French Phrase
Tu peux le nettoyer vers 14h ?
Meaning
The speaker is asking the listener if they are able to clean a specific item (referred to by ‘le’) at approximately 2 p.m. The question is informal and uses the familiar ‘tu’. The word ‘vers’ signals that the exact time is flexible.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need a friend, colleague, or family member to take care of cleaning something and you want to suggest a rough time. It works well in casual settings, such as at home, in a shared office, or when coordinating chores.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxlenettoyervers14h?
Peux (pouvoir)
‘Peux’ is the second‑person singular present of the modal verb ‘pouvoir’, used to ask for ability or permission.
Le (direct object pronoun)
‘Le’ replaces a masculine singular noun that is the object of the verb ‘nettoyer’.
Infinitive after modal verb
When ‘pouvoir’ is used, it is followed by an infinitive verb (here ‘nettoyer’).
Vers (preposition of time)
‘Vers’ means ‘around, about’ and is used with a time expression to indicate an approximate hour.
14h (time notation)
In French the 24‑hour clock is common in written and spoken contexts; ‘14h’ equals 2 p.m.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux le nettoyer vers 14h ?
Can you clean it around 2 p.m.?
Oui, pas de problème, je m'en occupe à 14h15.
Sure, no problem, I’ll take care of it at 2:15 p.m.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peut le nettoyer vers 14h ?
‘Peut’ is the third‑person form; with ‘tu’ you need ‘peux’.
Tu peux le nettoyer vers 14h ? (when referring to ‘la table’)
If the object is feminine, you must use ‘la’ instead of ‘le’.
Tu peux le nettoyer à 14h ?
‘Vers’ cannot be replaced by ‘à’ when you want an approximate time; ‘à 14h’ means exactly 2 p.m.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu peux le nettoyer vers 14h ?
Could you clean it around 2 p.m.?
Tu pourrais le nettoyer aux alentours de 14h ?
You could clean it around 2 p.m.?
Peux‑tu le nettoyer vers 14h ?
Can you clean it around 2 p.m.?
Cultural Tip
In France, the 24‑hour clock is the norm for written schedules, but in spoken language people often say ‘deux heures de l’après‑midi’ or simply ‘deux heures’. Using ‘vers’ shows politeness by leaving a small margin for the other person’s availability. In a professional setting, you might replace ‘tu’ with ‘vous’ for a more formal tone.