French Phrase
Tu utilises cette machine ?
Meaning
Literally, “Do you use this machine?” It is an informal way to ask someone whether they are currently using, or habitually use, a particular piece of equipment.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are speaking to a peer, a colleague you know well, or a friend in a casual setting—e.g., in a workshop, a kitchen, or a gym—when you need to know who is operating a specific device.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuutilisescettemachine?
Subject pronoun "Tu"
"Tu" is the informal singular second‑person pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
Verb conjugation – "utiliser" (present)
In the present tense, "utiliser" is conjugated as: j’utilise, tu utilises, il/elle utilise, nous utilisons, vous utilisez, ils/elles utilisent.
Demonstrative adjective "cette"
"Cette" agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here it is feminine singular to match "machine".
Forming yes‑no questions
In spoken French, a simple rising intonation after the statement (as shown) turns it into a question; written French can also use "Est‑ce que" or inversion.
🗨In Conversation
Tu utilises cette machine ?
Do you use this machine?
Oui, je l’utilise pour préparer les sauces. Et toi, tu en as besoin ?
Yes, I use it to make sauces. And you, do you need it?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu utilise cette machine ?
The verb must agree with the subject "tu"; the correct form is "utilises" with an -s.
Tu utilises ce machine ?
If the noun is masculine, you would use "ce" instead of "cette".
Tu utilises cette machine
In written French, a question needs a question mark or an inversion; without the mark it reads as a statement.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu utilises cette machine ?
Do you use this machine?
Tu te sers de cette machine ?
Do you make use of this machine?
Utilises‑tu cette machine ?
Do you use this machine?
Cultural Tip
French distinguishes between the informal "tu" and the formal "vous". In a professional environment or when speaking to someone you don’t know well, replace "Tu" with "Vous" ("Vous utilisez cette machine ?"). Also, native speakers often prefer "se servir de" for “to use” when the object is a tool, so "Tu te sers de cette machine ?" sounds very natural.