How to Say “What Are You Doing” in French: A Comprehensive Guide
Learning how to ask “What are you doing?” in French is a fundamental step in mastering everyday conversations. This phrase allows you to inquire about someone’s activities, show interest, and engage more deeply in social interactions.
Understanding the different ways to phrase this question, along with their nuances, will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in French. This article is designed for beginner to intermediate learners who want to expand their conversational skills and gain a deeper understanding of French grammar and usage.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition
The phrase “What are you doing?” in French can be translated in several ways, depending on the level of formality and the context of the conversation. The most common translations are “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” and “Que fais-tu ?” for informal situations, and “Qu’est-ce que vous faites ?” or “Que faites-vous ?” for formal situations. These phrases are used to inquire about someone’s current activity or actions. They are essential for initiating conversations, showing interest in others, and understanding what is happening around you.
At its core, this question aims to understand the present activity of the person being addressed. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from casual conversations with friends to more formal interactions with acquaintances or superiors.
The choice of phrase depends heavily on the social context and the relationship between the speakers.
Structural Breakdown
The structure of these phrases varies depending on the level of formality. Let’s break down the components of each common phrase:
- Qu’est-ce que… ?: This is a common way to form questions in French, translating to “What is it that…?” It’s often followed by a subject and a verb.
- Que… ?: This is an inverted form, where the verb comes before the subject. It’s considered more formal.
- tu: This is the informal singular “you.”
- vous: This is the formal singular or plural “you.”
- fais: This is the conjugated form of the verb faire (to do) for tu.
- faites: This is the conjugated form of the verb faire (to do) for vous.
Therefore, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” literally translates to “What is it that you do?” while “Que fais-tu ?” translates to “What do you do?”. The structure is similar for the formal versions, replacing tu with vous and adjusting the verb conjugation accordingly.
Types and Categories
Formal Inquiries
In formal settings, such as speaking to someone older than you, a superior at work, or someone you don’t know well, it’s important to use the formal “vous” form. This shows respect and politeness.
The common formal phrases are “Qu’est-ce que vous faites ?” and “Que faites-vous ?”.
Using the formal “vous” is crucial in professional or academic environments. It demonstrates a level of respect and adherence to social etiquette.
Misusing the formal and informal pronouns can lead to misunderstandings or offense.
Informal Inquiries
When speaking to friends, family members, or people you know well, you can use the informal “tu” form. The most common informal phrases are “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” and “Que fais-tu ?”.
These phrases are more relaxed and suitable for casual conversations.
The informal “tu” form fosters a sense of closeness and familiarity. It is typically used among peers, family members, and close acquaintances.
Using the formal “vous” in these situations can sometimes sound overly stiff or distant.
Specific Situations
Sometimes, you might want to be more specific about when the action is taking place. You can add adverbs of time to these phrases to provide more context.
For example, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais maintenant ?” means “What are you doing now?”.
Adding context can make your question more precise and relevant. It allows you to tailor your inquiry to the specific situation and elicit more specific answers.
This is particularly useful when you want to know what someone is doing at a particular moment.
Examples
General Questions
Here are some examples of how to ask “What are you doing?” in different contexts, focusing on general inquiries about someone’s activities. The following table provides a comprehensive list of examples, demonstrating both formal and informal usage.
The examples below showcase the versatility of these phrases in everyday conversations. They illustrate how to use them to initiate discussions, express curiosity, and engage with others.
