Skip to Main

demander at C1 — refined & idiomatic

« demander » — jump to your level:A1A2B1B2C1C2Native

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.

Je ne demande qu’à aider.I’d be only too glad to help.
Ça demande du temps.That takes time.
L’offre et la demande.Supply and demand.
Il a demandé sa main.He asked for her hand in marriage.
Learn faster with a native teacher — book a free lesson →
📢 Share this lesson: