Using a notebook in class | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Using a notebook in class to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier.

zhay oo-blee-AY dah-por-TAY moh(n) ka-YAY I forgot to bring my notebook.

Tu peux utiliser cette feuille.

tyoo puh oo-tee-lee-ZAY set FUH-y You can use this paper.

Merci. Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots.

mehr-SEE. zhuh vuh ay-KREER lay noo-VOH moh. Thank you. I want to write the new words.

Bonne idée. Je vais les écrire aussi.

bawn ee-DAY. zhuh veh lay ay-KREER oh-SEE. Good idea. I will write them too.

On peut les vérifier après le cours ?

awn puh lay vay-ree-FYAY ah-PRAY luh KOOR? Can we check them after class?

On peut les lire ensemble.

awn puh lay LEER ahn-SAHNBL. We can read them together.

Word by Word

J'ai «J'ai» means “I have” by itself, but in «J'ai oublié» it helps express the completed event “I forgot.” It is a form of avoir and can be reused before a past participle in a similar completed-event construction. Use it when describing something the speaker has done or has forgotten.

oublié «oublié» means “forgot” here as part of «J'ai oublié», while the full phrase gives the meaning “I forgot.” It is the past-participle form of oublier and is reused in the pattern oublier de + infinitive. Use it when saying that someone forgot an action.

d'apporter «d'apporter» means “to bring” in «J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier». The d’ is de before apporter, and oublier de + infinitive is the pattern for saying that someone forgot to do something. Use it when explaining that an item was not brought.

mon «mon» shows that the notebook belongs to the speaker in «mon cahier». It is used before a singular masculine noun, so mon + noun is a reusable possession pattern. Use it when referring to a personal item.

cahier «cahier» means “notebook” here, specifically the classroom notebook in «mon cahier». It can be used with a possessive such as mon cahier or with classroom writing activities. Use it when talking about a notebook used for lessons.

Tu «Tu» means “you” when speaking to one person in this dialogue. It is the subject of «Tu peux utiliser», a reusable way to address one person about what they can do. Use it in a direct, informal exchange with one person.

peux «peux» means “can” in «Tu peux utiliser», expressing ability or permission here. It is the form of pouvoir used with tu and is reused in the pattern Tu peux + infinitive. Use it to offer someone permission or a possible action.

utiliser «utiliser» means “to use” and follows «peux» in «Tu peux utiliser cette feuille». After peux, it stays in the infinitive form. Reuse utiliser + object when saying that someone will use an item.

cette «cette» means “this” and points to the sheet being offered in «cette feuille». It comes before the noun it identifies. Reuse cette + noun when indicating a specific item, especially one nearby or already noticeable.

feuille «feuille» means “sheet of paper” here, the sheet offered as writing material. It commonly names one sheet used for writing. Use it in a classroom exchange about paper or a sheet of paper.

Merci «Merci» means “thank you”. Here it is a standalone response after receiving the offered sheet, so it acknowledges help politely. Use it when thanking someone for an object, action, or offer.

Je «Je» means “I” and is the subject of «Je veux écrire». It appears before a conjugated verb to show the speaker’s action or intention. Use it when stating your own plan or desire.

veux «veux» means “want” in «Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots». It is the form of vouloir used with je and is followed here by an infinitive, giving the pattern Je veux + infinitive. Use it to state an intention or desire.

écrire «écrire» means “to write”. Here it follows «veux» and takes «les nouveaux mots» as its object, so the phrase describes writing the new words. Reuse écrire + object when talking about writing something, such as notes or vocabulary.

les «les» has two roles in this dialogue: it means “the” before the plural noun in «les nouveaux mots», and “them” before infinitives in «les écrire», «les vérifier», and «les lire». In the latter uses, it refers back to the new words and comes before the infinitive. Reuse les + plural noun for known plural things, and use the object-pronoun pattern before an infinitive when referring back to them.

nouveaux «nouveaux» means “new” in «les nouveaux mots». It appears before «mots» and uses the plural form needed in this phrase. Use it with a noun when describing vocabulary that is new to the learners.

mots «mots» means “words” here, specifically the vocabulary being written, checked, and read. It is plural in «les nouveaux mots». Use it when referring to words or vocabulary items from a class.

