French Phrase
Tu vends du scotch pour emballer ?
Meaning
Literally: ‘Do you sell scotch for wrapping?’ It is a casual way to ask a shopkeeper or a friend whether they have adhesive tape that can be used to wrap items.
When to use
Use this sentence in a shop, market stall, or when you’re helping someone pack a gift and need to know if tape is available. The informal ‘tu’ makes it suitable for familiar settings or small independent stores.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuvendsduscotchpouremballer
Tu (subject pronoun)
Informal second‑person singular pronoun used in familiar contexts.
vends (present of vendre)
Present‑tense conjugation of the verb ‘vendre’ (to sell) for ‘tu’. The –s ending marks the 2nd‑person singular.
du (partitive article)
‘du’ = de + le, used before uncountable nouns or mass nouns like ‘scotch’.
scotch (noun)
In French, ‘scotch’ is a generic name for adhesive tape, borrowed from the brand name.
pour + infinitive
The preposition ‘pour’ followed by an infinitive expresses purpose: ‘for wrapping’.
emballer (infinitive)
Verb meaning ‘to wrap, to pack’. Here it functions as the purpose of the tape.
🗨In Conversation
Tu vends du scotch pour emballer ?
Do you sell scotch for wrapping?
Oui, il y en a un rouleau à deux euros.
Yes, there’s a roll for two euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu vend du scotch pour emballer ?
The verb must agree with the subject ‘tu’; the correct form is ‘vends’ with an –s.
Tu vends le scotch pour emballer ?
‘Scotch’ is treated as a mass noun here, so the partitive ‘du’ is required, not the definite article ‘le’.
Tu vends du scotch pour à emballer ?
The preposition ‘pour’ already introduces the infinitive; adding ‘à’ is redundant.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que vous vendez du scotch pour emballer ?
Do you sell scotch for wrapping?
Vendez‑vous du scotch pour emballer ?
Do you sell scotch for wrapping?
Avez‑vous du scotch à emballer ?
Do you have scotch for wrapping?
Cultural Tip
In France ‘scotch’ is commonly used to refer to any adhesive tape, even though it is originally a brand name. Be aware that ‘scotch’ can also mean the whisky, so context matters. In a formal shop you might switch to the more polite ‘vous’ and say ‘Est‑ce que vous vendez du scotch ?’