Giving advice in French : complete course

What Does It Mean to Give Advice in French?

When we talk about giving advice in French, we mean using specific words and structures to suggest something to someone. It is a very common part of everyday conversation. Whether you are talking to a friend, a colleague, or a stranger, knowing how to give advice politely and clearly is an essential skill.

In French, giving advice involves using particular verbs, expressions, and grammar structures. The good news is that many of these are simple and easy to learn!

Simple Examples to Get Started

Before we dive into the details, here are a few quick examples to show you what giving advice in French looks like:

• Tu devrais boire plus d’eau. — You should drink more water.
• Il faut dormir suffisamment. — You need to sleep enough.
• Je te conseille de prendre un taxi. — I advise you to take a taxi.

Notice how each sentence has a clear structure. There is a verb or expression that introduces the advice, followed by what the person should do. Let us now look at the main building blocks.

The Key Elements of Giving Advice in French

There are several ways to give advice in French. Let us explore the most important ones.

Using ‘Devoir’ in the Conditional Tense

One of the most common ways to give advice is to use the verb devoir (to must / to have to) in the conditional tense. This makes the advice sound polite and friendly, not too direct.

The key form here is devrais (for tu) and devriez (for vous). These are the conditional forms of devoir. They soften the advice and make it sound more like a suggestion than an order.

Using ‘Il Faut’ + Infinitive

Another very useful expression is il faut. It means ‘it is necessary’ or ‘you must.’ It is impersonal, which means it does not change depending on who you are talking to. You simply follow it with a verb in the infinitive.

• Il faut étudier tous les jours. — You need to study every day.
• Il faut être patient. — You need to be patient.
• Il faut prendre ce médicament. — You need to take this medicine.

This structure is very common in spoken French and is easy to use. It works well in both formal and informal situations.

Using ‘Je te / vous conseille de’ + Infinitive

When you want to give a more personal piece of advice, you can use the expression je te conseille de (informal) or je vous conseille de (formal). This literally means ‘I advise you to.’

• Je te conseille de visiter Paris en avril. — I advise you to visit Paris in April.
• Je vous conseille de réserver à l’avance. — I advise you to book in advance.

This expression sounds warm and helpful. It is a great choice when you want to share personal advice or a recommendation.

Why Knowing How to Give Advice in French Matters

Giving advice is one of the most frequent things we do in conversation. Think about how often you say things like ‘you should try this restaurant’ or ‘I think you need to rest.’ In French, being able to do this makes your speech sound much more natural and fluent.

It also helps you in practical situations: at the doctor, at work, with friends, or when travelling in a French-speaking country. Mastering this skill opens the door to richer, more helpful conversations.

Comparison With Other Languages

It is always helpful to compare French with languages you may already know. Here is a quick overview:

As you can see, the structure is quite similar across these three languages. If you already speak English or Spanish, the French version will feel familiar. The main difference is the spelling and pronunciation of the verb forms.

A Complete Example

Let us look at a short dialogue where one person gives advice to another. Imagine two friends talking:

• Marie: Je suis très fatiguée ces derniers temps. — I have been very tired lately.
• Luc: Tu devrais dormir plus tôt. Il faut aussi éviter les écrans le soir. Je te conseille de lire un livre avant de dormir. — You should go to sleep earlier. You also need to avoid screens in the evening. I advise you to read a book before bed.

Notice how Luc uses three different structures in just a few sentences. This is natural and varied. Mixing structures makes your French sound more fluent and confident.

Key Takeaways

• Use tu devrais / vous devriez + infinitive for polite, personal advice.
• Use il faut + infinitive for general, impersonal advice.
• Use je te / vous conseille de + infinitive for warm, personal recommendations.
• These structures are similar to English and Spanish, which makes them easier to learn.
• Mixing these structures in conversation sounds natural and fluent.

Sources

• Conseil de l’Europe. (2001). Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CECRL). Strasbourg: Editions du Conseil de l’Europe.
• Grégoire, M., & Thiévenaz, O. (2012). Grammaire progressive du français — Niveau débutant. Paris: CLE International.
• Bescherelle. (2019). La Grammaire pour tous. Paris: Hatier.