French Phrase
Cherche des commissariats.
Meaning
This is an informal imperative sentence telling someone to search for or locate police stations. The verb « chercher » is in the second‑person singular form, and « des » is the partitive article meaning “some” or “any”.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to ask a friend, a colleague, or a local guide to find the nearest police stations, for example while traveling, during an emergency drill, or when planning a route that passes by law‑enforcement facilities.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cherchedescommissariats.
Imperative (2nd person singular)
Drop the final –s of the present‑tense form: « chercher » → « cherche » for informal commands.
Partitive article « des »
« des » means “some/any” and is used before plural nouns when the exact number isn’t specified.
Noun gender & plural
« commissariat » is masculine; its plural is « commissariats » with an –s pronounced /s/ in liaison before a vowel.
🗨In Conversation
Je suis perdu, il faut que je signale le vol.
I'm lost, I need to report the theft.
Cherche des commissariats près d'ici, ils pourront t’aider.
Look for police stations nearby, they can help you.
✕Common Mistakes
Cherche le commissariats.
Using the definite article « le » changes the meaning to a specific police station, not “any”.
Cherche les commissariats.
« les » is definite; it sounds like you’re looking for particular known stations, which may be too specific in a casual request.
Cherches des commissariats.
The verb should be in the imperative (no –s) for informal commands; « cherches » is the present‑tense second‑person singular.
↔Alternatives
Trouve des commissariats.
Find police stations.
Cherche un commissariat.
Look for a police station.
Cherchez les commissariats.
Look for the police stations (formal/plural).
Cultural Tip
In France the official term is « commissariat de police ». When speaking to strangers or in a formal setting, switch to the polite imperative « Cherchez ». Also, many towns have a single central commissariat, so you may hear people say « le commissariat » instead of the plural.