Finding the Event Registration Desk | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a city hall lobby, two adults use the floor guide and stairs to find the event registration desk..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Event Registration Desk to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ce bâtiment semble très propre à l'intérieur.

suh ba-tee-MAHN sahmbl tray PROPR ah lan-tay-RYUR. This building feels very clean inside.
B

Le haut plafond donne une impression d'espace dans le hall.

luh oh plah-FAWN DOHN yoon an-pray-SYAWN dess-PAHSS dahn luh AWL. The high ceiling makes the lobby feel open.
A

Trouvons le bureau d'inscription à l'événement.

troo-VAWN luh bew-ROH dan-SKREEP-SYAWN ah lay-vay-nuh-MAHN. Let's find the event desk for registration.
B

Je vais regarder le plan du bâtiment près du mur.

zhuh VAY ruh-gar-DAY luh PLAHN dew ba-tee-MAHN pray dew MEWR. I'll check the building directory by the wall.
A

Il indique que le bureau d'inscription est à l'étage.

eel an-DEEK kuh luh bew-ROH dan-SKREEP-SYAWN ay ah lay-TAHZH. It says the event desk is upstairs.
B

On prend l'escalator ou les escaliers ?

awn prahn less-kah-lah-TOR oo lay-zess-kah-LYAY? Should we take the escalator or the stairs?
A

Prenons les escaliers, ils sont juste ici.

pruh-NAWN lay-zess-kah-LYAY, eel sawn zheust ee-SEE. Let's take the stairs; they are right here.
B

Les escaliers en bois rendent l'endroit chaleureux.

lay-zess-kah-LYAY ahn BWAH RAHND lahn-DRWAH shah-luh-RUH. The wooden stairs make the place feel warm.

