Learn Hardcore French: Tu as raison, on va partir plus tôt. - You are right, we are going to leave earlier.

Because the idiom in French is avoir raison (to be right), not être raison. So you say tu as raison. The opposite is tu as tort (you’re wrong). There’s no article with raison here, and it doesn’t change for gender or number.

What does on mean here, and why not nous?

Here on means “we” in everyday French. It’s very common in speech and takes third-person singular verbs: on va. Nous is fine too and a bit more formal/written: nous allons partir plus tôt. For emphasis you can even hear: Nous, on va partir plus tôt.

Why is it va and not vas?

Because the subject is on. The present of aller is: je vais, tu vas, il/elle/on va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont. With on, use va.

What tense is on va partir, and how is it different from on partira?

On va partir is the near future (futur proche): aller + infinitive. It’s common, conversational, and often suggests intention or something imminent. On partira is the simple future (futur simple), a bit more neutral/formal or more distant. In many cases, both are possible; the near future feels more immediate.

How do I avoid confusing plus tôt with plutôt?

plus tôt (two words) = earlier. Example: On va partir plus tôt.
plutôt (one word, circumflex) = rather/preferably/quite. Example: On partirait plutôt demain. In speech they’re often homophones (“plu-toh”), so context and spelling matter. Some speakers may pronounce the S in plus carefully in plus tôt (“pluss toh”), but it’s not required.

Is the comma in Tu as raison, on va partir plus tôt correct?

Yes. French often uses a comma between two related independent clauses. A colon is also fine for emphasis: Tu as raison: on va partir plus tôt. You could also split it: Tu as raison. On va partir plus tôt.

Where does plus tôt go in the sentence? Could I say on va plus tôt partir?

Put plus tôt after the verb phrase: on va partir plus tôt. On va plus tôt partir is awkward and generally avoided. Starting with Plus tôt, on va partir changes the meaning to a time-frame comment (“Earlier, we’re going to leave”) rather than “leave earlier than planned.”

What’s the difference between partir, quitter, and sortir?

partir = to leave/depart (intransitive). Add origin with de and destination with pour: partir de Paris, partir pour Lyon. For home, partir de chez nous is more natural than partir de la maison.
quitter = to leave/quit (transitive): quitter la maison/le travail/quelqu’un.
sortir = to go out/exit. Intransitive with de: sortir de la maison; transitive for taking something out: sortir la poubelle.

How would this look in a more formal register?

Vous avez raison, nous allons partir plus tôt.
Or with simple future: Vous avez raison, nous partirons plus tôt. Both are more formal or written than the original.

How do you pronounce the sentence naturally?

Tu as raison often contracts to T’as raison. The vowel before N in raison is nasalized; the N itself isn’t fully pronounced.
on is a nasal vowel (like the vowel in French bon).
va = “vah”.
partir has the French guttural R.
plus tôt is usually “plu toh” (the S in plus is silent before a consonant). Some speakers may say “pluss toh”; both are understood.

Can I say Tu n’as pas raison to mean “you’re wrong”?

It’s grammatical (“you’re not right”), but the idiomatic way is Tu as tort (“you’re wrong”). Softer options: Tu n’as pas tout à fait raison (“you’re not entirely right”) or Je ne suis pas d’accord (“I don’t agree”).

Any other natural alternatives to say the same thing?

Inclusive suggestion: Partons plus tôt.
Stronger agreement: Tu as bien raison, on va partir plus tôt.
Common synonym for “leave”: On va s’en aller plus tôt.

Does partir take être or avoir in compound tenses?

Partir uses être: on est parti. When on means “we,” writers often show plural (and gender) agreement: On est partis (mixed/all-male) or On est parties (all-female). In speech, that final -s isn’t heard.

What’s the nuance of tôt / plus tôt / le plus tôt / de bonne heure / en avance?

tôt = early (time of day): Je me lève tôt.
plus tôt = earlier (comparative): On va partir plus tôt.
le plus tôt (possible) = the earliest (possible).
de bonne heure = early (idiomatic, often morning/early in the day).
en avance = early relative to a schedule: Je suis en avance (“I arrived early”), not “early in the day.”