Confirming the right bus | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: At a bus stop, two passengers ask the driver whether the bus goes to the station before boarding..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Confirming the right bus to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Le bus est là.

luh BEWSS eh LAH The bus is here.
B

Tu penses que c'est le bon bus ?

tew PAHNS kuh SAY luh BOHN BEWSS Do you think this is the right bus?
A

Demandons au conducteur avant de monter.

duh-mahn-DOHN oh kohn-dewk-TEWR ah-VAHN duh mohn-TAY Let's ask the driver before we get on.
A

Excusez-moi, ce bus va à la gare ?

ehks-kew-ZAY-MWAH, suh BEWSS vah ah lah GAHR Excuse me, does this bus go to the station?
C

La gare est le dernier arrêt.

lah GAHR eh luh dehr-NYAY ah-RAY The station is the last stop.
B

Alors, c'est le bon bus.

ah-LOR, SAY luh BOHN BEWSS Then this is the right bus.
A

Montons et avançons vers le fond.

mohn-TOHN eh ah-vahn-SON vair luh FOHN Let's get on and move farther inside.
B

Je vais rester près du milieu.

zhuh VAY reh-STAY pray dew mee-LYUH I'll stand near the middle.

Word by Word

Le “Le” means “the” before “bus” in “Le bus est là.” It is used in the reusable pattern le + noun, for example when identifying a specific object.
bus “bus” means “bus” in “Le bus est là.” It names the vehicle that has arrived, and it can be used with a destination phrase when discussing a bus route.
est “Est” means “is” in “Le bus est là.” It links the bus with its location, and the pattern noun + est + location can state where something is.
là “Là” means “here” in “Le bus est là.” Together with “est”, it points out the bus’s current location, useful when something has just arrived or is visible.
Tu “Tu” means “you” when one person is being addressed in “Tu penses que c'est le bon bus ?” It is used before a verb when asking that person for an opinion.
penses “Penses” means “think” in “Tu penses que c'est le bon bus ?” The pattern Tu penses que + clause asks what someone believes or thinks, such as when checking a choice.
que “Que” means “that” in “Tu penses que c'est le bon bus ?” It introduces the idea being considered after “Tu penses”, in the reusable pattern penser que + clause.
c'est “C'est” means “this is” in “c'est le bon bus”. It identifies or evaluates something, and the pattern c'est + noun phrase can be used when naming the correct option.
bon “Bon” means “right” or “correct” in “le bon bus”, not simply a general quality. The pattern le bon + noun is useful when choosing the appropriate bus, route, or item.
Demandons “Demandons” means “let’s ask” in “Demandons au conducteur”. It invites the people together to ask for information, and it can be followed by the person being asked.
au “Au” means “to the” in “Demandons au conducteur”. Here it marks the person to whom the question is directed; the pattern demander au + person identifies whom to ask.
conducteur “Conducteur” means “driver” in “au conducteur”. It identifies the person being asked about the bus route, useful when requesting transport information from the driver.
avant “Avant” means “before” in “avant de monter”. It places one action earlier than another, and the reusable pattern avant de + infinitive describes what happens before an action.
de “De” connects “avant” to the action “monter” in “avant de monter”. In the pattern avant de + infinitive, it introduces the action that has not happened yet.
monter “Monter” means “get on” in “avant de monter”, referring to boarding the bus here. The pattern avant de monter can be used when describing something done before boarding.
Excusez-moi “Excusez-moi” means “excuse me” as a polite way to get the driver’s attention in “Excusez-moi, ce bus va à la gare ?” It combines “Excusez”, the request to excuse, with “moi”, meaning “me”; use the whole expression when addressing someone politely.
ce “Ce” means “this” in “ce bus”. It points to the particular bus being discussed, and the pattern ce + noun identifies a nearby or already-mentioned masculine noun.
va “Va” means “goes” in “ce bus va à la gare ?” It describes the bus’s route, and the pattern va à + destination asks or states where something goes.
à “À” means “to” in “va à la gare”. It marks the destination after “va”, and the pattern aller à + place is used when talking about going to a location.
la “La” means “the” before “gare” in “la gare”. It is used in the pattern la + noun when referring to a specific feminine noun.
gare “Gare” means “station” in “à la gare”. It names the destination of the bus, and the expression “à la gare” is useful when asking whether transport goes to the station.
dernier “Dernier” means “last” in “le dernier arrêt”. It shows that the station is the final stop on this route, and the pattern le dernier + noun identifies the final item or place in a sequence.
arrêt “Arrêt” means “stop” in “le dernier arrêt”. It refers to a place where the bus stops, and “le dernier arrêt” is useful when discussing the end of a route.
Alors “Alors” means “then” in “Alors, c'est le bon bus.” It introduces a conclusion based on the information just given, useful when deciding what to do next.
Montons “Montons” means “let’s get on” in “Montons et avançons vers le fond.” It invites the group to board the bus, and it can introduce the next action in a shared plan.
et “Et” means “and” in “Montons et avançons”. It connects the two actions of getting on and moving farther inside, and the pattern action A et action B links actions in sequence.
avançons “Avançons” means “let’s move forward” in “avançons vers le fond”. It invites the group to move farther inside the bus, and the pattern avançons vers + direction indicates where to move.
vers “Vers” means “toward” in “vers le fond”. It marks the direction of movement, and the pattern vers + place or direction is useful when saying where someone is heading.
fond “Fond” means “back” or “inside” in “vers le fond”, referring to the farther part of the bus. The expression “vers le fond” is useful when directing someone to move deeper inside a vehicle or room.
Je “Je” means “I” in “Je vais rester près du milieu.” It marks the speaker as the person who will remain there, and it is placed before the verb in a personal statement.
vais “Vais” helps express “am going to” in “Je vais rester près du milieu.” The pattern Je vais + infinitive states an intention or immediate plan, here the plan to remain near the middle.
rester “Rester” means “stay” or “remain” in “Je vais rester près du milieu.” It describes continuing to be in a place, and the pattern rester + place phrase says where someone will remain.
près “Près” means “near” in “près du milieu”. It expresses proximity to the middle of the bus, and the pattern près de + place describes being close to a location.
du “Du” completes the phrase “près du milieu”, meaning “near the”. It introduces the place that marks the reference point, and the pattern près du + noun describes proximity to a specific place.
milieu “Milieu” means “middle” in “près du milieu”. It identifies the central area of the bus, and the expression “près du milieu” is useful when saying where someone plans to stand or stay.

