demander at C1 — refined & idiomatic
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Two set phrases that natives use and learners never produce.
The idioms worth owning
Ne demander qu’à means to be more than willing: « je ne demande qu’à aider » — I’d be only too glad to help. The negative frame is not negative in meaning at all, which is what makes it hard to guess.
Demander la main de is the fixed phrase for a marriage proposal. And in commerce, la demande as a noun is demand in the economic sense — « l’offre et la demande ».
💡 Focus at this level: Idiomatic — ne demander qu’à
👨🏫 How to use « demander » at this level
1. « Je ne demande qu’à… » is enthusiastic, despite looking negative.
2. Watch the noun. La demande is a request, or economic demand — context decides.
3. « Ça demande du temps » means it requires time. Very common.
🎮 Practise « demander »
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