Bonne «Bonne» means “good” in «Bonne idée». It describes «idée» and has the form used in this expression. «Bonne idée» is a common way to approve a suggestion, so use it when agreeing with someone’s plan.

idée «idée» means “idea” in «Bonne idée». Together, the two words express approval of the suggestion; that reaction comes from the whole expression, not from idée alone. Use idée when discussing a plan or suggestion.

vais «vais» means “am going to” or “will” in «Je vais les écrire». It is the form of aller used with je and combines with the infinitive écrire to express an intended future action. Reuse Je vais + infinitive when stating what you plan to do next.

aussi «aussi» means “too” or “also” and adds that the speaker will write the words as well. It appears after the action phrase in «Je vais les écrire aussi». Use it to say that you will do the same as someone else.

On «On» means “we” in «On peut les vérifier» and «On peut les lire», referring to the two people together. It is followed by peut, giving On peut + infinitive for a shared possibility or suggestion. Use it when proposing that a group do something.

peut «peut» means “can” in «On peut les vérifier» and «On peut les lire». With On, it introduces a shared possibility or suggestion and is followed by an infinitive. Reuse On peut + infinitive when suggesting an action for the group.

vérifier «vérifier» means “to check”. In «On peut les vérifier», les refers to the new words, so the group can check them after class. It follows peut as an infinitive and can be reused with a direct object when reviewing written information.

après «après» means “after” and places the checking time after the class in «après le cours». It can be reused before a time noun in the pattern après + noun. Use it to schedule an action later than another event.

le «le» means “the” before «cours» in «le cours». It identifies the class as a specific known event, and le + noun is a reusable article pattern. Use it when referring to a known singular masculine noun.

cours «cours» means “class” here. In «le cours», it refers to the lesson the speakers are attending, and «après le cours» means “after class”. Use it in classroom conversations about a lesson or class session.

lire «lire» means “to read”. In «On peut les lire ensemble», it follows peut and takes les as its object, referring back to the words. Reuse lire + object when saying what someone reads, especially when reviewing written material.

ensemble «ensemble» means “together” and shows that the people will read as a group in «On peut les lire ensemble». It commonly follows the verb phrase to describe a shared action. Use it when proposing or describing an activity done with another person.

Grammar Points

vouloir + infinitif

Je veux écrire de nouveaux mots.

zhuh vuh ay-KREER duh noo-VOH moh

I want to write new words.

After veux, the second verb stays in the infinitive: veux écrire, not a conjugated form.

nouveau → nouveaux devant un nom masculin pluriel

de nouveaux mots

duh noo-VOH moh

new words

Nouveau agrees with the masculine plural noun mots and becomes nouveaux.

French Vocabulary

apporter verb

ah-por-TAY to bring d'apporter

J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier.

bon adj

baw(n) good Bonne

Bonne idée.

cahier noun

ka-YAY notebook mon cahier

J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier.

écrire verb

ay-KREER to write

Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots.

feuille noun

FUH-y sheet of paper cette feuille

Tu peux utiliser cette feuille.

idée noun

ee-DAY idea

Bonne idée.

merci intj

mehr-SEE thank you

Merci.

mot noun

moh word mots

Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots.

nouveau adj

noo-VOH new nouveaux

Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots.

oublier verb

oo-blee-AY to forget oublié

J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier.

utiliser verb

oo-tee-lee-ZAY to use

Tu peux utiliser cette feuille.

vouloir verb

voo-LWAHR to want veux

Je veux écrire les nouveaux mots.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I forgot to bring my notebook.

Show Answer

J'ai oublié d'apporter mon cahier.

You can use this paper.

Show Answer

Tu peux utiliser cette feuille.

We can read them together.

Show Answer

On peut les lire ensemble.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to want

Show Answer

veux

to use

Show Answer

utiliser

to write

Show Answer

écrire

thank you

Show Answer

merci