French Phrase
J'aimerais commencer par...
Meaning
Literally “I would like to start with…”, this phrase is a courteous way to introduce the first point of a discussion, presentation, or written text. It signals that the speaker is about to outline a plan or give a sequence of ideas.
When to use
Use it in formal or semi‑formal settings—meetings, classroom discussions, essays, or any situation where you want to sound polite and organized. It works well when you are the one leading the conversation or when you need to propose a starting point.
✦Grammar Breakdown
J'aimeraiscommencerpar...
Conditional of aimer
J'aimerais is the conditional form of aimer, used to express a polite desire or wish.
Infinitive after aimer
When aimer is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (commencer).
Preposition par
Par introduces the element you want to start with; it means “by” or “with” in this context.
🗨In Conversation
J'aimerais commencer par présenter les résultats du trimestre.
I would like to start by presenting the quarter’s results.
Très bien, allons-y.
Very well, let’s go ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Je veux commencer par parler de nos objectifs.
Je veux is too direct for polite contexts; use the conditional J'aimerais or Je voudrais.
J'aimerais commencer de parler de nos objectifs.
The correct preposition after commencer is par, not de.
J'aimerais commencer à parler de nos objectifs.
Use par to introduce the element you start with; à would imply starting to do something, not introducing a topic.
↔Alternatives
Je voudrais commencer par...
I would like to start with...
Commençons par...
Let's start with...
Je souhaite débuter par...
I wish to begin with...
Cultural Tip
In French, the conditional mood is a key politeness marker. Using J'aimerais sounds more courteous than the direct Je veux. In formal contexts, you’ll also hear the subjunctive after certain expressions, but here the infinitive is required. Avoid mixing up par with de, which would change the meaning (e.g., commencer de… is incorrect).