French Phrase
Prépare bien ton dossier.
Meaning
A direct, friendly command telling someone to make sure their file or set of documents is well‑prepared, complete and tidy before it is submitted or presented.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re helping a colleague, classmate, or friend get their paperwork ready for a job interview, university application, legal procedure, or any situation where a polished dossier is essential.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Préparebientondossier.
Imperative Mood
‘Prépare’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘préparer’, used to give a direct command or advice.
Adverb Placement
In French, short adverbs like ‘bien’ normally sit directly after the verb in the imperative form.
Possessive Adjective
‘ton’ is the informal singular possessive adjective that agrees with the masculine noun ‘dossier’.
Noun Gender
‘dossier’ is a masculine noun, so the article and adjectives that modify it must be masculine (e.g., ‘ton’).
🗨In Conversation
Prépare bien ton dossier avant de l’envoyer au recruteur.
Prepare your file well before sending it to the recruiter.
D’accord, je vérifie chaque pièce et je le relis une fois de plus.
Okay, I’ll check each document and read it over once more.
✕Common Mistakes
Prépare ton dossier bien.
Adverbs normally follow the verb directly in the imperative; placing ‘bien’ after the object sounds unnatural.
Préparez bien ton dossier.
Mixing the formal ‘vous’ verb form with the informal ‘ton’ creates a register clash. Use either ‘Prépare bien votre dossier.’ or ‘Prépare bien ton dossier.’
Préparer bien ton dossier.
The infinitive ‘préparer’ cannot be used for a direct command; you need the imperative ‘Prépare’.
↔Alternatives
Assure‑toi que ton dossier est complet.
Make sure your file is complete.
Mets bien en ordre ton dossier.
Put your file in good order.
Veille à ce que ton dossier soit impeccable.
See that your file is flawless.
Cultural Tip
In French professional culture, attention to detail is a sign of respect for the recipient. Using ‘bien’ adds an extra layer of emphasis on quality, which is often appreciated in formal or academic settings. If you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well, replace the informal ‘ton’ with the polite ‘votre’ – ‘Préparez bien votre dossier.’