About This Lesson
Use Finding seats on a train to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Il fait frais dans le train.
eel fay FRAY dah(n) luh TRA(n) It feels cool inside the train.
B
Il y a des places libres plus loin.
eel yah day PLAHS LEE-br ploo LWA(n) There are open seats farther in.
A
Je veux m'asseoir après toute cette marche.
zhuh vuh mah-SWAHR ah-PRAY toot set MARSH I want to sit after all that walking.
B
Ces sièges sont confortables.
say SYEZH soh(n) kohn-for-TAH-bl These seats are comfortable.
A
Le trajet est calme aussi.
luh trah-ZHAY eh KAHLM oh-SEE The ride feels quiet too.
B
Tu peux voir l'écran de la gare depuis là-bas ?
tyoo puh vwar lay-KRAHN duh lah GAHR duh-PWEE lah-BAH Can you see the station display from there?
A
Il nous reste encore trois arrêts.
eel noo REST ahn-KOR trwah zah-RAY We have three more stops.
B
Ensuite, nous pouvons nous reposer un peu avant de descendre.
ahn-SWEET noo poo-VOH(n) noo ruh-poh-ZAY uh(n) puh ah-VAHN duh day-SAHN-druh Then we can rest a little before we get off.Word by Word
Il
In “Il fait frais dans le train”, “Il” is the impersonal subject used in the expression for the weather or temperature. It does not refer to a specific person here. A common reuse pattern is “Il” + weather expression.
fait
In “Il fait frais”, “fait” helps express the temperature or weather: it feels cool. It is the form of “faire” used in this fixed weather expression. Reuse it with a weather or temperature description, such as “Il fait…”.
frais
In “Il fait frais”, “frais” means cool, describing the temperature inside the train. Here it describes the air or surroundings rather than an object. You can reuse it after “Il fait” for cool weather or a cool place.
dans
In “dans le train”, “dans” means in or inside and places someone or something within a space. It is followed here by “le train”. A common reuse pattern is “dans” + a place.
le
In “le train”, “le” means the and introduces the specific train being discussed. It appears before the noun “train”. Reuse “le” before a specific masculine noun.
train
In “le train”, “train” means train, the vehicle where the speakers are sitting. It is used after the article “le”. A common reuse pattern is “dans le train” when talking about being on or inside a train.
y
In “Il y a des places libres”, “y” is part of the expression used to say that something exists or is present. It does not mean a separate physical location in this sentence. Reuse “Il y a” before the thing that is present.
a
In “Il y a des places libres”, “a” is part of the expression “Il y a”, meaning there is or there are. It helps introduce “des places libres”, the things that are available. Reuse “Il y a” before a singular or plural thing that is present.
des
In “des places libres”, “des” introduces plural seats that are available. It has the sense of some or unspecified plural items here. Reuse “des” before a plural noun when the items are not individually specified.
places
In “des places libres”, “places” means seats or places to sit on the train. The adjective “libres” explains that they are available. A common reuse pattern is “une place” or “des places” when asking for or identifying a seat.
libres
In “des places libres”, “libres” means free or available, so the seats are not occupied. It describes “places” in this dialogue. Reuse it after a noun when saying that a seat or other option is available.
plus
In “plus loin”, “plus” contributes the meaning farther or more distant. It is used together with “loin” to indicate a greater distance inside the train. A common reuse pattern is “plus” + a distance word or description.
loin
In “plus loin”, “loin” means far, and the full expression points to a place farther away. It describes where the open seats are located. Reuse “loin” to indicate that a person or object is at a distance.
