D'accord vs ça va
Do you think you know the difference between d’accord and ça va? Es-tu sûr*? While in some circumstances these expressions both mean ‘OK’, that’s not always the case – and they’re not interchangeable. D’accord and ça va have different uses, yet even our most advanced students mix them up from time to time.
Ne t’inquiète pas*, though. After you’ve finished this lesson, tout sera clair*! And in case you get lost, just remember this:
When you want to say ‘OK’
D’accord and ça va both mean OK. However, d’accord is to do with agreement, whereas ça va is about how you are feeling or how someone or something is going. Confused? Consider how both are used in conversation below.
D’accord
Q: Tu veux venir avec nous?
Do you want to come with us?
R: D’accord!
OK!
Q: D’accord?
OK?
R: Oui, d’accord.
Yes, OK.
In these examples, you are agreeing to an activity, idea or decision.
Ça va
Q: Ça va?
How are you? (Literal translation: it goes?)
R: Ça va.
OK/ fine. (Literal translation: it goes.)
Q: Je prends ta voiture, ça va?
I’m taking your car, is that OK?
R: Oui, ça va.
Yes, it’s OK.
In these examples, you are being asked if you are OK or if a certain situation is OK.
Other uses of d’accord
Still with us? While ça va is quite straightforward, there are plusieurs* other uses of d’accord to wrap your tête* around.
Être d’accord (literally, ‘to be in agreement’) means to agree with someone or something.
Par example*…
Q: Ils sont d’accord?
Do they agree?
R: Oui, ils sont d’accord.
Yes, they agree.
Q: Es-tu d’accord avec elle?
Do you agree with her?
R: Oui, je suis d’accord.
Yes, I agree.
Q: Qu’est-ce que vous pensez?
What do you think?
R: Je ne suis pas d’accord avec ça.
I don’t agree with that.
Être d’accord pour is also used to express agreement or willingness to do something.
Par example…
Q: Vous êtes d’accord pour arroser mes plantes quand je suis en vacances?
Do you agree to water my plants while I’m on holiday?
R: Oui, je suis d’accord pour les arroser.
Yes, I’m willing to water them.
Je suis d’accord pour travailler samedi.
I agree to work on Saturday.
Finally (for now), être d’accord que means ‘to agree that’.
Par example…
Il était d’accord que ce n’était pas une bonne idée.
He agreed that it wasn’t a good idea.
TO RECAP
Got it? Here are some common traps to avoid.
COMMON MISTAKES
*Are you sure? | * Don’t worry | *Everything will be clear! | *several | *head | *For example