French Phrase
On peut modifier la date de livraison ?
Meaning
This sentence politely asks whether it is possible to change the scheduled delivery date. It is a neutral, slightly informal way to request a modification, often used in emails, chats, or phone calls with a retailer or courier.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to adjust the delivery date of a product you ordered, whether you’re contacting customer service, a seller on a marketplace, or a logistics company. It works well in both written and spoken contexts, especially when you want to keep the tone courteous but not overly formal.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onpeutmodifierladatedelivraison?
On (impersonal pronoun)
‘On’ is used like ‘we’ or ‘one’ in French, especially in informal or neutral requests.
Pouvoir + infinitive
The verb ‘pouvoir’ (peut) is followed by an infinitive (modifier) to express ability or permission.
Verb‑subject agreement
‘Peut’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘pouvoir’, matching the singular subject ‘on’.
Noun phrase ‘la date de livraison’
A definite article ‘la’ + noun ‘date’ + prepositional complement ‘de livraison’ (delivery).
Question intonation
In spoken French, a rising intonation at the end signals a yes/no question; the written form can keep the question mark.
🗨In Conversation
On peut modifier la date de livraison ?
Can we change the delivery date?
Oui, bien sûr. Quelle date vous conviendrait ?
Yes, of course. Which date would suit you?
✕Common Mistakes
On peux modifier la date de livraison ?
‘Peux’ is the first‑person singular form; the subject is ‘on’, which requires ‘peut’.
On peut modifier la date de livraisons ?
‘Livraison’ is singular here; the phrase refers to a single delivery date.
On peut modifier la date du livraison ?
The correct preposition after ‘date’ is ‘de’, not ‘du’. ‘Du’ would mean ‘of the’ with a masculine noun.
↔Alternatives
Est‑il possible de changer la date de livraison ?
Is it possible to change the delivery date?
Serait‑il possible de reporter la date de livraison ?
Would it be possible to postpone the delivery date?
Pouvez‑vous modifier la date de livraison ?
Can you modify the delivery date?
Cultural Tip
In French business communication, using ‘on’ makes a request sound less direct and therefore more polite. If you need a more formal tone (e.g., in a formal email), replace ‘on’ with ‘nous’ or use the conditional: ‘Pourrions‑nous modifier…’. Also, remember to keep the tone courteous; adding ‘s’il vous plaît’ or ‘merci d’avance’ can soften the request further.