French Phrase
On commence par…
Meaning
The phrase means “We start with…” or “One begins by…”. It is used to introduce the first step in a list, a procedure, or a presentation, signalling that what follows is the initial action.
When to use
Use it when giving instructions, explaining a process, or structuring a talk. It works in both spoken and written French, though in very formal writing "Nous commençons par…" may be preferred.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oncommencepar
On (indefinite pronoun)
"On" is used like "we" in everyday French, even when referring to a specific group; it’s less formal than "nous".
Commencer (present tense)
"Commencer" is conjugated as "commence" for third‑person singular (il/elle/on) in the present indicative.
Par (preposition)
"Par" follows "commencer" to indicate the first element of a sequence; it means "by" or "with".
🗨In Conversation
On commence par préparer les ingrédients.
We start by preparing the ingredients.
Très bien, puis on passe à la cuisson.
Great, then we move on to cooking.
✕Common Mistakes
On commence avec les ingrédients.
The verb "commencer" pairs with "par" for "to start with", not "avec".
On commence à les ingrédients.
"Commencer à" is used when followed by another verb (e.g., "commencer à parler"), not a noun.
Nous commence par...
The verb must agree with the subject; it should be "nous commençons".
↔Alternatives
Nous commençons par…
We start with…
D'abord, on…
First, we…
Premièrement, on…
Firstly, we…
Cultural Tip
In everyday French, "on" replaces "nous" in most spoken contexts, making sentences sound more natural and less formal. However, in academic or official documents, "nous" is still the standard choice. Also, avoid mixing "commencer" with "à"; the correct preposition is "par" when you mean "to start with".