Learn Hardcore French: Tu nous la montres quand on arrive au supermarché? - Will you show it to us when we arrive at the supermarket?

la = the direct object “it,” referring to some previously mentioned feminine singular thing (e.g., la photo, la carte).
nous = the indirect object “to us.”

Why is it nous la and not la nous?

French clitic pronouns follow a fixed order before the verb: me/te/se/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur + y + en. That’s why it’s nous la. The order reverses only in the affirmative imperative (see below): Montre-la-nous.

Why do the pronouns come before the verb in French?

Clitic object pronouns normally go before the conjugated verb in statements and questions: Tu nous la montres. Exceptions:

With an affirmative imperative, they follow the verb with hyphens: Montre-la-nous.
With an infinitive, they go before the infinitive: Tu vas nous la montrer.

If we’re talking about the future, shouldn’t it be future tense: montreras / arrivera?

In careful/standard French with a time clause introduced by quand, use the future in both clauses: Tu nous la montreras quand on arrivera (au supermarché). In everyday speech, the present is often used for near-future arrangements, which explains Tu nous la montres quand on arrive…. You can also use the near future: Tu vas nous la montrer quand on arrivera.

Why is it quand on arrive and not quand nous arrivons?

In spoken French, on commonly means “we” and is more natural than nous; the verb stays 3rd‑person singular: on arrive. Nous arrivons is perfectly correct but feels more formal or emphatic.

How else can I ask this question—using est-ce que or inversion?

With est-ce que: Est-ce que tu nous la montres quand on arrive au supermarché ?
With inversion (subject after the verb; object pronouns stay before it): Nous la montres-tu quand on arrive au supermarché ?

How do I make it negative?

Place ne … pas around the pronoun block and the verb:

Statement/question with intonation: Tu ne nous la montres pas quand on arrive au supermarché ?
With inversion (more formal): Ne nous la montres-tu pas quand on arrive au supermarché ?

What does au mean, and why not à le?

Au is the mandatory contraction of à + le. So à le supermarché becomes au supermarché. Other forms: à la (no change), à l’ (before vowel sound), aux = à + les.

How do I pronounce the whole sentence?

A natural pronunciation (with common liaisons) is approximately: [ty nu la mɔ̃tʁ kɑ̃ t‿ɔ̃ naʁiv o sypɛʁmaʁʃe]. Notes:

Final ‑s in montres is silent.
quand on usually makes a [t] liaison: [kɑ̃ t‿ɔ̃].
on arrive often liaisons: [ɔ̃.naʁiv].
au = [o]; supermarché = [sypɛʁmaʁʃe].

Could la be le or les instead?

Yes—match the pronoun to the thing’s gender/number:

Masculine singular: le (or l’ before a vowel sound).
Feminine singular: la (or l’).
Plural (any gender): les. In your sentence, la implies a feminine singular referent previously known from context.

Can I replace au supermarché with y (“there”)?

Yes: Tu nous la montres quand on y arrive ? Here y replaces a place introduced by à (e.g., au supermarché).

Why is it tu montres with an ‑s?

Present tense of montrer: je montre, tu montres, il/elle/on montre. The tu form takes an ‑s, though it’s silent in pronunciation.

Can I say Tu la montres à nous?

Not as a replacement for the clitic pronoun. French prefers the clitic: Tu nous la montres. You can add a stressed form for emphasis or contrast, but it does not replace the clitic: Tu nous la montres, à nous (meaning “to us specifically”).

What would the imperative look like?

Affirmative imperative (pronouns after the verb, order flips): Montre-la-nous quand on arrivera au supermarché.
Negative imperative (pronouns before the verb, normal order): Ne nous la montre pas quand on arrivera au supermarché.

Can I use lorsque instead of quand?

Yes. Lorsque is a bit more formal or literary but means the same here: Tu nous la montres lorsque on arrive… (better: lorsque nous arrivons). For future reference in careful style: …lorsque nous arriverons.