French Phrase
On peut le finir vite.
Meaning
Literally, ‘One can finish it quickly.’ In everyday speech it usually means ‘We can finish it quickly.’ The sentence expresses that the speaker believes the task is doable in a short time.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to reassure someone that a task, project, or piece of work can be completed in a short amount of time. It’s common in informal conversations among friends, colleagues, or classmates.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onpeutlefinirvite
On (impersonal pronoun)
Used in spoken French to mean 'we', 'one', or 'people in general' and is less formal than 'nous'.
peut (pouvoir)
Third‑person singular present of pouvoir, expressing ability or possibility.
le (direct object pronoun)
Replaces a masculine singular noun that has already been mentioned.
finir (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb ‘to finish’; after pouvoir it stays in the infinitive.
vite (adverb)
An informal adverb meaning ‘quickly’; can be replaced by ‘rapidement’ for a more formal tone.
🗨In Conversation
On peut le finir vite, si on se met au travail.
We can finish it quickly if we get to work.
D'accord, commençons tout de suite.
Alright, let's start right away.
✕Common Mistakes
On peut finir le vite.
The pronoun must precede the infinitive after ‘pouvoir’; ‘finir le’ is incorrect.
On peut le finir rapidement.
In formal contexts ‘rapidement’ is preferred; using ‘vite’ in a formal email may sound too casual.
↔Alternatives
Nous pouvons le terminer rapidement.
We can finish it quickly.
On peut le boucler rapidement.
We can wrap it up quickly.
C’est possible de le finir rapidement.
It’s possible to finish it quickly.
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘on’ replaces ‘nous’ in most spoken contexts, making the sentence sound natural and informal. ‘Vite’ is a colloquial adverb; in formal writing you’d prefer ‘rapidement’. Also, remember that the direct object pronoun ‘le’ must agree in gender and number with the noun it replaces.