a playground, or another location.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you need a friend, neighbour, or family member to pick up your children for you. It works best in informal contexts; in formal or professional settings you would switch to the ‘vous’ form.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tupeuxallercherchermesenfants?

1

Subject pronoun (Tu)

‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or people you know well.

2

Modal verb pouvoir (peux)

‘Peux’ is the present‑tense form of ‘pouvoir’ (to be able to) for ‘tu’. It expresses ability or permission.

3

Infinitive complement after pouvoir

When a modal verb is used, the following verb stays in the infinitive: ‘peux aller’ (can go).

4

Verb + infinitive construction (aller chercher)

‘Aller chercher’ literally means ‘to go fetch’. The second infinitive (chercher) is the action you want the listener to perform.

5

Possessive adjective (mes)

‘Mes’ agrees with the plural noun ‘enfants’ and indicates that the children belong to the speaker.

6

Plural noun (enfants)

‘Enfants’ is a regular masculine plural noun; the article or possessive must also be plural.

🗨In Conversation

A

Tu peux aller chercher mes enfants ?

Can you go pick up my children?

Oui, bien sûr ! À quelle heure ils sortent ?

Yes, of course! What time do they get out?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tu peux aller chercher les enfants ?

    Using ‘les enfants’ loses the possessive meaning; you’re asking about any children, not specifically yours.

  • Tu peut aller chercher mes enfants ?

    ‘Peut’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘tu’ you need ‘peux’.

  • Tu peux chercher mes enfants ?

    Some learners drop the infinitive after ‘peux’, saying ‘Tu peux chercher mes enfants ?’, which changes the nuance to ‘Can you look for my children?’ rather than ‘go fetch them’.

↔Alternatives

  • Peux‑tu aller chercher mes enfants ?

    Can you go fetch my children?

  • Est‑ce que tu peux aller chercher mes enfants ?

    Could you go pick up my children?

  • Tu pourrais aller chercher mes enfants, s’il te plaît ?

    Could you go get my children, please?

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Cultural Tip

In French, the choice between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ signals the level of familiarity. With strangers, neighbours you don’t know well, or in a professional context, use the polite ‘vous’: ‘Vous pouvez aller chercher mes enfants ?’. Also, adding ‘s’il te plaît’ (please) makes the request softer and more courteous.