Trying on shoes | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shoe shop, a customer tries on shoes and asks for a larger pair when they feel small..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Trying on shoes to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ces chaussures ont l'air confortables.

say shoh-ZOOR ohn LAIR kohn-for-TAHBL These shoes look comfortable.
B

Elles sont faites pour les longues marches.

ell SOHN fet poor lay LOHNG MARSH They are made for long walks.
A

Est-ce que je peux les essayer ici ?

ess-kuh zhuh PUH lay-zay-say-YAY ee-SEE Can I try them on here?
B

Vous pouvez utiliser ce banc pour les mettre.

voo poo-VAY oo-tee-lee-ZAY suh BAHN poor lay MEHTR Use this bench while you put them on.
A

Elles sont un peu petites.

ell SOHN uhn PUH puh-TEET They feel a little small.
B

Essayez cette paire plus grande.

eh-say-YAY set pair ploo GRAHND Try this larger pair.
A

Cette paire est plus confortable.

set pair eh ploo kohn-for-TAHBL This pair feels better.
B

Cette pointure vous va bien.

set pwan-TOOR voo vah BYEHN That size looks right on you.

Word by Word

Ces “Ces” means “these” and points to the shoes in “Ces chaussures”. It is used before a plural noun to identify things near or relevant to the speaker, as in “Ces chaussures ont l'air confortables”.
chaussures “Chaussures” means “shoes” here. It is the plural form of the noun “chaussure” and is used in “Ces chaussures” and later referred to by “Elles”. The word is useful when talking about a pair or several shoes in a shop.
ont l'air “Ont l'air” means “look” or “seem” in “Ces chaussures ont l'air confortables”. The whole expression gives an impression, while “ont” and “l'air” work together to form that meaning. A reusable pattern is “avoir l'air + adjective” for describing how something appears.
confortables “Confortables” means “comfortable” and describes the plural noun “chaussures” in “ont l'air confortables”. It is the plural form of “confortable”. You can use it after an expression such as “ont l'air” when describing several things.
Elles “Elles” means “they” and refers to the shoes in “Elles sont faites pour les longues marches” and “Elles sont un peu petites”. It is used here for a group of feminine nouns, and it lets the speaker continue talking about the shoes without repeating “chaussures”.
sont “Sont” means “are” in “Elles sont faites pour les longues marches” and “Elles sont un peu petites”. It is a form of the verb “être” used with “Elles”. A reusable pattern is “Elles sont + description” when describing several feminine things.
faites “Faites” means “made” in “Elles sont faites pour les longues marches”, expressing what the shoes are designed or intended for. It is a form of “faire” used with “Elles”. The pattern “sont faites pour” introduces a purpose or intended use.
pour “Pour” means “for” in “faites pour les longues marches”. It introduces the purpose or activity the shoes are intended for. A reusable pattern is “être fait pour + activity or object”.
les “Les” has two roles in this dialogue. In “pour les longues marches”, it means “the” before the plural noun phrase; in “les essayer” and “les mettre”, it means “them” and refers to the shoes. The surrounding words show whether “les” introduces a noun or comes before an infinitive as the object.
longues “Longues” means “long” in “les longues marches” and describes the plural noun “marches”. It is the feminine plural form of “long”. It can be placed before a noun when describing the length or duration of several things.
marches “Marches” means “walks” in “pour les longues marches”. It is the plural form of “marche”. The phrase “pour les longues marches” names the activity for which the shoes are intended.
Est-ce “Est-ce” begins the question construction “Est-ce que” in “Est-ce que je peux les essayer ici ?”. It helps turn the following statement into a question and does not carry the full question meaning by itself. A reusable pattern is “Est-ce que + subject + verb” for asking a clear question.
que “Que” completes the question construction “Est-ce que” in “Est-ce que je peux les essayer ici ?”. Together, “Est-ce que” introduces the question; “que” is not functioning here as an independent “that”. This construction can be followed by a subject and verb.
je “Je” means “I” in “je peux les essayer ici”. It identifies the person asking whether they may try on the shoes. A reusable pattern is “je peux + infinitive”, as in the exact phrase “je peux les essayer”.
peux “Peux” means “can” in “je peux les essayer ici”, expressing ability or permission in this shop question. It is a form of “pouvoir” used with “je”. The pattern “je peux + infinitive” keeps the action after “peux”, including its object when there is one.
essayer “Essayer” means “to try” in “les essayer”, specifically to try the shoes on. It is an infinitive after “peux”, and the object pronoun “les” comes before it. A reusable pattern is “pouvoir + object pronoun + essayer”, as in “je peux les essayer”.
ici “Ici” means “here” in “les essayer ici”, referring to the place where the customer wants to try on the shoes. It is placed after the action in this question. It is useful when asking or indicating whether an activity can happen at the current place.
Vous “Vous” means “you” in “Vous pouvez utiliser ce banc”. Here it addresses the customer politely or addresses more than one person. A reusable pattern is “Vous pouvez + infinitive” when offering permission or stating that someone can do something.
pouvez “Pouvez” means “can” in “Vous pouvez utiliser ce banc”, allowing or inviting the customer to use the bench. It is a form of “pouvoir” used with “Vous”. The pattern “Vous pouvez + infinitive” is useful for giving polite permission or instructions.
utiliser “Utiliser” means “to use” in “utiliser ce banc”. It is the infinitive after “pouvez” and names the action the customer may do with the bench. A reusable pattern is “pouvoir utiliser + object”, as in “Vous pouvez utiliser ce banc”.
ce “Ce” means “this” in “ce banc”, pointing to the bench being offered to the customer. It is used before the singular noun “banc”. The pattern “ce + singular noun” identifies a particular masculine noun.
banc “Banc” means “bench” in “ce banc”. It is the object the customer can use while putting on the shoes. The phrase “utiliser ce banc” is useful when directing someone to a specific bench.
mettre “Mettre” means “to put” and refers to putting the shoes on in “pour les mettre”. The object pronoun “les” comes before the infinitive and identifies what is being put on. A reusable pattern is “pour + object pronoun + mettre” when explaining the purpose of an action.
un “Un” contributes to the expression “un peu”, which means “a little” in “un peu petites”. It is the indefinite article used as part of this small-quantity expression. The complete phrase “un peu” comes before an adjective to soften the description.
peu “Peu” contributes to “un peu”, meaning “a little” in “Elles sont un peu petites”. The full expression indicates a small degree rather than making a strong statement. It can be placed before an adjective, as in “un peu petites”.
petites “Petites” means “small” in “Elles sont un peu petites”, describing how the shoes feel in size. It is the feminine plural form of “petit”, matching “Elles” and the shoes. The pattern “être un peu + adjective” gives a softened description.
Essayez “Essayez” means “try” in “Essayez cette paire plus grande”, where the shop assistant tells the customer to try another pair. It is a form of “essayer” used as a polite or plural command. The exact pattern “Essayez cette paire” is useful when recommending an item to try.
cette “Cette” means “this” in “cette paire”, pointing to one particular pair. It is used before the feminine singular noun “paire”. The pattern “cette + singular feminine noun” identifies a specific item.
paire “Paire” means “pair” in “cette paire plus grande”. Here it refers to a pair of shoes, the alternative item offered by the assistant. The expression “cette paire” is useful when selecting one pair from several in a shop.
plus “Plus” contributes the comparative meaning “more” in “paire plus grande”, making the pair “larger” than the first one. It works with the adjective “grande” rather than carrying the complete comparison alone. A reusable pattern is “plus + adjective” for comparing qualities.
grande “Grande” describes the pair as large, and with “plus” in “paire plus grande” it means “larger”. It is the feminine singular form of “grand”, matching “paire”. The phrase is useful when asking for or offering an item of a larger size.
est “Est” means “is” in “Cette paire est plus confortable”. It is a form of “être” used with the singular subject “Cette paire”. The pattern “Cette paire est + adjective” describes the selected pair.
confortable “Confortable” means “comfortable” in “Cette paire est plus confortable”. It describes the singular noun “paire”, and “plus” makes the comparison with the earlier pair. A reusable pattern is “est plus confortable” when saying that one item feels more comfortable than another.
pointure “Pointure” means “shoe size” in “Cette pointure vous va bien”. It identifies the numerical or labelled size represented by the shoes. This word is useful when discussing whether a shoe size fits someone.
va “Va” means “fits” in “Cette pointure vous va bien”, although its basic verb meaning is related to going. It is a form of “aller” used with “Cette pointure”, while “vous” identifies the person whose fit is being assessed. The pattern “Cette pointure vous va bien” is useful for saying that a shoe size suits someone.
bien “Bien” means “well” in “vous va bien”, completing the idea that the shoe size fits properly. It modifies the expression “va” rather than describing the size by itself. A reusable pattern is to place “bien” after “va” when saying that something fits or suits someone well.