Word by Word

Ce In “Ce bâtiment”, “Ce” means “this” and points to the building being discussed. It is used before a singular masculine noun, as in “Ce + noun”.
bâtiment “Bâtiment” means “building” here, the building whose interior is being described. It can be reused in a place description such as “Ce bâtiment”.
semble In “Ce bâtiment semble très propre”, “semble” means “seems” or “appears”, expressing an impression rather than a definite statement. A useful pattern is “subject + semble + adjective”.
très “Très” intensifies “propre” in “très propre”, meaning “very clean”. It can be placed before an adjective to make its meaning stronger.
propre “Propre” means “clean” in “semble très propre”, describing the building’s interior. A common reuse pattern is “très propre” for something that is very clean.
à In “à l'intérieur”, “à” helps form the location expression meaning “inside”. The complete expression “à l'intérieur” is used to say where something is.
l'intérieur In “à l'intérieur”, “l'intérieur” refers to the inside or interior of the building. Together with “à”, it forms a location expression that can be reused as “à l'intérieur”.
Le In “Le haut plafond”, “Le” means “the” and introduces the ceiling being described. It is the definite article used before a singular masculine noun; its capital letter comes from the start of the sentence.
haut “Haut” means “high” or “tall” in “Le haut plafond”, describing the ceiling. It is placed before “plafond” in this expression.
plafond “Plafond” means “ceiling” in “Le haut plafond”. It can be reused with an adjective to describe a ceiling, as in “haut plafond”.
donne In “donne une impression d'espace”, “donne” means “gives” or “creates”, referring to the feeling produced by the high ceiling. A useful pattern is “donner une impression de + idea or quality”.
une “Une” means “a” in “une impression”, introducing one non-specific impression. It is used before a singular feminine noun, as in “une + noun”.
impression In “une impression d'espace”, “impression” means a feeling or impression created by the room. The expression “donne une impression d'espace” describes an experience of spaciousness.
d'espace In “une impression d'espace”, “d'espace” means “of space” and specifies what the impression is about. It completes the reusable expression “une impression d'espace”.
dans In “dans le hall”, “dans” means “in” and places the impression in the lobby. A common location pattern is “dans + place”.
hall “Hall” means “lobby” or “hall” in “dans le hall”, the area where the speakers are standing. It can be reused after a location word such as “dans”.
Trouvons “Trouvons” means “let’s find” in “Trouvons le bureau d'inscription”, proposing a joint action. A useful pattern is “Trouvons + object” when suggesting that you and another person find something.
bureau “Bureau” means “desk” in “le bureau d'inscription”, referring to the place where registration is handled. In this context, “bureau d'inscription” is the reusable expression for the registration desk.
d'inscription In “le bureau d'inscription”, “d'inscription” means “for registration” and identifies the purpose of the desk. The complete expression “bureau d'inscription” names a desk used for registration.
l'événement “L'événement” means “the event” in “à l'événement”, identifying the event connected with the registration desk. The form combines the article with “événement” and can be reused in the expression “à l'événement”.
Je “Je” means “I” in “Je vais regarder”, identifying the person who will check the directory. It is placed before the verb in a basic sentence such as “Je vais regarder”.
vais In “Je vais regarder”, “vais” contributes to the meaning “I am going to check” and introduces an intended action. A useful spoken pattern is “Je vais + infinitive”, as in the exact expression “Je vais regarder”.
regarder “Regarder” means “to look at” or “to check” in “Je vais regarder le plan”. It follows “Je vais” to name the action and can be reused with an object such as “le plan”.
plan “Plan” means “directory” here, the building guide being checked near the wall. In the dialogue it appears in “le plan du bâtiment”, a useful expression for a building directory.
du In “du bâtiment”, “du” means “of the” and connects the plan with the building. The complete phrase “le plan du bâtiment” means “the building directory”.
près In “près du mur”, “près” means “near” and describes the directory’s location. It is commonly used in the location pattern “près de + place”, with “près du mur” in this dialogue.
mur “Mur” means “wall” in “près du mur”, identifying the place beside which the directory is located. It can be reused after a location expression such as “près du”.
Il In “Il indique que”, “Il” means “it” and refers to the building plan as the thing giving the information. A useful pattern is “Il indique que + information”.
indique “Indique” means “indicates” or “says” in “Il indique que le bureau d'inscription est à l'étage”. It is useful for reporting information shown by a sign, plan, or guide, followed by “que” and the information.
que In “Il indique que le bureau d'inscription est à l'étage”, “que” means “that” and introduces the information indicated by the plan. It connects “indique” with the following statement.
est In “est à l'étage”, “est” means “is” and links the registration desk with its location. A useful pattern is “subject + est + location”, as in “le bureau d'inscription est à l'étage”.
l'étage In “à l'étage”, “l'étage” means “the floor” or “the level”, indicating that the desk is upstairs. The complete expression “à l'étage” is used to give this location.
On In the question “On prend l'escalator ou les escaliers ?”, “On” means “we” and presents a joint choice. In spoken French, the pattern “On + verb” can propose or discuss an action together.
prend In “On prend l'escalator ou les escaliers ?”, “prend” means “take” in the question about which route to use. The complete pattern “On prend + option ?” is useful when choosing what to take.
l'escalator “L'escalator” means “the escalator”, one of the two ways to go upstairs in the question. It appears as the object of “prend” in “On prend l'escalator”.
ou “Ou” means “or” and joins the two choices in “l'escalator ou les escaliers”. It is used between alternatives when asking someone to choose.
les In “les escaliers”, “les” means “the” and introduces the plural noun “escaliers”. It is the definite article used before a plural noun.
escaliers “Escaliers” means “stairs” in “les escaliers”, the other way to go upstairs. It can be reused after “les” when referring to the stairs.
ils In “ils sont juste ici”, “ils” means “they” and refers to “les escaliers”. It is used as the subject before the verb in a sentence describing where the stairs are.
sont In “ils sont juste ici”, “sont” means “are” and states the location of the stairs. A useful pattern is “Ils sont + location”, as in the exact expression “ils sont juste ici”.
juste In “juste ici”, “juste” means “right” or “exactly”, emphasizing the location. The reusable expression “juste ici” means “right here”.
ici “Ici” means “here” in “ils sont juste ici”, pointing to the nearby stairs. It can be combined with “juste” to specify a location precisely: “juste ici”.
en In “en bois”, “en” indicates the material something is made of. The complete pattern “en + material”, here “en bois”, describes the wooden stairs.
bois “Bois” means “wood” in “les escaliers en bois”, identifying the material of the stairs. It is used after “en” in the material expression “en bois”.
rendent In “rendent l'endroit chaleureux”, “rendent” means “make” or “make ... become”, describing the effect of the wooden stairs on the place. A useful pattern is “rendre + object + adjective”, as in the exact dialogue construction.
l'endroit “L'endroit” means “the place” in “rendent l'endroit chaleureux”, referring to the area around the stairs. It is the object of “rendent” in the pattern “rendre l'endroit + adjective”.
chaleureux “Chaleureux” means “warm” or “welcoming” in “rendent l'endroit chaleureux”, describing the atmosphere of the place. It completes the pattern “rendre l'endroit chaleureux” to express that something makes a place feel welcoming.

Grammar Points

sembler + adjectif

Le bâtiment semble propre.

luh ba-tee-MAHN sahmbl PROPR.

The building seems clean.

Après « sembler », on utilise un adjectif pour décrire l'impression donnée par le sujet.

rendre + nom + adjectif

Les escaliers rendent l'endroit chaleureux.

lay-zess-kah-LYAY RAHND lahn-DRWAH shah-luh-RUH.

The stairs make the place warm and welcoming.

« Rendre » indique qu'une chose provoque un changement ou produit une qualité chez un nom.

French Vocabulary

à l'intérieur adv
ah lan-tay-RYUR inside
bâtiment noun
ba-tee-MAHN building
bureau noun
bew-ROH desk
donner verb
doh-NAY to give donne
espace noun
ess-PAHSS space
hall noun
AWL lobby
haut adj
OH high
impression noun
an-pray-SYAWN impression
plafond noun
plah-FAWN ceiling
propre adj
PROPR clean
sembler verb
sahm-BLAY to seem semble
trouver verb
troo-VAY to find Trouvons

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let's find the event desk for registration.

Show AnswerTrouvons le bureau d'inscription à l'événement.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

clean

Show Answerpropre

impression

Show Answerimpression

to give

Show Answerdonne

space

Show Answerespace