Je
In “Je veux m'asseoir”, “Je” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who wants to sit down. It comes before the verb “veux”. A common reuse pattern is “Je” + a verb to state what you do or want.
veux
In “Je veux m'asseoir”, “veux” means want and expresses the speaker’s desire to sit down. It is followed here by the infinitive “m'asseoir”. Reuse “Je veux” before an action you want to do.
m'asseoir
In “Je veux m'asseoir”, “m'asseoir” means to sit down, with “m'” referring to the speaker. The full expression follows “Je veux” to state the desired action. Reuse “m'asseoir” when saying that you want to take a seat.
après
In “après toute cette marche”, “après” means after and places the walking before the desired action of sitting down. It is followed here by the noun phrase “toute cette marche”. Reuse “après” before an event or activity that has already happened.
toute
In “toute cette marche”, “toute” means all or the whole and emphasizes the complete amount of walking. It describes “marche” in this phrase. Reuse “toute” before a singular feminine noun when referring to the whole amount.
cette
In “toute cette marche”, “cette” means this and points to the walking the speakers have just done. It comes before the noun “marche”. Reuse “cette” before a specific feminine noun that is being identified.
marche
In “toute cette marche”, “marche” means walking or the walk, referring to the activity that has made the speaker tired. It is used as a noun after “cette”. A common reuse pattern is “après” + an activity or event.
Ces
In “Ces sièges sont confortables”, “Ces” means these and points to the seats nearby. It comes directly before the plural noun “sièges”. Reuse “Ces” before plural things that are being indicated.
sièges
In “Ces sièges”, “sièges” means seats, specifically the seats the speakers are considering or using. It is described by “confortables”. A common reuse pattern is “un siège” or “des sièges” when talking about seats in a vehicle.
sont
In “Ces sièges sont confortables”, “sont” links the seats to their description, meaning are. It is the form of “être” used with the plural subject “Ces sièges”. Reuse it before a description of plural people or things.
confortables
In “Ces sièges sont confortables”, “confortables” means comfortable and describes how the seats feel. It follows “sont”. Reuse it after “être” to describe comfortable furniture or a comfortable place.
trajet
In “Le trajet est calme”, “trajet” means the ride or journey, here the train trip. It is described as calm and quiet. Reuse “le trajet” when talking about the course of a trip from one place to another.
est
In “Le trajet est calme”, “est” links “Le trajet” to the description “calme”, meaning is. It is the form of “être” used with this singular subject. Reuse it before a description of one person or thing.
calme
In “Le trajet est calme”, “calme” means quiet or calm, describing the atmosphere of the train ride. It follows “est”. Reuse it to describe a quiet place, trip, or situation.
aussi
In “Le trajet est calme aussi”, “aussi” means also or too and adds this observation to the other positive features of the train. It comes at the end of the sentence here. Reuse it to add another matching fact or opinion.
Tu
In “Tu peux voir”, “Tu” means you and addresses one person directly. It comes before the verb “peux”. A common reuse pattern is “Tu” + a verb when speaking informally to one person.
peux
In “Tu peux voir”, “peux” means can and asks whether the other person is able to see the display. It is followed by the infinitive “voir”. Reuse “Tu peux” before an action when asking about someone’s ability or possibility.
voir
In “Tu peux voir l'écran”, “voir” means to see and names the action the other person may be able to perform. It follows “peux”. Reuse “peux” + “voir” when asking whether someone can see something.
l'écran
In “l'écran de la gare”, “l'écran” means the screen or display, here the station display showing travel information. The form begins with “l'” before the vowel sound in “écran”. Reuse “voir l'écran” when asking or saying that someone can see a display.
de
In “l'écran de la gare”, “de” connects the display with the station, giving the meaning of the station display. It introduces the noun phrase “la gare”. Reuse “de” to link one thing with the place or thing it belongs to or is associated with.
la
In “la gare”, “la” means the and introduces the specific station being referred to. It comes before the noun “gare”. Reuse “la” before a specific feminine noun.
gare
In “la gare”, “gare” means station, here the railway station associated with the display. It follows the article “la”. A common reuse pattern is “à la gare” when talking about being at the station.
depuis
In “depuis là-bas”, “depuis” means from and marks the place from which the display can be seen. Here it refers to a physical viewpoint, not a starting time. Reuse “depuis” before a place when describing where something is viewed or observed from.
