Nous invitons quelques amis ce soir et vous pouvez venir aussi, si vous avez le temps.

We are inviting a few friends tonight and you can come too, if you have time.

Breakdown of Nous invitons quelques amis ce soir et vous pouvez venir aussi, si vous avez le temps.

• l'ami: the friend
• aussi: too
• avoir: to have
• et: and

Questions & Answers about Nous invitons quelques amis ce soir et vous pouvez venir aussi, si vous avez le temps.

Why is the present tense used in nous invitons when the plan is for tonight?

French often uses the simple present for near-future arrangements when a time marker like ce soir is present. It feels natural and immediate.

• Also correct: Nous allons inviter quelques amis ce soir (near future, intention).
• Also possible: Nous inviterons quelques amis ce soir (simple future; a bit more formal/detached).
• Very common in speech: On invite quelques amis ce soir (colloquial “we”).

Does vous mean formal singular or plural here?

It can mean either; the sentence is ambiguous without context.

• Talking to one person formally: vous.
• Talking to several people: vous.
• Informal singular alternative: Tu peux venir aussi, si tu as le temps.

Can I move aussi? Does the position change the nuance?

Yes, and the nuance shifts slightly:

• Neutral/very common: Vous pouvez venir aussi.
• Slight emphasis on the action “also come”: Vous pouvez aussi venir.
• Emphasis on “you (too)”: Vous aussi, vous pouvez venir. Avoid starting a sentence with Aussi in formal writing unless you mean “therefore,” which triggers inversion: Aussi pouvez-vous… (different meaning).