French Phrase
Je commence mon service tôt.
Meaning
This phrase is used to communicate that your professional duty or work shift begins at an early hour. It combines the verb 'commencer' (to start) with 'service', which specifically refers to a scheduled period of work, often used in hospitality, healthcare, or public services.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing your work schedule with colleagues, friends, or family. It is particularly useful for explaining why you cannot attend an evening event or why you need to go to bed early.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jecommencemonservicetôt
Commencer
This is a regular -er verb. In the first person singular present tense, it ends in -e.
Mon service
'Service' is a masculine noun, so it takes the possessive adjective 'mon' (my).
Tôt
This adverb means 'early' and is typically placed after the verb or the object it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Tu es libre pour un petit-déjeuner demain ?
Are you free for breakfast tomorrow?
Malheureusement non, je commence mon service tôt.
Unfortunately no, I start my shift early.
✕Common Mistakes
Je commence mon service à tôt.
The adverb 'tôt' does not require the preposition 'à' when used to describe starting early.
Je commence mon travail bientôt.
'Bientôt' means 'soon', whereas 'tôt' means 'early' in the day.
↔Alternatives
Je commence tôt.
I start early.
J'embauche tôt.
I start work early (informal/professional).
Cultural Tip
In France, the term 'service' is very common in the restaurant industry and medical fields. While the standard work week is 35 hours, many professions involving 'services' have irregular hours, and being precise about your 'horaires' is a standard part of social planning.