French Phrase
Peux‑tu décrire clairement le problème ?
Meaning
This sentence asks the listener to give a clear, detailed description of the issue at hand. It conveys a request for precision while remaining courteous.
When to use
Use it in professional or technical settings—meetings, support tickets, or classroom discussions—when you need a precise explanation of a difficulty. It works well with colleagues you know well; with strangers or superiors switch to the formal ‘Pouvez‑vous…’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Peuxtudécrireclairementleproblème?
Inversion for yes‑no questions
In spoken French, the verb and subject pronoun invert (peux‑tu) to form a polite question without using ‘est‑ce que’.
Infinitive after ‘peux‑tu’
When the verb ‘pouvoir’ is used in a question, it is followed by an infinitive (décrire).
Adverb placement
Adverbs of manner such as ‘clairement’ normally go right after the infinitive they modify.
Definite article with nouns
‘Le problème’ uses the masculine singular definite article because ‘problème’ is a known, specific issue.
🗨In Conversation
Peux‑tu décrire clairement le problème ?
Can you describe the problem clearly?
Oui, le serveur ne répond plus dès que j’envoie une requête GET.
Yes, the server stops responding as soon as I send a GET request.
✕Common Mistakes
Peux‑vous décrire clairement le problème ?
‘Peux‑vous’ mixes the informal verb form with the formal pronoun; use ‘Pouvez‑vous’ for the formal register.
Peux‑tu décrire clairemant le problème ?
The adverb must be spelled with a double ‘e’; ‘clairement’ not ‘clairemant’.
Peux‑tu décrire clairement problème ?
Never drop the article; ‘le problème’ is required because you refer to a specific issue.
↔Alternatives
Pourrais‑tu expliquer le problème en détail ?
Could you explain the problem in detail?
Merci de préciser le problème.
Please specify the problem.
Pouvez‑vous décrire le problème de façon claire ?
Could you describe the problem clearly? (formal)
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘Peux‑tu’ is informal and appropriate with friends, peers, or junior colleagues. In a business email or when speaking to a client, switch to the formal ‘Pouvez‑vous’. Also, adding ‘clairement’ signals that you need a precise, unambiguous answer, which is appreciated in technical contexts.