Grammar Points

avoir l'air + adjectif

Les chaussures ont l'air confortables.

lay shoh-ZOOR ohn LAIR kohn-for-TAHBL

The shoes look comfortable.

avoir l'air means “to look” or “to seem”; the adjective agrees with the noun it describes.

adjectif en genre et en nombre

de petites chaussures

duh puh-TEET shoh-ZOOR

small shoes

French adjectives agree with nouns: petite becomes petites because chaussures is feminine plural.

French Vocabulary

avoir l'air phrase
ah-VWAHR LAIR to look, to seem ont l'air
banc noun
BAHN bench
chaussure noun
shoh-ZOOR shoe chaussures
confortable adj
kohn-for-TAHBL comfortable confortables
essayer verb
eh-say-YAY to try on, to try Essayez
faire verb
FAIR to make faites
ici adv
ee-SEE here
long adj
LOHNG long longues
marche noun
MARSH walk marches
mettre verb
MEHTR to put on, to put
pouvoir verb
poo-VWAHR can, to be able to peux
utiliser verb
oo-tee-lee-ZAY to use

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

These shoes look comfortable.

Show AnswerCes chaussures ont l'air confortables.

They feel a little small.

Show AnswerElles sont un peu petites.

Try this larger pair.

Show AnswerEssayez cette paire plus grande.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

walk

Show Answermarches

to make

Show Answerfaites

can, to be able to

Show Answerpeux

comfortable

Show Answerconfortables