French Phrase
Décris la personne et le lieu.
Meaning
‘Describe the person and the place.’ It is a direct request, usually given in a classroom or storytelling context, asking the listener to give details about both a character and the setting.
When to use
Use this sentence when a teacher, a friend, or a narrator wants you to give a vivid description of a character and the environment they are in – for example, in a language‑learning exercise, a role‑play, or when planning a scene for a story.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Décrislapersonneetlelieu
Décris (imperative)
‘Décris’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘décrire’, used for informal commands.
la (definite article, fem.)
‘la’ marks the noun ‘personne’ as feminine singular.
personne (noun)
Means ‘person’; note it is feminine despite ending in -e.
et (conjunction)
Connects two elements, equivalent to ‘and’ in English.
le (definite article, masc.)
‘le’ marks the noun ‘lieu’ as masculine singular.
lieu (noun)
Means ‘place’ or ‘location’.
🗨In Conversation
Décris la personne et le lieu.
Describe the person and the place.
C’est un homme grand, aux cheveux bruns, qui porte un manteau rouge. Il se tient sur une petite place pavée, entourée de cafés aux terrasses colorées.
He’s a tall man with brown hair, wearing a red coat. He stands in a small cobblestone square surrounded by cafés with colorful terraces.
✕Common Mistakes
Décris le personne et le lieu.
‘personne’ is feminine, so the correct article is ‘la’.
Décrire la personne et le lieu.
In a command you need the imperative form ‘Décris’, not the infinitive ‘décrire’.
Décris la personnes et le lieu.
‘personne’ is singular; the plural would be ‘personnes’ with ‘les’.
↔Alternatives
Parle de la personne et du lieu.
Talk about the person and the place.
Décrivez la personne ainsi que le lieu.
Describe the person as well as the place.
Donne une description de la personne et du lieu.
Give a description of the person and the place.
Cultural Tip
‘Décris’ uses the informal ‘tu’ form. In a formal setting or when speaking to strangers, switch to the plural ‘vous’: ‘Décrivez la personne et le lieu.’ Also, be aware that ‘personne’ can mean ‘nobody’ in a negative construction, but here the article ‘la’ makes the meaning clear. French speakers often add sensory details (smell, sound) to make descriptions richer.