Understanding a Lesson Question | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Understanding a Lesson Question to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon.

zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah set par-TEE duh lah luh-SOHN. I don't understand this part of the lesson.

Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?

kel kes-TYOHN eh dee-fee-SEEL poor TWAH? Which question is giving you trouble?

Je ne comprends pas cette réponse.

zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah set ray-POHNS. The answer here doesn't make sense to me.

Lisons d'abord la phrase.

lee-ZOHN duh-BOHR lah frahz. Let's read the sentence first.

Ensuite, vérifions la réponse.

ahn-SWEET vay-ree-fee-OHN lah ray-POHNS. Then check the answer.

Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?

puh-TOO leer lah frahz ah vwah OHT? Can you read the sentence aloud?

Je vais la lire lentement.

zhuh veh lah leer lahn-tuh-MAHN. I'll read it slowly.

Je vais écrire les mots importants dans mon cahier.

zhuh veh ay-KREER lay moh zan-pohr-TAHN dahn mohn kah-YAY. I'll write the key words in my notebook.

Alors, essayons encore de répondre.

ah-LOHR eh-say-YOHN ahn-KOHR duh ray-POHNDR. Then let's try the answer again.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon.” It is used before a verb when the speaker describes their own action or state. A common reuse pattern is “Je + verb.”

ne In “Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon,” “ne” begins the negative expression “ne comprends pas.” Together with “pas,” it makes the statement negative. In a new example, the same pattern can be used as “Je ne + verb + pas.”

comprends “Comprends” means “understand” in “Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon” and “Je ne comprends pas cette réponse.” It is the form used after “Je” here, and the negation is formed with “ne” and “pas.” A useful reuse pattern is “Je comprends + object” or “Je ne comprends pas + object.”

pas In “Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon,” “pas” completes the negative expression with “ne,” giving the meaning “do not.” It does not carry the whole negative meaning alone; “ne” and “pas” work together around the verb. A common reuse pattern is “ne + verb + pas.”

cette “Cette” means “this” before “partie” in “cette partie de la leçon.” It points to a specific feminine singular item. A useful reuse pattern is “cette + noun” when identifying one particular thing.

partie “Partie” means “part” in “cette partie de la leçon,” referring to one section of the lesson. It is used with “de la leçon” to specify which whole it belongs to. A common reuse pattern is “une partie de + noun.”

de In “cette partie de la leçon,” “de” links the part to the lesson and means “of.” It introduces the whole to which the part belongs. A useful reuse pattern is “une partie de + noun.”

la “La” means “the” before “leçon” in “de la leçon.” It introduces one specific feminine singular noun. A common reuse pattern is “la + noun” when referring to a particular thing.

leçon “Leçon” means “lesson” in “cette partie de la leçon.” It names the lesson that contains the part being discussed. A useful reuse pattern is “une leçon” or “la leçon.”

Quelle “Quelle” means “which” in “Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?” and asks the listener to identify one question. It appears before the feminine singular noun “question.” A common reuse pattern is “Quelle + noun ?” when asking which one.

question “Question” means “question” in “Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?” It identifies the lesson item that is difficult for the listener. A useful reuse pattern is “Quelle question...” when asking about a particular question.

est “Est” means “is” in “Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?” and connects “question” with the description “difficile.” It is a form of “être” used in this sentence. A common reuse pattern is “noun + est + description.”

difficile “Difficile” means “difficult” in “Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?” and describes the question as hard for the listener. It follows “est” in this sentence. A useful reuse pattern is “est difficile pour + person.”

pour In “difficile pour toi,” “pour” means “for” and introduces the person for whom the question is difficult. It links the description to “toi.” A common reuse pattern is “difficile pour + person.”

toi “Toi” means “you” in “difficile pour toi,” referring to the person who is having difficulty. It follows the preposition “pour” in this expression. A useful reuse pattern is “pour toi” when saying that something is for you or affects you.

réponse “Réponse” means “answer” in “Je ne comprends pas cette réponse” and “vérifions la réponse.” It refers to the answer being discussed or checked. A common reuse pattern is “comprendre une réponse” or “vérifier une réponse.”

Lisons “Lisons” means “let’s read” in “Lisons d’abord la phrase.” It invites the speaker and the listener to read together. It is a form of “lire” used as a group suggestion. A useful reuse pattern is “Lisons + object” when suggesting that something be read together.

d'abord “D’abord” means “first” in “Lisons d’abord la phrase” and places this action before the next step. It helps organize the actions in order. A common reuse pattern is “d’abord..., ensuite...” for two successive steps.

phrase “Phrase” means “sentence” in “Lisons d’abord la phrase” and “lire la phrase à voix haute.” It names the written sentence that the learners are studying. A useful reuse pattern is “lire une phrase.”

Ensuite “Ensuite” means “then” or “next” in “Ensuite, vérifions la réponse.” It introduces the action that follows reading the sentence. A common reuse pattern is “Ensuite, + action” when giving the next instruction.

vérifions “Vérifions” means “let’s check” in “Ensuite, vérifions la réponse.” It invites the speaker and listener to check the answer together. It is a form of “vérifier” used for a group suggestion. A useful reuse pattern is “vérifions + object.”

