French Phrase
Choisis des trucs qui n'ont pas besoin d'être cuisinés.
Meaning
‘Choose things that don’t need to be cooked.’ The speaker is giving practical advice, often about meal planning, travel, or quick‑prep meals, emphasizing convenience over elaborate cooking.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re helping someone pick food items for a picnic, a backpacking trip, or a busy week’s menu. It’s also handy when discussing grocery lists for people who have limited kitchen facilities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Choisisdestrucsquin'ontpasbesoind'êtrecuisinés.
Choisis (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of choisir. The final –s is kept because the verb is followed by the pronoun ‘en’ or ‘y’; here it stays for regular imperative form.
des (indefinite article)
Plural indefinite article meaning ‘some’. Used before a plural noun when the exact quantity is not specified.
trucs (colloquial noun)
Informal word for ‘things, stuff’. Acceptable in spoken French but avoid in very formal writing.
qui (relative pronoun)
Introduces a relative clause that describes ‘trucs’. It agrees in gender and number with its antecedent (here plural masculine, but the verb inside the clause determines agreement).
n'ont pas besoin de (negated need)
Expression of lack of necessity. ‘n’ + verb + ‘pas’ + ‘besoin de’ + infinitive. The verb ‘avoir’ is conjugated to agree with the plural subject ‘trucs’.
être cuisinés (passive infinitive)
Infinitive of the passive construction. The past participle ‘cuisinés’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to (‘trucs’ → masculine plural).
🗨In Conversation
Choisis des trucs qui n'ont pas besoin d'être cuisinés.
Choose things that don’t need to be cooked.
D'accord, je prends du pain, du fromage et des fruits secs.
Alright, I’ll take some bread, cheese and dried fruit.
✕Common Mistakes
Choisis des trucs qui n'ont pas besoin d'être cuisiné.
The past participle must agree with the plural noun ‘trucs’; use ‘cuisinés’ not ‘cuisiné’.
Choisis des choses qui n'ont besoin pas d'être cuisinés.
Negation with ‘pas’ must surround the verb ‘avoir besoin’; the correct order is ‘n'ont pas besoin de’.
Choisis des trucs qui n'ont pas besoin d'être cuisiné.
Even if you keep ‘trucs’ singular, the participle still needs to match the noun’s gender/number.
↔Alternatives
Prends des aliments qui n'ont pas besoin d'être cuits.
Take foods that don’t need to be cooked.
Sélectionne des produits qui se consomment sans cuisson.
Select products that can be eaten without cooking.
Opte pour des choses prêtes à manger.
Opt for ready‑to‑eat things.
Cultural Tip
In France, even ‘ready‑to‑eat’ foods are often high‑quality: think of baguette, pâté, cheese, charcuterie, and fresh fruit. When you use the word ‘trucs’, it adds a casual, friendly tone. In a formal setting, replace it with ‘aliments’ or ‘produits’. Also, French cuisine values freshness, so the phrase is usually heard in informal contexts like a weekend hike or a student’s dorm kitchen.