How do you say "I just started it!" in French?

"I just started it!" in French is "Je l'ai commencé !". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘I just started it!’ in French

Q: What does "Je l'ai commencé !" mean in English?

"Je l'ai commencé !" means "I just started it!" in English. Usage tip: In [Je l'ai commencé], [l'] stands for "it" and comes before the form of [avoir], not after the verb like in English. French does this a lot: [Je l'ai vu], [Je l'aime], [Je le connais].

Je l'ai commencé !

zhuh l ay koh-mahn-SAY

[zhuh l ay koh-mahn-SAY]

💬 Usage Tip: In [Je l'ai commencé], [l'] stands for "it" and comes before the form of [avoir], not after the verb like in English. French does this a lot: [Je l'ai vu], [Je l'aime], [Je le connais].

Phrase Breakdown

[zhuh]

Subject pronoun “I”. Used with object pronouns + auxiliary to talk about what you did recently.

Example

Je l' ai commencé hier, et j’aime déjà l’histoire.

I started it yesterday, and I already like the story.

[l]

it (direct object pronoun)

« l’ » replaces “it” (e.g., an anime/series). It comes before the auxiliary: « Je l’ai… »

Example

Je l' ai regardé en VO.

I watched it in the original language.

[ay]

have (1st person singular)

Auxiliary “have” used to form the passé composé: « je l’ai commencé » = “I started it”.

Example

Je l' ai mis dans ma liste.

I put it in my list.

commencé

[koh-mahn-SAY]

started

Past participle of « commencer ». With « l’ » it means you started “it” (the anime/series).

Example

Je l’ai commencé après les cours.

I started it after class.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

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