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French Phrase

T'as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?

/ta‿ze.se.je d‿e.kʁiʁ de.z‿i.stwaʁ/

Meaning"Did you try to write stories?"

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Meaning

This informal question asks whether the listener has tried to write stories. It’s a friendly way to check on a creative project or to encourage someone to start writing.

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When to use

Use it in casual conversation with friends, classmates, or fellow writers. It works well when you want to know if someone has already attempted a writing exercise, or when you’re nudging them to give it a try.

✦Grammar Breakdown

T'asessayéd'écriredeshistoires?

1

Contraction T'as

« T'as » is the spoken contraction of « tu as »; used in informal spoken French.

2

Passé composé with avoir

The verb « essayer » forms the passé composé with the auxiliary « avoir » and the past participle « essayé ».

3

Preposition de + infinitive

After « essayer », the infinitive verb is introduced by the preposition « de » (d' before a vowel).

4

Indefinite plural « des »

« des » is the plural indefinite article meaning “some” or “any”.

5

Question intonation

In spoken French, a rising intonation at the end signals a yes‑no question; no extra words are needed.

🗨In Conversation

A

T'as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?

Did you try to write stories?

Oui, j'en ai écrit deux la semaine dernière.

Yes, I wrote two of them last week.

B

✕Common Mistakes

T'as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?
The past participle must have an acute accent on the e (é).
T'as essayé d'écrire des histoire ?
« Histoires » is plural; the article « des » requires a plural noun.
T'as essayé d'écrir des histoires ?
The infinitive must be « écrire » with the final –e.
T'as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?
In formal contexts, avoid the contraction; use « Tu as » or the inversion.

↔Alternatives

As‑tu essayé d'écrire des histoires ?
Did you try to write stories?
Tu as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?
Did you try to write stories?
Est‑ce que tu as essayé d'écrire des histoires ?
Did you try to write stories?

Cultural Tip

« T'as » is strictly colloquial; avoid it in formal writing, emails, or when speaking to strangers. In a classroom or professional setting, opt for the full form « Tu as » or the inversion « As‑tu ». Also, French speakers often add a light “eh ?” at the end of the question to reinforce the interrogative tone.