| French (Informal) | French (Formal) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites ? | What are you doing? |
| Que fais-tu ? | Que faites-vous ? | What are you doing? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fabriques ? | Qu’est-ce que vous fabriquez ? | What are you up to? (What are you making?) |
| Tu fais quoi ? | Vous faites quoi ? | What are you doing? (Shortened version) |
| Quoi de neuf ? (While someone is doing something) | Quoi de neuf ? (While someone is doing something) | What’s new? / What’s up? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu mijotes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous mijotez ? | What are you cooking up? (What are you planning?) |
| Tu prépares quoi ? | Vous préparez quoi ? | What are you preparing? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu trames ? | Qu’est-ce que vous tramez ? | What are you plotting? |
| À quoi tu t’occupes ? | À quoi vous occupez-vous ? | What are you keeping yourself busy with? |
| Tu bosses sur quoi ? | Vous bossez sur quoi ? | What are you working on? (Slang) |
| Qu’est-ce que tu bricoles ? | Qu’est-ce que vous bricolez ? | What are you tinkering with? |
| Tu es en train de faire quoi ? | Vous êtes en train de faire quoi ? | What are you in the process of doing? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu es en train de faire ? | Qu’est-ce que vous êtes en train de faire ? | What are you in the process of doing? |
| Tu fais quelque chose de spécial ? | Vous faites quelque chose de spécial ? | Are you doing something special? |
| Qu’est-ce qui t’occupe ? | Qu’est-ce qui vous occupe ? | What’s keeping you busy? |
| Tu t’amuses bien ? | Vous vous amusez bien ? | Are you having fun? (While doing something) |
| Qu’est-ce que tu regardes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous regardez ? | What are you watching? |
| Tu lis quoi ? | Vous lisez quoi ? | What are you reading? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu écoutes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous écoutez ? | What are you listening to? |
| Tu penses à quoi ? | Vous pensez à quoi ? | What are you thinking about? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu prépares de bon ? | Qu’est-ce que vous préparez de bon ? | What good thing are you preparing? |
| Tu joues à quoi ? | Vous jouez à quoi ? | What are you playing? |
Specific Actions
These examples focus on asking about specific actions someone is performing. This is useful when you observe someone doing something and want to know more about it.
The phrases below are tailored to inquire about particular activities. They are ideal for situations where you have a general idea of what someone is doing but want to know the specifics.
| French (Informal) | French (Formal) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Qu’est-ce que tu cuisines ? | Qu’est-ce que vous cuisinez ? | What are you cooking? |
| Que lis-tu ? | Que lisez-vous ? | What are you reading? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu écris ? | Qu’est-ce que vous écrivez ? | What are you writing? |
| Que regardes-tu ? | Que regardez-vous ? | What are you watching? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu bois ? | Qu’est-ce que vous buvez ? | What are you drinking? |
| Que manges-tu ? | Que mangez-vous ? | What are you eating? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu chantes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous chantez ? | What are you singing? |
| Que dessines-tu ? | Que dessinez-vous ? | What are you drawing? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu construis ? | Qu’est-ce que vous construisez ? | What are you building? |
| Que répares-tu ? | Que réparez-vous ? | What are you repairing? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu nettoies ? | Qu’est-ce que vous nettoyez ? | What are you cleaning? |
| Que peins-tu ? | Que peignez-vous ? | What are you painting? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu traduis ? | Qu’est-ce que vous traduisez ? | What are you translating? |
| Que télécharges-tu ? | Que téléchargez-vous ? | What are you downloading? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu étudies ? | Qu’est-ce que vous étudiez ? | What are you studying? |
| Que cherches-tu ? | Que cherchez-vous ? | What are you looking for? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu vends ? | Qu’est-ce que vous vendez ? | What are you selling? |
| Que fabriques-tu ? | Que fabriquez-vous ? | What are you making? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu portes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous portez ? | What are you wearing? |
| Que conduis-tu ? | Que conduisez-vous ? | What are you driving? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu collectionnes ? | Qu’est-ce que vous collectionnez ? | What are you collecting? |
With Additional Context
Adding adverbs of time or place can give more context to your question. This helps to specify when or where the action is happening.