là-bas
In “depuis là-bas”, “là-bas” means there or over there and points to a place away from the speaker. Together with “depuis”, it identifies the viewing position. Reuse “là-bas” to point out a location at some distance.
nous
In “Il nous reste encore trois arrêts”, “nous” refers to the speakers and marks what remains for them. It is part of the expression used to say that they still have three stops left. Reuse “nous” in expressions about something applying to or remaining for the speakers.
reste
In “Il nous reste encore trois arrêts”, “reste” means remains or is left. It introduces the stops that are still before the speakers’ destination. Reuse “Il reste” when stating that something is still available or still to come.
encore
In “Il nous reste encore trois arrêts”, “encore” means still or more, emphasizing that three stops remain before getting off. It adds the idea of continuation or remaining time. Reuse “encore” when saying that something continues or has not yet finished.
arrêts
In “trois arrêts”, “arrêts” means stops, referring to the train stations or stopping points still ahead. It follows the number “trois”. Reuse “un arrêt” or “des arrêts” when counting stops on a route.
Ensuite
In “Ensuite, nous pouvons nous reposer”, “Ensuite” means then or next and moves the conversation to the following action. It appears at the beginning of the sentence here. Reuse it to order actions in time.
pouvons
In “nous pouvons nous reposer”, “pouvons” means can and expresses that the speakers are able or permitted to rest. It is followed by the infinitive phrase “nous reposer”. Reuse “nous pouvons” before an action that the group can do.
reposer
In “nous reposer”, “reposer” contributes the meaning rest. With “nous”, the phrase refers to the speakers resting themselves. Reuse “se reposer” when talking about taking a rest.
un
In “un peu”, “un” helps form the quantity expression meaning a little. It is not counting one separate object here. Reuse the exact quantity pattern “un peu” before an activity or description.
peu
In “un peu”, “peu” means a small amount, so the speakers will rest for a little while. It is used with “un” in this expression. Reuse “un peu” to express a small amount or a short duration.
avant
In “avant de descendre”, “avant” means before and places the resting action before getting off the train. It is followed here by “de” and the infinitive “descendre”. Reuse “avant de” before an action that happens later.
descendre
In “avant de descendre”, “descendre” means to get off in this train context. It follows “avant de” as the action that will happen after the rest. Reuse “descendre” when saying that someone gets off or goes down, depending on the context.
Grammar Points
pouvoir + infinitif
Nous pouvons nous reposer avant de descendre.
noo poo-VOH(n) noo ruh-poh-ZAY ah-VAHN duh day-SAHN-druhWe can rest before getting off.
After a conjugated form of pouvoir, use the infinitive: pouvons + nous reposer.
avant de + infinitif
Nous pouvons nous reposer avant de descendre.
noo poo-VOH(n) noo ruh-poh-ZAY ah-VAHN duh day-SAHN-druhWe can rest before getting off.
Use avant de followed by an infinitive to express an action that happens earlier.
French Vocabulary
après
prep
ah-PRAY
after
confortable
adj
kohn-for-TAH-bl
comfortable
confortables
frais
adj
FRAY
cool
il y a
phrase
eel YAH
there is / there are
libre
adj
LEE-br
available / free
libres
marche
noun
MARSH
walking
place
noun
PLAHS
seat
places
plus loin
adv
ploo LWA(n)
farther in / farther away
s'asseoir
verb
sah-SWAHR
to sit down
m'asseoir
siège
noun
SYEZH
seat
sièges
train
noun
TRA(n)
train
vouloir
verb
voo-LWAHR
to want
veux
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
It feels cool inside the train.
Show Answer
Il fait frais dans le train.These seats are comfortable.
Show Answer
Ces sièges sont confortables.The ride feels quiet too.
Show Answer
Le trajet est calme aussi.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
after
Show Answer
aprèscool
Show Answer
fraisto want
Show Answer
veuxavailable / free