Basic needs and preferences | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic needs, wishes, and preferences..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic needs and preferences to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

J'ai besoin d'aide.

zhay buh-ZWAN ded I need some help.
B

J'ai besoin d'eau.

zhay buh-ZWAN doh I need some water.
A

Je veux celui-ci.

zhuh vuh suh-lwee-SEE I want this one.
B

Je veux celui-là.

zhuh vuh suh-lwee-LAH I want that one.
A

J'aime celui-ci.

zhem suh-lwee-SEE I like this one.
B

Je ne l'aime pas.

zhuh nuh LEM pah I do not like it.

Word by Word

J'ai J'ai means “I have” in J'ai besoin d'aide and J'ai besoin d'eau. It is the form of avoir used with Je here. A useful pattern is J'ai besoin de + the thing needed, as shown by J'ai besoin d'aide and J'ai besoin d'eau. Use it when saying that you need something.
besoin besoin expresses the idea of a need in J'ai besoin d'aide and J'ai besoin d'eau; the whole expression means “I need help” or “I need water.” It is followed by de plus the thing needed, as in d'aide and d'eau. Use this expression when asking for or describing a basic need.
d'aide d'aide means “help” in J'ai besoin d'aide. The form begins with d', the shortened form of de before the vowel in aide. The dialogue uses it after besoin in besoin d'aide. Use it when you need assistance.
d'eau d'eau means “water” in J'ai besoin d'eau. The form begins with d', the shortened form of de before the vowel in eau. The dialogue uses it after besoin in besoin d'eau. Use it when saying that you need water.
Je Je means “I” and is the subject in Je veux, Je ne l'aime pas, and J'aime. It comes before the verb in these sentences. Use Je + a verb to talk about your own wishes or preferences.
veux veux means “want” in Je veux celui-ci and Je veux celui-là. It is the form of vouloir used with Je here. It is followed by the selected item in both dialogue lines. Use Je veux + an item when choosing or requesting something.
celui-ci celui-ci means “this one” in Je veux celui-ci and J'aime celui-ci. The whole expression identifies one nearer item: celui points to the item, and ci marks it as the nearer one. The expression can follow verbs such as Je veux or J'aime when choosing or expressing a preference. Use it when the item you mean is the one close by.
celui-là celui-là means “that one” in Je veux celui-là. The whole expression identifies one more distant item: celui points to the item, and là marks it as the one over there or farther away. It can follow Je veux when choosing an item. Use it when the item you mean is not the nearer one.
J'aime J'aime means “I like” in J'aime celui-ci. It is the form of aimer used with Je here. It is followed by the item that is liked, here celui-ci. Use J'aime + an item to express a preference.
ne ne contributes to the negative meaning in Je ne l'aime pas. It works together with pas around the verb phrase, rather than expressing the complete negation by itself. The dialogue shows the order Je ne l'aime pas. Use this position when saying that you do not like something.
l'aime l'aime means “like it” in Je ne l'aime pas. Here l' refers to the item, and aime is the form of aimer used with Je; the apostrophe joins l' to aime before a vowel. The item being liked is placed before the verb inside l'aime. Use it when referring to an item already understood in the conversation.
pas pas completes the negative meaning in Je ne l'aime pas. It works with ne, with the verb phrase between them, to express “do not like.” A common pattern is ne + the verb phrase + pas, as in Je ne l'aime pas. Use it to make this statement negative.

Grammar Points

avoir besoin de + nom

J'ai besoin d'aide.

zhay buh-ZWAN ded

I need help.

French uses avoir besoin de to express “to need.” Before a vowel, de contracts to d’.

celui-ci / celui-là

J'aime celui-ci.

zhem suh-lwee-SEE

I like this one.

These demonstrative pronouns mean “this one” and “that one,” replacing a previously mentioned masculine noun.

French Vocabulary

aide noun
ed help

J'ai besoin d'aide.

aimer verb
ay-MAY to like J'aime

J'aime celui-ci.

avoir besoin de phrase
ah-VWAR buh-ZWAN duh to need J'ai besoin de

J'ai besoin d'aide.

besoin noun
buh-ZWAN need

J'ai besoin d'aide.

celui-ci pron
suh-lwee-SEE this one

Je veux celui-ci.

celui-là pron
suh-lwee-LAH that one

Je veux celui-là.

eau noun
oh water

J'ai besoin d'eau.

vouloir verb
voo-LWAR to want veux

Je veux celui-ci.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need some help.

Show AnswerJ'ai besoin d'aide.

I need some water.

Show AnswerJ'ai besoin d'eau.

I want this one.

Show AnswerJe veux celui-ci.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to want

Show Answerveux

help

Show Answeraide

need

Show Answerbesoin

water

Show Answereau