vos as a Polite Singular

Level 6

Vos with a plural verb is the polite way to speak to one person.

How It Works

With tu (friends)With vos (polite)
Cossí vas?Cossí anatz?
As fam?Avètz fam?
Ès fatigada?Sètz fatigada?
Ta maire es aicí?Vòstra maire es aicí?

When you speak to several people, the adjective is plural: Sètz venguts? When you speak politely to one person, it is singular, and its gender follows that person: Sètz venguda, Maria? to a woman, Sètz vengut, Joan? to a man.

The polite vos uses the same verb form as for several people, and the meaning is one person. Use tu with a friend, and vos to be polite.

Examples (5)

  1. Cossí anatz?

    How are you?

    Anatz: the vos form of anar, plural.

  2. Sètz fatigada, Maria?

    Are you tired, Maria?

    Sètz is plural, and fatigada is feminine singular.

  3. Avètz fam, Joan?

    Are you hungry, Joan?

    Avètz: the vos form of aver.

  4. Podètz esperar un moment, se vos plai?

    Could you wait a moment, please?

    Se vos plai is the polite please.

  5. Vòstra maire es aicí, Marta?

    Is your mother here, Marta?

    Vòstra: the polite your.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a tu verb with vos

    Vos ès content, Joan?
    Sètz content, Joan?

    Ès is the tu form. With vos the verb is plural: sètz.

  • Making the adjective plural for one person

    Sètz fatigadas, Maria?
    Sètz fatigada, Maria?

    You speak to one woman, so the adjective stays singular: fatigada.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

vos as a Polite SingularLevel 6

Learn This First

Vos used for one person keeps a plural verb and a singular adjective, so tu and vos and the feminine of adjectives come first.

Words in This Pattern

vosvòstre