French Phrase
Demande aux policiers.
Meaning
‘Demande aux policiers.’ is a short imperative sentence meaning ‘Ask the police.’ It is used when you want someone to request information, help, or an action from the police officers.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving a suggestion or instruction to a friend, a colleague, or anyone else to approach the police for clarification, a report, or assistance. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts, but avoid it in very formal written requests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Demandeauxpoliciers
Imperative Mood
‘Demande’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *demander* (to ask). It is used for giving a direct command or suggestion.
Preposition ‘à’ → ‘aux’
When *demander* is followed by a plural noun, the preposition *à* contracts with the definite article *les* to form *aux* (à + les = aux).
Direct Object vs Indirect Object
With *demander*, the person you ask is introduced by *à* (or its contraction *aux*), while the thing you ask for is introduced by *de*.
🗨In Conversation
Je ne sais pas où se trouve la sortie de secours.
I don’t know where the emergency exit is.
Demande aux policiers, ils sauront te guider.
Ask the police, they’ll be able to guide you.
✕Common Mistakes
Demande les policiers.
The preposition *à* is required; you cannot use the direct object article *les* here.
Demande à les policiers.
The contraction *aux* must be used; *à les* is never written together.
Demande aux police.
The noun *police* is feminine singular; the correct plural form is *policiers*.
↔Alternatives
Demande aux forces de l'ordre.
Ask the law‑enforcement officers.
Interroge les policiers.
Question the police officers.
Pose une question aux policiers.
Pose a question to the police.
Cultural Tip
In French, *demander* always takes the preposition *à* before the person you are addressing, even in the plural form (aux). If you are speaking to a single officer, you would say *Demande au policier.* Also, French speakers often prefer a more polite formulation such as *Pourriez‑vous demander aux policiers ?* when speaking to strangers or in a formal setting.