While I drink my coffeeBefore you practise: rules and examples
These topics cover this set, including review questions. Open the guide and refer to it while answering.
Suggest a trip
On va à Paris ? means “Shall we go to Paris?”. In conversation on often means “we”. The verb after on takes the il / elle form: on va, on part, on mange.
The near future is simple: aller + infinitive. Je vais prendre le train means “I’m going to take the train”. On va visiter un musée means “We’re going to visit a museum”. You know aller from issue 4; now it helps you make plans.
To invite someone: Tu veux venir avec moi ? means “Do you want to come with me?”. After veux comes an infinitive: venir, partir, manger.
On va à Paris ?/ɔ̃ va a paʁi/ — Shall we go to Paris?
On va prendre le train./ɔ̃ va pʁɑ̃dʁ lə tʁɛ̃/ — We’re going to take the train.
Choose a day and transport
Je préfère le train means “I prefer the train”. In the je, tu and il / elle forms it is spelt with è: je préfère, tu préfères, elle préfère. Nous and vous have é: nous préférons, vous préférez.
Offer a choice with ou (“or”): le train ou le bus ?, vendredi ou samedi ?. Days without an article mean “on that day”: samedi means “on Saturday”.
To agree: On part samedi matin means “We leave on Saturday morning”. You can add a reason: Je préfère le train, c’est plus rapide.
Je préfère le train./ʒə pʁefɛʁ lə tʁɛ̃/ — I prefer the train.
Vendredi ou samedi ?/vɑ̃dʁədi u samdi/ — Friday or Saturday?
Who pays
C’est Louis qui paie means “Louis is paying”. The pattern c’est … qui highlights who does something. With a pronoun: c’est moi qui paie means “I’m paying”.
Il paie les billets means “He pays for the tickets”. Paie sounds like /pɛ/. In billet the double ll sounds like /j/.
To thank someone: Merci, c’est gentil means “Thanks, that’s kind”. To say no politely: Non merci, je paie means “No thanks, I’ll pay”.
C’est Louis qui paie./sɛ lwi ki pɛ/ — Louis is paying.
Il paie les billets./il pɛ le bijɛ/ — He pays for the tickets.
Order a waffle yourself
Je voudrais une gaufre, s’il vous plaît means “I would like a waffle, please”. You have met je voudrais in a coffee order; now transfer it to a new situation. Learn it as a polite phrase without studying the entire conditional tense.
For a topping: avec du chocolat means “with chocolate”; without it: sans chocolat. There is no article after sans here. Gaufre is feminine: une gaufre.
If the question is too fast, reuse last week’s request: Vous pouvez répéter ?. Then give your choice: Sans chocolat, merci. First understand, then confirm.
Je voudrais une gaufre./ʒə vudʁɛ yn ɡofʁ/ — I would like a waffle.
Avec du chocolat ?/avɛk dy ʃɔkɔla/ — With chocolate?
Check the price and confirm
C’est combien ? means “How much is it?”. If unsure what the price refers to, ask Pour une gaufre ?: “For one waffle?”. You can ask to see it: Vous pouvez montrer le prix ?.
You do not have to guess an unfamiliar number. Ask for repetition or look at the price label. Exercises do not quote a current price at a particular business: the task is to ask and check.
Confirm the whole small order: Une gaufre sans chocolat, s’il vous plaît. D’accord, merci means “OK, thank you”. Finally try ordering without the model sentence in front of you.
C’est combien ?/sɛ kɔ̃bjɛ̃/ — How much is it?
Pour une gaufre ?/puʁ yn ɡofʁ/ — For one waffle?
1. Pour proposer un voyage :
2. Demain, on ___ prendre le train.
3. Je ___ le train.
4. Tu préfères vendredi ___ samedi ?
5. Louis paie les billets. Tu dis :
6. C’est Louis ___ paie les billets.
7. Build the phrase
I would like a waffle.
Review from Nº7These items appeared in the previous issue. See what has changed since then.
8. Tu ne veux pas de chocolat. Tu dis :
9. Pour demander le prix :