French Phrase
Tu peux le faire réparer ou le remplacer.
Meaning
You can have it repaired or replace it. The sentence offers two possible solutions for something that is broken or no longer functional.
When to use
Use this phrase when you discuss options for a faulty item—whether to send it to a repair shop or to buy a new one. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxlefaireréparerouleremplacer.
Pouvoir (peux)
The verb *pouvoir* expresses ability or permission. Here it is conjugated in the present tense, second‑person singular (tu).
Faire + infinitif
The construction *faire + infinitif* means ‘to have something done’ by someone else, not that the subject does the action themselves.
Direct object pronoun (le)
The pronoun *le* replaces a masculine singular noun that is the object of both infinitives *réparer* and *remplacer*.
Coordinating conjunction (ou)
The word *ou* links two alternative actions, equivalent to ‘or’ in English.
Infinitives (réparer, remplacer)
Both verbs stay in the infinitive after *faire*; they describe the actions that can be performed on the object.
🗨In Conversation
Mon ordinateur ne démarre plus.
My computer won't start.
Tu peux le faire réparer ou le remplacer.
You can have it repaired or replace it.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux le réparer ou le remplacer.
Using *réparer* without *faire* (Tu peux le réparer) means you will repair it yourself, not that you’ll have it repaired by a professional.
Tu peux le faire réparer ou remplacer.
Omitting the second *le* can sound ambiguous; French speakers usually repeat the pronoun before the second infinitive.
Tu pouvoir le faire réparer ou le remplacer.
Using the infinitive *pouvoir* (pouvoir) instead of the conjugated form *peux* is ungrammatical in this context.
↔Alternatives
Tu peux le faire réparer ou le changer.
You can have it repaired or change it.
Tu peux le réparer ou le remplacer.
You can repair it or replace it.
Tu as le choix de le faire réparer ou de le remplacer.
You have the choice to have it repaired or to replace it.
Cultural Tip
In French, the *faire + infinitif* construction is the go‑to way to express that someone else will perform the action. Saying *tu peux le réparer* would imply that *you* will do the repair yourself, which changes the meaning. Also, the pronoun *le* is placed before *faire* and is repeated before the second infinitive for clarity, a pattern common in spoken French.