Contextualizing your questions makes them more informative and helps you understand the situation better. It allows you to gather more specific details and engage in more meaningful conversations.
| French (Informal) | French (Formal) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais maintenant ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites maintenant ? | What are you doing now? |
| Que fais-tu ici ? | Que faites-vous ici ? | What are you doing here? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais ce soir ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites ce soir ? | What are you doing tonight? |
| Que fais-tu demain ? | Que faites-vous demain ? | What are you doing tomorrow? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais ce week-end ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites ce week-end ? | What are you doing this weekend? |
| Que fais-tu pendant les vacances ? | Que faites-vous pendant les vacances ? | What are you doing during the holidays? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais au travail ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites au travail ? | What are you doing at work? |
| Que fais-tu à l’école ? | Que faites-vous à l’école ? | What are you doing at school? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais chez toi ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites chez vous ? | What are you doing at home? |
| Que fais-tu en ce moment ? | Que faites-vous en ce moment ? | What are you doing at the moment? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais d’intéressant ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites d’intéressant ? | What are you doing that’s interesting? |
| Que fais-tu de tes journées ? | Que faites-vous de vos journées ? | What do you do with your days? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour t’amuser ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites pour vous amuser ? | What do you do for fun? |
| Que fais-tu pour te détendre ? | Que faites-vous pour vous détendre ? | What do you do to relax? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour gagner de l’argent ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites pour gagner de l’argent ? | What do you do to earn money? |
| Que fais-tu de ton temps libre ? | Que faites-vous de votre temps libre ? | What do you do with your free time? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais de spécial aujourd’hui ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites de spécial aujourd’hui ? | What are you doing that’s special today? |
| Que fais-tu de prévu ? | Que faites-vous de prévu ? | What do you have planned? |
| Qu’est-ce que tu fais comme travail ? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites comme travail ? | What do you do for work? |
| Que fais-tu comme études ? | Que faites-vous comme études ? | What are you studying? |
Usage Rules
Subject Pronoun Inclusion
In French, it is generally necessary to include the subject pronoun (tu or vous) when asking a question. While it is grammatically correct to omit the subject pronoun in some contexts, it is more common and natural to include it, especially in questions.
Including the subject pronoun clarifies who you are addressing and avoids ambiguity. It also helps to maintain a clear and understandable sentence structure.
Verb Conjugation
The verb faire (to do) must be conjugated correctly according to the subject pronoun. For tu, the correct form is fais, and for vous, it is faites. Incorrect verb conjugation can lead to confusion and grammatical errors.
Mastering verb conjugations is essential for accurate and fluent communication in French. Pay close attention to the subject-verb agreement to ensure your sentences are grammatically correct.
Register and Tone
Choosing the appropriate register (formal or informal) is crucial for effective communication. Using the wrong register can be perceived as disrespectful or overly familiar.
Consider your relationship with the person you are addressing and the context of the conversation.
Being mindful of register and tone helps you convey the right message and maintain positive relationships. It demonstrates cultural sensitivity and awareness of social norms.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect verb conjugation: Using the wrong form of the verb faire (e.g., “Qu’est-ce que tu faites ?” instead of “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?”).
- Mixing formal and informal pronouns: Using “tu” in a formal setting or “vous” in an informal setting.
- Omitting the subject pronoun: While sometimes acceptable, omitting the subject pronoun can sound unnatural or incomplete, especially in questions.
- Misunderstanding context: Not considering the context of the conversation and using an inappropriate phrase.
Avoiding these common mistakes will help you communicate more effectively and confidently in French. Pay attention to verb conjugations, pronoun usage, and the overall context of the conversation.
Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences using the correct form of “What are you doing?” in French. Indicate whether you would use the formal or informal form.
These exercises are designed to reinforce your understanding of the different ways to ask “What are you doing?” in French. They will help you practice using the correct verb conjugations and pronouns in various contexts.
| Question | Answer (Informal) | Answer (Formal) |
|---|---|---|
| You see your friend painting. | Qu’est-ce que tu peins ? | N/A |
| You are talking to your boss. | N/A | Qu’est-ce que vous faites ? |
| You see a child playing with toys. | À quoi tu joues? | N/A |
| You are talking to an elderly neighbor. | N/A | Que faites-vous aujourd’hui? |
| You want to know what your sibling is reading. | Que lis-tu? | N/A |
| You are in a meeting with colleagues. | N/A | Qu’est-ce que vous préparez? |
| You see a friend cooking in the kitchen. | Qu’est-ce que tu cuisines? | N/A |
| You are talking to a new acquaintance. | N/A | Que faites-vous de beau? |
| You see a friend working on a project. | Tu bosses sur quoi? | N/A |
| You are speaking with your professor. | N/A | Qu’est-ce que vous étudiez? |
Advanced Topics
Idiomatic Expressions
French has several idiomatic expressions that are similar to “What are you doing?” but carry slightly different connotations. For example, “Qu’est-ce que tu fabriques ?” can mean “What are you up to?” or “What are you making?” depending on the context.
