French Phrase
Tu peux dépoussiérer les étagères ?
Meaning
A polite, informal request asking someone if they are able to dust the shelves. The question mark softens the request, making it sound friendly rather than demanding.
When to use
Use this sentence at home or in a casual setting with people you address with ‘tu’. It works well when you need a quick favor, such as before guests arrive or during a cleaning routine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxdépoussiérerlesétagères?
Tu (pronoun)
Informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
peux (pouvoir)
Present‑tense form of the modal verb pouvoir for ‘you can’; agrees with the subject tu.
dépoussiérer (verb)
Regular –er verb meaning ‘to dust’; infinitive follows the modal verb without “to”.
les (definite article)
Plural definite article that matches the noun étagères.
étagères (noun)
Feminine plural noun meaning ‘shelves’; takes the article les.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux dépoussiérer les étagères ?
Can you dust the shelves?
Oui, je m’en occupe tout de suite.
Sure, I’ll take care of it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peut dépoussiérer les étagères ?
‘Peut’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘tu’ you must use ‘peux’.
Tu peux dépoussiérer étagères ?
The noun needs the definite article ‘les’ in this construction.
Tu peux dépoussiér les étagères ?
The infinitive ends with –er; dropping the final ‘er’ makes the verb incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Peux‑tu dépoussiérer les étagères ?
Can you dust the shelves?
Est‑ce que tu peux dépoussiérer les étagères ?
Could you dust the shelves?
Tu pourrais dépoussiérer les étagères, s’il te plaît ?
Could you dust the shelves, please?
Cultural Tip
In French households, chores are often delegated using the informal ‘tu’ form, especially among family members or close friends. Adding “s’il te plaît” (please) makes the request even more courteous, while the simple question‑mark already conveys politeness. Remember that “dépoussiérer” is a slightly more formal verb than the everyday “épousseter”.