French Phrase
Tu peux me donner un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Meaning
This sentence is a polite request for a little more water. It combines a simple ability question (peux‑tu) with the set phrase ‘s’il te plaît’ to soften the request and show courtesy.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal contexts – at a café, a restaurant, or at a friend’s house – when you want a refill of water. Switch to ‘s’il vous plaît’ if you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a more formal setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmedonnerunpeuplusd'eaus'ilteplaît?
Pouvoir (peux)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd person singular present of the modal verb ‘pouvoir’, used to ask if someone is able to do something.
Pronoms objets indirects (me)
‘Me’ is the indirect object pronoun meaning ‘to me’, placed before the infinitive ‘donner’.
Infinitif après pouvoir (donner)
When ‘pouvoir’ is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive.
Quantité (un peu plus)
‘Un peu plus’ means ‘a little more’, a common way to ask for a small additional amount.
Élision (d'eau)
‘De’ + ‘eau’ becomes ‘d’eau’ with an apostrophe to avoid a vowel clash.
Formule de politesse (s'il te plaît)
‘S’il te plaît’ literally means ‘if it pleases you’ and is the informal way to say ‘please’. Use ‘s’il vous plaît’ for formal situations.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me donner un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Can you give me a little more water, please?
Bien sûr, je t'en apporte tout de suite.
Sure, I’ll bring it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux me donner un peu plus d'eau, s'il vous plaît ?
Mixing the informal ‘tu’ with the formal ‘vous’ creates a register mismatch.
Tu peux donner moi un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
When the verb follows ‘pouvoir’, the infinitive stays unchanged; the object pronoun must precede the infinitive.
Tu peux me donner plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Leaving out ‘un peu’ changes the nuance; it sounds like you want a lot more water, not just a little.
↔Alternatives
Pourrais‑tu me donner un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Could you give me a little more water, please?
Est‑ce que tu peux me donner un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Could you give me a little more water, please?
Tu pourrais me verser un peu plus d'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Could you pour me a little more water, please?
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries, water is often served in a carafe that you can refill yourself. Saying ‘s’il te plaît’ (or ‘s’il vous plaît’ in formal contexts) is essential to keep the request courteous. Avoid mixing the informal ‘tu’ with the formal ‘vous’ – the politeness level should match the pronoun you use.