Peux “Peux” means “can” in “Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?” and asks whether the listener is able to read the sentence aloud. It is a form of “pouvoir” followed by “lire.” A common reuse pattern is “Peux-tu + infinitive ?” for an informal request about ability.

tu “Tu” means “you” in “Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?” and identifies the person being asked to read. It is the informal singular subject pronoun used with “peux.” A useful reuse pattern is “Tu peux + infinitive” or the question form “Peux-tu + infinitive ?”

lire “Lire” means “read” in “Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?” and names the action the listener is asked to perform. It follows “peux” in this question. A common reuse pattern is “lire + object,” such as “lire la phrase.”

à voix haute “À voix haute” means “aloud” in “Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?” and describes reading with the voice so it can be heard. The whole expression is made from “à,” “voix,” and “haute”: “à” introduces the manner, “voix” means “voice,” and “haute” describes the voice as raised or loud. A useful reuse pattern is “lire + object + à voix haute.”

vais “Vais” helps express “I’m going to” in “Je vais la lire lentement.” It is a form of “aller” followed by “lire,” and together they describe a planned or imminent action. A common reuse pattern is “Je vais + infinitive.”

lentement “Lentement” means “slowly” in “Je vais la lire lentement” and describes how the reading will be done. It gives the manner of the action “lire.” A useful reuse pattern is “verb + lentement” when describing a slow action.

écrire “Écrire” means “write” in “Je vais écrire les mots importants dans mon cahier.” It names the action the speaker plans to do. It follows “vais” in the expression “Je vais écrire.” A common reuse pattern is “Je vais écrire + object.”

les “Les” means “the” before “mots importants” in “les mots importants.” It introduces more than one specific word. A useful reuse pattern is “les + plural noun” when referring to particular plural items.

mots “Mots” means “words” in “les mots importants.” It refers to the words that the speaker plans to write in the notebook. It is the plural form used after “les.” A common reuse pattern is “écrire les mots.”

importants “Importants” means “important” in “les mots importants” and describes which words the speaker will write down. Its form matches the plural noun “mots.” A useful reuse pattern is “les + noun + adjective” when identifying particular items by a description.

dans In “dans mon cahier,” “dans” means “in” and shows that the writing will be placed inside the notebook. It introduces the location of the action or its result. A common reuse pattern is “écrire + object + dans + place.”

mon “Mon” means “my” before “cahier” in “mon cahier,” showing that the notebook belongs to the speaker. It is a possessive determiner placed before the noun. A useful reuse pattern is “mon + noun” when referring to one of the speaker’s things.

cahier “Cahier” means “notebook” in “mon cahier.” It names the place where the speaker will write the important words. A common reuse pattern is “écrire dans un cahier” or “mon cahier.”

Alors “Alors” means “then” or “so” in “Alors, essayons encore de répondre.” It introduces a conclusion or the next proposed action after the earlier steps. A useful reuse pattern is “Alors, + suggestion” when moving a conversation forward.

essayons “Essayons” means “let’s try” in “essayons encore de répondre.” It invites the speaker and listener to make another attempt together. It is a form of “essayer” used for a group suggestion. A common reuse pattern is “Essayons de + infinitive.”

encore “Encore” means “again” in “essayons encore de répondre,” showing that answering has already been attempted and will be attempted once more. It modifies the action of trying. A useful reuse pattern is “faire quelque chose encore” when repeating an action.

répondre “Répondre” means “answer” or “respond” in “essayons encore de répondre.” It names the action that the speakers will try to do again. It follows “de” after “essayons.” A common reuse pattern is “essayer de répondre” when trying to give an answer.

Grammar Points

pour + pronom tonique

pour toi

poor TWAH

for you

After pour, French uses the stressed pronoun toi, not the subject form.

d'abord ..., ensuite ...

D'abord, lire la phrase; ensuite, vérifier.

duh-BOHR leer lah frahz; ahn-SWEET vay-ree-fee-YAY

First, read the sentence; then, check.

These adverbs organize actions in sequence: d'abord introduces the first step and ensuite the next.

French Vocabulary

comprendre verb

kohm-PRAHNDR understand comprends

Je ne comprends pas cette partie de la leçon.

d'abord adv

duh-BOHR first

Lisons d'abord la phrase.

difficile adj

dee-fee-SEEL difficult

question est difficile

leçon noun

luh-SOHN lesson

de la leçon

lire verb

leer read

Peux-tu lire la phrase à voix haute ?

partie noun

par-TEE part

cette partie de la leçon

phrase noun

frahz sentence

la phrase

pour prep

poohr for

difficile pour toi

quelle det

kel which

Quelle question

question noun

kes-TYOHN question

Quelle question est difficile pour toi ?

réponse noun

ray-POHNS answer

cette réponse

toi pron

TWAH you

pour toi

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The answer here doesn't make sense to me.

Show Answer

Je ne comprends pas cette réponse.

Let's read the sentence first.

Show Answer

Lisons d'abord la phrase.

Then check the answer.

Show Answer

Ensuite, vérifions la réponse.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

part

Show Answer

partie

understand

Show Answer

comprends

which

Show Answer

quelle

difficult

Show Answer

difficile