Grammar Points

avant de + infinitif

avant de monter

ah-VAHN duh mohn-TAY

before getting on

After « avant de », use the infinitive to express an action that happens earlier.

French Vocabulary

avant prep
ah-VAHN before

Avant de monter.

bon adj
BOHN right; correct

C'est le bon bus.

bus noun
BEWSS bus

Le bus est là.

ce det
suh this

Ce bus va à la gare ?

conducteur noun
kohn-dewk-TEWR driver

Demandons au conducteur.

demandons verb
duh-mahn-DOHN let's ask

Demandons au conducteur avant de monter.

Excusez-moi phrase
ehks-kew-ZAY-MWAH Excuse me

Excusez-moi, ce bus va à la gare ?

gare noun
GAHR station

La gare est le dernier arrêt.

là adv
LAH here

Le bus est là.

monter verb
mohn-TAY get on; go up

Avant de monter.

penses verb
PAHNS think

Tu penses que c'est le bon bus ?

va verb
VAH goes

Ce bus va à la gare ?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The bus is here.

Show AnswerLe bus est là.

Let's ask the driver before we get on.

Show AnswerDemandons au conducteur avant de monter.

The station is the last stop.

Show AnswerLa gare est le dernier arrêt.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

let's ask

Show Answerdemandons

before

Show Answeravant

driver

Show Answerconducteur

think

Show Answerpenses