French Phrase
Tu peux t'aligner sur leur prix, s'il te plaît ?
Meaning
Literally: ‘Can you align yourself with their price, please?’ In everyday English it means ‘Can you match their price, please?’ It’s a polite way to ask a seller or supplier to lower or adjust a price to the level of a competitor.
When to use
Use this sentence during price negotiations, when you have found a cheaper offer elsewhere and want the current vendor to meet that price. It works in both B2B and B2C contexts, especially when you have a friendly relationship with the interlocutor.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxt'alignersurleurprix,s'ilteplaît?
Pouvoir (peux)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd‑person singular present of the modal verb ‘pouvoir’, used to ask for permission or ability.
Verbe pronominal (t'aligner)
‘S’aligner’ is a reflexive verb; the reflexive pronoun ‘t’’ (te) agrees with the subject ‘tu’.
Préposition ‘sur’
‘Sur’ introduces the reference point – here ‘leur prix’ (their price).
Adjectif possessif ‘leur’
‘Leur’ modifies ‘prix’ and means ‘their’, indicating the price of a third party.
Formule de politesse ‘s’il te plaît’
Literally ‘if it pleases you’, it softens a request; in formal contexts use ‘s’il vous plaît’.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux t'aligner sur leur prix, s'il te plaît ?
Can you match their price, please?
Oui, nous pouvons ajuster le prix à 99 €, comme chez eux.
Yes, we can adjust the price to €99, just like theirs.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux aligner sur leur prix, s'il te plaît ?
Missing the reflexive pronoun ‘t’' – the verb ‘s’aligner’ must be used reflexively.
Tu peux t'aligner sur leur prix, s'il vous plaît ?
Mixing formal ‘vous’ with informal ‘tu’ creates a register clash. Keep the pronouns consistent.
Tu peux t'aligner sur les prix, s'il te plaît ?
Using ‘les prix’ would imply multiple prices; the phrase refers to a single price point.
↔Alternatives
Peux‑tu égaliser ton prix avec le leur, s'il te plaît ?
Could you equalize your price with theirs, please?
Serait‑il possible de vous aligner sur leur tarif, s'il vous plaît ?
Would it be possible for you to align with their rate, please?
Accepteriez‑vous de baisser votre prix pour le rendre comparable au leur ?
Would you agree to lower your price to make it comparable to theirs?
Cultural Tip
In French business culture, politeness is key. Even when you’re negotiating hard, keep a courteous tone. Use ‘s’il vous plaît’ with strangers or in formal settings, and reserve ‘s’il te plaît’ for colleagues or people you know well. Also, it’s common to preface the request with a brief justification (e.g., ‘Nous avons trouvé une offre à 99 €’) to show you’re not demanding arbitrarily.