Basic states, preparation, and time | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic states, preparation, and time..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic states, preparation, and time to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Je me sens mieux.

zhuh muh sahn myuh I am feeling better.
B

Je suis très occupé.

zhuh swee treh oh-kyoo-PAY I am very busy.
A

Je suis prêt maintenant.

zhuh swee preh man-tuh-NAHN I am ready now.
B

Je ne suis pas prêt.

zhuh nuh swee pah preh I am not ready.
A

J'ai besoin de plus de temps.

zhay buh-ZWAN duh ploo duh tahn I need more time.
B

Tu as le temps ?

too ah luh tahn Do you have time?

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” here and identifies the speaker in forms such as “Je me sens mieux.”, “Je suis très occupé.”, and “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” It is used before the verb when the speaker describes their own state, action, or need. Use “Je” as the subject when saying something about yourself.
me “me” refers back to the speaker in “Je me sens mieux.” and helps express that the speaker feels better. It comes between “Je” and “sens” in this construction. A useful pattern is “Je me sens” followed by a description of how you feel.
sens “sens” means “feel” in “Je me sens mieux.” The citation form is “sentir”; “sens” is the form used with “Je” in this dialogue. Use it with “me” when describing your own condition or feelings.
mieux “mieux” means “better” in “Je me sens mieux.” It shows that the speaker’s condition has improved compared with before. Use it after “Je me sens” when reporting that you feel better.
suis “suis” means “am” in “Je suis très occupé.”, “Je suis prêt maintenant.”, and “Je ne suis pas prêt.” The citation form is “être”, and “suis” is the form used with “Je” to describe a state. It is followed here by a description such as “très occupé” or “prêt”.
très “très” means “very” in “Je suis très occupé.” It strengthens the description “occupé”, making the speaker’s busyness emphatic. Put “très” before the word it intensifies.
occupé “occupé” means “busy” in “Je suis très occupé.” It describes the speaker’s current state after “suis”. Use it in a sentence about having many tasks or not being available.
prêt “prêt” means “ready” in “Je suis prêt maintenant.” and “Je ne suis pas prêt.” It describes whether the speaker is prepared at that moment. Use it after “Je suis” when saying that you are ready, or inside the negative form “Je ne suis pas prêt.”
maintenant “maintenant” means “now” in “Je suis prêt maintenant.” It places the state of being ready at the present moment. It can be placed at the end of a sentence to clarify that something is true now.
ne “ne” is the first part of the negation in “Je ne suis pas prêt.” It comes before “suis” and works together with “pas” to say that the speaker is not ready. In a negative sentence, place “ne” before the verb.
pas “pas” is the second part of the negation in “Je ne suis pas prêt.” It comes after “suis”; with “ne”, it makes the statement negative. Keep “pas” after the verb in this negative structure.
J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” at the start of “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” The citation form of the verb is “avoir”. Here it introduces the expression for having a need, followed by what is needed.
besoin “besoin” contributes the meaning “need” in “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” It is used with “J'ai” and followed by “de” before the thing needed. A reusable pattern is “J'ai besoin de” plus an object or amount.
de “de” appears twice in “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” The first “de” follows “besoin” and introduces what is needed; the second appears in “plus de temps” after “plus” to introduce the amount. Pay attention to both positions when expressing a need for more of something.
plus “plus” means “more” in “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” It indicates an amount greater than what is currently available or sufficient. A useful pattern is “plus de” followed by a noun, as in “plus de temps”.
temps “temps” means “time” in “J'ai besoin de plus de temps.” and “Tu as le temps ?” It refers to time as something the speaker needs or asks whether the other person has available. Use it after “de plus de” for a need for additional time, or with “le” in the question about having time.
Tu “Tu” means “you” when addressing one person in “Tu as le temps ?” It is the subject of the question. Put “Tu” before the verb when asking one person about their situation or availability.
as “as” means “have” in “Tu as le temps ?” The citation form is “avoir”, and “as” is the form used with “Tu” here. It is followed by “le temps” to ask whether the person has time available.
le “le” means “the” in “Tu as le temps ?” and forms the expression “le temps” for the time or availability being asked about. It comes before “temps” in this question. Use the same article before “temps” when asking whether someone has time.

Grammar Points

se sentir + adjectif

Je me sens mieux.

zhuh muh sahn myuh

I feel better.

French uses the reflexive verb se sentir for physical or emotional states; me changes with the subject.

avoir besoin de + nom

Tu as besoin de plus de temps.

too ah buh-ZWAN duh ploo duh tahn

You need more time.

The fixed expression avoir besoin de means “to need.” The preposition de comes before the thing needed.

French Vocabulary

as verb
ah have

Tu as le temps ?

besoin de phrase
buh-ZWAN duh need

J'ai besoin de plus de temps.

maintenant adv
man-tuh-NAHN now

Je suis prêt maintenant.

mieux adv
myuh better

Je me sens mieux.

occupé adj
oh-kyoo-PAY busy

Je suis très occupé.

plus de temps phrase
ploo duh tahn more time

J'ai besoin de plus de temps.

prêt adj
preh ready

Je suis prêt maintenant.

se sens verb
suh sahn feel me sens

Je me sens mieux.

temps noun
tahn time

Tu as le temps ?

très adv
treh very

Je suis très occupé.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am feeling better.

Show AnswerJe me sens mieux.

I am very busy.

Show AnswerJe suis très occupé.

I am ready now.

Show AnswerJe suis prêt maintenant.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

very

Show Answertrès

ready

Show Answerprêt

better

Show Answermieux

now

Show Answermaintenant