Similarly, “Qu’est-ce que tu mijotes ?” translates to “What are you cooking up?” and implies a sense of planning or scheming.
Understanding these idiomatic expressions can add depth and nuance to your French conversations. They allow you to express yourself more creatively and connect with native speakers on a deeper level.
Nuances of Meaning
The tone and context of your question can significantly impact its meaning. For example, asking “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” with a raised eyebrow and a suspicious tone can imply that you don’t approve of the person’s actions.
Conversely, asking the same question with a friendly and curious tone can simply be an expression of interest.
Being aware of these nuances can help you communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings. Pay attention to your tone of voice and body language to convey the intended meaning of your question.
FAQ
- Is it always necessary to include the subject pronoun in questions?
While not always grammatically required, including the subject pronoun (tu or vous) in questions is generally recommended, especially for learners. It makes the sentence clearer and more natural, avoiding potential ambiguity. Omitting the pronoun is more common in very informal speech or when the context is extremely clear.
- What’s the difference between “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” and “Que fais-tu ?”
Both phrases mean “What are you doing?” The first, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?”, is more common in everyday speech and is considered slightly less formal. The second, “Que fais-tu ?”, is an inverted form and is considered more formal or literary. The choice between them depends on the context and your personal preference.
- When should I use the formal “vous” instead of the informal “tu”?
Use “vous” when addressing someone you don’t know well, someone older than you, a superior at work, or anyone in a formal setting. It shows respect and politeness. Use “tu” with friends, family, and people you know well in informal situations.
- How can I make my questions more specific?
You can add adverbs of time or place to your questions. For example, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais maintenant ?” (What are you doing now?) or “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ici ?” (What are you doing here?). This provides more context and helps you get a more specific answer.
- Are there any other ways to ask “What are you doing?” in French?
Yes, there are several other ways, depending on the context and level of formality. Some examples include “Tu fais quoi ?” (a shortened informal version), “Qu’est-ce que tu fabriques ?” (What are you up to?), and “À quoi tu t’occupes ?” (What are you keeping yourself busy with?).
- What if I accidentally use the wrong form (formal vs. informal)?
Don’t worry too much! Native speakers are generally understanding, especially if you are learning the language. If you realize your mistake, you can simply apologize and correct yourself. For example, “Excusez-moi, je voulais dire ‘vous’.” (Excuse me, I meant to say ‘vous’).
- How can I improve my understanding of these phrases in real-life conversations?
The best way to improve is through practice and exposure. Listen to French speakers in movies, TV shows, and podcasts. Pay attention to how they use these phrases in different contexts. Practice using them yourself in conversations with native speakers or language partners.
- Can the phrase “Qu’est-ce que tu fais” ever have a negative connotation?
Yes, depending on the tone of voice and the context, “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” can be used to express disapproval or concern. For example, if someone is doing something dangerous or inappropriate, you might say “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” with a stern tone.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of asking “What are you doing?” in French is a crucial step in becoming a fluent and confident speaker. Understanding the differences between formal and informal phrases, as well as the nuances of verb conjugation and subject pronoun inclusion, will enable you to communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
By practicing these phrases and paying attention to context, you can significantly enhance your conversational skills and build stronger connections with French speakers.
Remember to always consider the context and your relationship with the person you are addressing when choosing the appropriate phrase. Consistent practice and exposure to the language will help you internalize these rules and use them naturally in your conversations.
Keep practicing, and you’ll be asking “Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” like a native speaker in no time!