French Phrase
On peut te le peser.
Meaning
Literally, ‘We can weigh it for you.’ The speaker offers to weigh an object (le) on behalf of the listener (te). It’s a polite, helpful expression often heard in shops, post offices, or any place where items are weighed.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re offering to weigh a package, a piece of fruit, luggage, or any item for a customer or friend. It’s common in markets, postal services, or at a friend’s house when they need help with a scale.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onpeuttelepeser.
On (impersonal ‘we’)
‘On’ is the informal way to say ‘we’ or ‘one’ in spoken French; it triggers third‑person singular verb agreement.
Pouvoir (peut)
‘Peut’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘pouvoir’, meaning ‘can’ or ‘to be able to’.
Pronoun order (te le)
When a direct object pronoun (le, la, les) and an indirect object pronoun (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) appear together before an infinitive, the indirect pronoun comes first: te le.
Infinitive after modal verb
After a modal verb like ‘pouvoir’, the main verb stays in the infinitive (peser = ‘to weigh’).
🗨In Conversation
J’ai besoin de connaître le poids de ce colis.
I need to know the weight of this parcel.
On peut te le peser tout de suite.
We can weigh it for you right away.
✕Common Mistakes
On peut le te peser.
Indirect pronouns must come before direct pronouns; ‘le te’ is ungrammatical.
On peut te le pèse.
When using a modal verb, the infinitive stays unchanged; you cannot conjugate ‘peser’ here.
On peut te le pèse.
The verb after ‘peut’ must be in the infinitive, not the present tense.
↔Alternatives
Nous pouvons le peser pour toi.
We can weigh it for you.
Je peux le peser pour vous.
I can weigh it for you.
On le pèse pour vous.
We’ll weigh it for you.
Cultural Tip
In everyday French, ‘on’ replaces ‘nous’ in most spoken contexts, giving the sentence a casual tone. Remember that pronoun order before an infinitive is fixed: indirect pronouns (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) always precede direct pronouns (le, la, les). Mixing the order (e.g., *le te*) is a common error for learners.