French Phrase
Donne ta place aux personnes âgées.
Meaning
A polite command telling someone to give up their seat to older people. It uses the informal singular imperative, so it’s appropriate when speaking to a peer, a child, or in a casual setting.
When to use
Use this phrase on public transport, in a waiting room, or any situation where a seat is limited and an elderly person is standing. Switch to the formal *Donnez* if you’re addressing strangers you don’t know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Donnetaplaceauxpersonnesâgées
Donne (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of *donner*. The final -s is dropped unless followed by *en* or *y*.
ta (possessive adjective)
Agrees with the feminine singular noun *place*; means ‘your’.
place (noun)
Feminine noun meaning ‘seat’ or ‘spot’; the object of the verb.
aux (à + les)
Contraction of the preposition *à* + plural article *les*, introducing the indirect object.
personnes (noun)
Plural feminine noun ‘people’; the complement of *aux*.
âgées (adjective after noun)
Adjective placed after the noun, agrees in gender and number (feminine plural).
🗨In Conversation
Donne ta place aux personnes âgées, s’il te plaît.
Give up your seat to the elderly people, please.
Merci, c’est très gentil de ta part.
Thank you, that’s very kind of you.
✕Common Mistakes
Donnes ta place aux personnes âgées.
The imperative of *donner* drops the final -s; *Donnes* is a conjugated form for *tu* in the present indicative.
aux personnes agées
The adjective *âgées* needs the accent circonflexe on the first ‘a’.
Donne votre place aux personnes âgées.
If you want to be formal, replace *ta* with *votre* and use the formal imperative *Donnez*.
↔Alternatives
Cède ta place aux personnes âgées.
Yield your seat to the elderly people.
Laisse ta place aux personnes âgées.
Leave your seat for the elderly people.
Offre ta place aux personnes âgées.
Offer your seat to the elderly people.
Cultural Tip
In France, giving up a seat to an older person, a pregnant woman, or someone with a disability is considered a basic act of courtesy. On the métro or bus, you’ll often hear *« Veuillez laisser votre place aux personnes âgées »* announced over the PA system. Using the informal *donne* is fine with friends or children, but in public you’ll usually hear the more formal *donnez* to avoid sounding overly familiar.