French Phrase
Tu peux me donner une fourchette propre ?
Meaning
A polite, informal request asking someone to hand over a fork that is clean. It is commonly used in a dining setting when you need a utensil that hasn’t been used yet or has been washed.
When to use
Use this sentence in a casual restaurant, at a friend's house, or any informal setting where you address the other person with ‘tu’. For a more formal situation, switch to ‘vous’ and add ‘s’il vous plaît’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmedonnerunefourchettepropre?
Pouvoir (peux)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd person singular present of pouvoir, used to ask for permission or ability.
Pronoun ‘me’
‘Me’ is the indirect object pronoun placed before the infinitive after a modal verb.
Infinitive after modal
When a modal verb (pouvoir, vouloir, devoir…) is used, the main verb stays in the infinitive (donner).
Indefinite article with feminine noun
‘Une’ agrees with the feminine noun ‘fourchette’.
Adjective placement – ‘propre’
The adjective ‘propre’ normally follows the noun it describes (fourchette propre).
Informal question intonation
In spoken French, a simple rising intonation after the statement makes it a question; no need for ‘est‑ce que’.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me donner une fourchette propre ?
Can you give me a clean fork?
Bien sûr, la voici.
Sure, here it is.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux donner moi une fourchette propre ?
The indirect object pronoun must precede the infinitive after a modal verb.
Tu peux me donner une propre fourchette ?
‘Propre’ follows the noun in this construction.
Tu peux me donne une fourchette propre ?
After ‘peux’, the verb stays in the infinitive (donner), not the conjugated form.
Tu peux me donner une fourchette propre.
Missing the question mark or rising intonation makes it a statement, not a request.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu peux me passer une fourchette propre ?
Can you pass me a clean fork?
Pourrais‑tu me donner une fourchette propre ?
Could you give me a clean fork?
J'aimerais une fourchette propre, s'il te plaît.
I would like a clean fork, please.
Cultural Tip
In French dining etiquette, it’s normal to ask for clean utensils, but the request is usually softened with ‘s’il te plaît’ or ‘s’il vous plaît’ in more formal contexts. Using ‘tu’ signals familiarity; if you’re speaking to a waiter, switch to ‘vous’ to stay polite.