Practice Makes Perfect

je. The subject pronoun je and the verb are only inverted in very rare cases such as in Puis-je? 

(May I?) This phrase is commonly used, especially in the service business. Puis is a modified 

form of the verb pouvoir (to be able). In other cases, the inversion with the pronoun je can also 

be used but only to make an emphatic statement. Look at the following examples:

Puis-je vous aider, monsieur? 

May I help you, sir?

Ai-je autant de cheveux gris? 

Do I have so much gray hair? (sense of humor)

Vais-je y aller? 

Am I going to go? (Should I?)

Dois-je le faire? 

Must I do it? (emphasis)

Saurais-je le dire? 

Dare I say it? (emphasis)

When the subject is a noun

If the subject of the verb in the declarative sentence is a noun, the subject + verb structure of the 

declarative sentence will remain the same, but the appropriate subject pronoun that can replace 

the subject noun is added after the verb and is linked to the verb with a hyphen.