French Phrase
Tu peux y aller.
Meaning
Literally ‘You can go there.’ The sentence conveys that the listener has the ability or permission to go to a place that has already been mentioned.
When to use
Use this informal phrase when you want to give someone permission, confirm that they are able to go somewhere, or suggest that they head to a location already discussed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxyaller.
Subject pronoun (Tu)
‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family or peers.
Modal verb pouvoir (peux)
‘Peux’ is the present‑tense form of ‘pouvoir’ (to be able to) for ‘tu’. It is followed by an infinitive.
Adverbial pronoun ‘y’
‘Y’ replaces a previously mentioned place or direction, avoiding repetition of the noun.
Infinitive after pouvoir (aller)
When a modal verb is used, the main action stays in the infinitive; here ‘aller’ means ‘to go’.
🗨In Conversation
Je veux visiter le musée, mais je ne sais pas si c’est ouvert aujourd’hui.
I want to visit the museum, but I don’t know if it’s open today.
Tu peux y aller, il ouvre à 10 h.
You can go there, it opens at 10 a.m.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux aller.
Missing the pronoun ‘y’; the sentence becomes vague.
Tu peux à aller.
‘À’ is not used after ‘pouvoir’; the infinitive follows directly.
Tu peux y vas.
After ‘pouvoir’, the main verb must stay infinitive, not conjugated.
↔Alternatives
Tu as le droit d'y aller.
You have the right to go there.
Tu peux te rendre là‑bas.
You can get there.
Tu peux y aller si tu veux.
You can go there if you want.
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘tu’ signals familiarity; always make sure the relationship allows the informal register. The pronoun ‘y’ is very common in everyday speech to replace a location introduced earlier, so mastering it helps you sound natural. Also, remember that after ‘pouvoir’, the following verb never changes its form – it stays in the infinitive.