#85 Changing the Date of a Meeting｜French for Business Communication
Izumi French Garden
#81 Proposing a New Project｜French Business Conversation
Izumi
In business settings, there are many occasions where you may need to propose a new idea or project during meetings or discussions.
In French, there are specific expressions suited to each step of a proposal — how to introduce the topic, explain the content, and invite opinions.
In this lesson, we will look closely at the key French expressions for making proposals smoothly, along with the grammar and nuances behind them.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonjour à tous. J’aimerais vous parler d’un nouveau projet.
(Hello everyone. I’d like to talk to you about a new project.)
Très bien, de quel projet s’agit-il ?
(Very well. What kind of project is it?)
Il s’agit d’une campagne pour promouvoir notre nouveau produit.
(It’s a campaign to promote our new product.)
C’est une bonne idée. Comment comptez-vous la mettre en place ?
(That’s a good idea. How do you plan to implement it?)
Nous pourrions commencer par une présentation interne le mois prochain.
(We could start with an internal presentation next month.)
D’accord, je pense que c’est faisable.
(Alright, I think that’s feasible.)
1. How to Begin a Proposal
The expression “J’aimerais vous parler de …” (I’d like to talk to you about …) is a polite and natural way to begin a proposal in a meeting.
- J’aimerais vous parler d’un nouveau projet.
(I’d like to talk to you about a new project.)
The verb aimerais is the conditional form of aimer (to like), and it expresses a soft, polite desire — equivalent to English “I’d like to …”. It is frequently used in business contexts to introduce a topic tactfully.
For a more formal tone, you can also say:
- Je souhaiterais présenter une idée.
(I would like to present an idea.)
The verb souhaiter (to wish) sounds more formal than aimer, making it suitable when addressing superiors or clients.
2. Expressing “About” or “Concerning”
When explaining what your proposal is about, the expression “Il s’agit de …” is very useful.
- Il s’agit d’un projet pour promouvoir notre nouveau produit.
(It’s a project to promote our new product.)
Literally meaning “It concerns …,” “Il s’agit de” is a formal phrase used in both spoken and written French. It helps clarify the topic at the start of a meeting or presentation.
Examples:
- Il s’agit d’une campagne publicitaire.
(It concerns an advertising campaign.) - Il s’agit d’une collaboration avec une autre entreprise.
(It’s a collaboration with another company.)
3. Explaining Your Proposal Politely
When presenting your ideas, it’s important to avoid being too direct. Using the conditional tense allows you to make suggestions in a polite and non-imposing way.
- Nous pourrions commencer par une présentation interne.
(We could start with an internal presentation.)
Here, pourrions is the conditional form of pouvoir (can), meaning “we could.” It’s a soft, diplomatic way to make a suggestion, showing respect for others’ opinions.
Other useful expressions for proposing ideas include:
- Je propose de …
（I propose to … / I suggest …） - L’objectif serait de …
（The goal would be to …）
“Je propose de …” is straightforward yet polite, and suitable for formal discussions.
“L’objectif serait de …” focuses on explaining the purpose or aim of a project.
4. Asking for Opinions
After making a proposal, it’s essential to invite feedback. Here are common ways to ask for others’ thoughts in French:
- Qu’en pensez-vous ?
（What do you think?） - Avez-vous des suggestions ?
（Do you have any suggestions?）
In meetings, asking such questions encourages dialogue and helps create a constructive discussion rather than a one-sided presentation.
Summary
- J’aimerais vous parler de …
→ A polite way to start a proposal: “I’d like to talk about …” - Il s’agit de …
→ Used to describe the topic: “It’s about …” - Nous pourrions / Je propose de …
→ Gentle and polite ways to make suggestions. - Qu’en pensez-vous ? / Avez-vous des suggestions ?
→ Useful for inviting feedback.
