French Phrase
Ton examen de sciences, c'est quand ?
Meaning
This phrase is an informal way to ask about the date or time of someone's science exam. The structure "c'est quand ?" is a very common and natural way to ask "when is it?" in spoken French, often placed at the end of the sentence for emphasis or as an afterthought.
When to use
You would typically use this phrase when speaking to a friend, family member, or someone you know well, as the use of "ton" (your, informal) indicates familiarity. It's perfect for casual conversations about school schedules or upcoming events.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tonexamende sciences,c'est quand?
Ton (Possessive Adjective)
"Ton" is the informal singular possessive adjective for "your" when referring to a masculine singular noun (like "examen"). It's used when speaking to someone you address with "tu".
Examen de sciences (Noun Phrase)
"Examen" means exam. "De sciences" means "of sciences" or "science" acting as an adjective. This structure is common in French to specify the type or subject of a noun.
C'est quand ? (Interrogative Phrase)
This is a very common and informal way to ask "When is it?" in French. It literally translates to "It is when?" and is often placed at the end of a statement to form a question, especially in spoken language.
🗨In Conversation
Alors, tu révises beaucoup ?
So, are you studying a lot?
Oui, j'ai un gros examen bientôt. Ton examen de sciences, c'est quand ?
Yes, I have a big exam soon. Your science exam, when is it?
✕Common Mistakes
Quand est ton examen de sciences?
While grammatically correct, "Quand est ton examen de sciences?" is more formal and less common in everyday spoken French than the inverted or 'c'est quand' structure.
Votre examen de sciences, c'est quand?
Using "votre" (your, formal/plural) with this informal sentence structure creates a mismatch in register. "Ton" is appropriate for a casual question to one person.
Ton examen de sciences quand c'est?
The word order is incorrect here. "C'est quand?" functions as a fixed interrogative phrase, usually at the end or beginning of the sentence.
↔Alternatives
Quand est ton examen de sciences ?
When is your science exam?
C'est quand, ton examen de sciences ?
When is it, your science exam?
À quelle date est ton examen de sciences ?
On what date is your science exam?
Cultural Tip
French, especially in informal spoken contexts, often uses a more direct, declarative sentence structure followed by a question word, or the "c'est quand/qui/quoi" construction. This avoids the more formal subject-verb inversion common in written or very formal French. Using "c'est quand ?" at the end of a statement is very natural and common among friends and family.