How to Say ‘But aren't taxis required to accept cards?’ in French
Mais les taxis ne sont pas obligés d'accepter la carte ?
meh leh taks-ee nuh sohn pah oh-blee-ZHAY d' ak-sep-TAY lah kart
[meh leh taks-ee nuh sohn pah oh-blee-ZHAY d' ak-sep-TAY lah kart]
💬 Usage Tip: Être obligé de "to be required to" is followed by a verb in its plain form. Here de shortens to d' before accepter.
Phrase Breakdown
Mais les taxis
meh leh taks-ee
But taxis
'Mais' introduces mild surprise. Don't pronounce the final 's' in 'taxis'.
Mais les taxis sont chers !
But taxis are expensive!
Words in this phrase
Mais
[meh]
But
Used to introduce a contrast.
Il est petit mais fort.
He is small but strong.
les
[leh]
the
Used before plural nouns to denote particularity.
Les années passent vite.
The years pass quickly.
taxis
[taks-ee]
Taxis
Automobiles available for hire to carry passengers to specific destinations.
Les taxis à Paris sont nombreux.
The taxis in Paris are numerous.
ne sont pas obligés
nuh sohn pah oh-blee-ZHAY
aren't required
'Être obligé de' means 'to be required to'. 'Obligés' ends with an 'ay' sound.
Vous n'êtes pas obligés de venir.
You don't have to come.
Words in this phrase
ne
[nuh]
(negation) not
Negation particle used with another negative word (ne… rien). In speech, it can be dropped, but it’s standard in writing.
Ne me raconte rien sur l’anime, je veux garder la surprise.
Don’t tell me anything about the anime, I want to keep the surprise.
sont
[sohn]
are
"Sont" is the plural form of "être," meaning "are."
Les relations sont parfois un bon indicateur de la culture d'entreprise.
Relationships are sometimes a good indicator of company culture.
pas
[pah]
not
Used with 'ne' to form a negative.
Je ne comprends pas.
I do not understand.
obligés
[oh-blee-ZHAY]
obliged / required
Past participle of obliger, plural; 'être obligé de' means to have to.
Nous sommes obligés de partir.
We have to leave.
d'accepter la carte ?
d' ak-sep-TAY lah kart
to accept cards?
'De' becomes 'd'' before a vowel. Raise your intonation for the question.
Il refuse d'accepter la carte.
He refuses to accept cards.
Words in this phrase
d'
[d']
to
Indicating direction or relation.
Je vous prie d'envoyer le document au plus vite.
I beg you to send the document as soon as possible.
accepter
[ak-sep-TAY]
to accept
Infinitive verb meaning to take or agree to.
Il faut accepter les cartes.
Cards must be accepted.
la
[lah]
the (feminine singular)
Definite article used before a feminine singular noun.
La réservation est déjà confirmée pour samedi soir.
The reservation is already confirmed for Saturday evening.
carte
[kart]
Card
Refers to a payment card such as a credit or debit card.
Je préfère régler par carte pour cette course.
I prefer to pay by card for this ride.
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