Homework questions | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a language classroom, one adult asks what homework to complete and when to bring the answers back..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Homework questions to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Que dois-je faire pour les devoirs ?

kuh dwahzh FEHR poor lay duh-VWAR What should I do for homework?
B

Commence par faire cet exercice.

koh-MAHNSS par FEHR seh-teg-zair-SEESS Start by completing this exercise.
A

Quelle page dois-je utiliser ?

kell PAHZH dwahzh yoo-tee-lee-ZAY Which page should I use?
B

Utilise la page avec les questions courtes.

yoo-tee-LEEZ lah PAHZH ah-VEK lay kes-TYON KOORT Use the page with the short questions.
A

Quand dois-je le finir ?

KAHN dwahzh luh fee-NEER When should I finish it?
B

Finis-le avant le cours.

fee-NEEL ah-VAHN luh KOOR Finish it before class.
A

Peux-tu regarder mes réponses plus tard ?

puh too ruh-gar-DAY may ray-PONSS ploo TAR Can you look at my answers later?
B

Apporte-les-moi après avoir fini.

ah-PORT lay-MWAH ah-PRAY ah-VWAR fee-NEE Bring them to me after you finish.

Word by Word

Que “Que” asks what the speaker should do in “Que dois-je faire”. It introduces the action being asked about, and a reusable question pattern is “Que dois-je + infinitive ?” for asking what one should do. You can use it when asking a teacher or another person for instructions.
dois “Dois” expresses should or must in “Que dois-je faire”. It is the first-person form related to the infinitive “devoir” and is used here before “faire”; a reusable pattern is “Je dois + infinitive” for saying what you have to do. Use it to ask about or state an obligation.
je “Je” means I in “dois-je”, referring to the person asking the question. In this question, it appears after the verb because the question uses “dois-je”. Use it when speaking about your own action or responsibility.
faire “Faire” means to do or complete in “Que dois-je faire”. It is the infinitive after “dois” and names the action the speaker needs to carry out; a common pattern is “faire + object”, such as “faire un exercice”. Use it when asking what task to do.
pour “Pour” means for in “pour les devoirs”, identifying the purpose or task context of the action. It is followed here by “les devoirs”; a reusable pattern is “pour + noun” when explaining what something is for. Use it when asking what to do for a class assignment.
les “Les” means the in “les devoirs”, referring to the homework as a plural noun. It comes before “devoirs” and forms the expression “les devoirs”; use “les + plural noun” when referring to specific plural things.
devoirs “Devoirs” means homework in “pour les devoirs”. The plural form is used in the classroom context and appears with “les” in “les devoirs”. Use it when talking about work assigned for a class.
Commence “Commence” tells the other person to start in “Commence par faire cet exercice”. It is the imperative form related to “commencer” and is followed here by “par faire”; the reusable pattern is “commencer par + infinitive”. Use it when giving someone the first step of a task.
par “Par” contributes the meaning by in “Commence par faire cet exercice”, showing the first action to take. Together, “commence par faire” means start by doing; the reusable pattern is “commencer par + infinitive”. Use it when explaining how to begin a sequence of actions.
cet “Cet” means this in “cet exercice”, referring to one specific exercise. It is used before the singular noun “exercice” in this expression; a reusable pattern is “cet + singular noun” for pointing out a particular item. Use it when directing someone to a specific exercise.
exercice “Exercice” means exercise in “cet exercice”, referring to the classroom task to complete. It appears after “cet” in the noun phrase “cet exercice”; a common pattern is “faire un exercice”. Use it when talking about a practice activity or assignment.
Quelle “Quelle” means which in “Quelle page dois-je utiliser ?”, asking the listener to identify one page. It agrees with the feminine singular noun “page” in “quelle page”; a reusable pattern is “Quelle + noun ?” when choosing one item. Use it when asking a teacher which specific page to use.
page “Page” means page in “Quelle page” and “la page”, referring to a page in the exercise material. It appears with a determiner such as “quelle” or “la”; a common pattern is “utiliser une page” or “utiliser la page”. Use it when referring to a particular page in a book or worksheet.
utiliser “Utiliser” means to use in “dois-je utiliser”, asking which page the speaker should use. It is the infinitive after “dois-je”; a reusable pattern is “utiliser + object”, as in using a page or document. Use it when asking which material or tool is needed.
Utilise “Utilise” tells the other person to use something in “Utilise la page”. It is the imperative form related to “utiliser” and is followed by the object “la page”; the reusable pattern is “Utilise + object”. Use it when giving a direct instruction about material to use.
la “La” means the in “la page”, referring to the particular page being recommended. It comes directly before the feminine singular noun “page”; a reusable pattern is “la + singular noun” for a specific item. Use it when pointing to one known page.
avec “Avec” means with in “la page avec les questions courtes”, identifying the page that contains or is associated with the short questions. It is followed here by the noun phrase “les questions courtes”; a reusable pattern is “un document avec + noun”. Use it when selecting something by describing what it has.
questions “Questions” means questions in “les questions courtes”, referring to the questions on the page. It appears as a plural noun after “les” and is described by “courtes”; a common pattern is “répondre aux questions”. Use it when talking about questions in an exercise or conversation.
courtes “Courtes” means short in “les questions courtes”, describing the questions on the page. It matches the plural noun “questions” in this expression; a reusable pattern is “noun + adjective” for describing an item. Use it when distinguishing brief questions from longer ones.
Quand “Quand” means when in “Quand dois-je le finir ?”, asking about the time or deadline for finishing something. It introduces the timing question before “dois-je”; a reusable pattern is “Quand dois-je + infinitive ?” for asking when an action is required. Use it when asking a teacher about a deadline.
le “Le” refers to the thing that must be finished in “le finir”, meaning it. It is placed before the infinitive “finir” as the object of that action; a reusable pattern is “le + infinitive” when referring back to a specific masculine object or task. Here it refers back to the work or exercise being discussed.
finir “Finir” means to finish in “dois-je le finir”. It is the infinitive after “dois-je” and takes “le” as the thing to finish; a reusable pattern is “finir + object”. Use it when discussing completing a task before a deadline.
Finis “Finis” tells the other person to finish something in “Finis-le”. It is the imperative form related to “finir”, with “le” referring to the task; the reusable pattern is “Finis + object”. Use it when giving a direct instruction to complete an assignment.
avant “Avant” means before in “avant le cours”, setting the deadline in relation to class. It is followed here by the noun phrase “le cours”; a reusable pattern is “avant + noun” for saying that something must happen earlier. Use it when giving a deadline before an event.
cours “Cours” means class in “le cours”, referring to the lesson the speakers attend. It appears after the article “le” in the expression “avant le cours”; a common pattern is “aller au cours” when talking about attending class. Use it in a classroom context when referring to a lesson.
Peux “Peux” expresses can in “Peux-tu regarder mes réponses ?”, asking whether the listener is able or willing to look at the answers. It is the first-person form related to the infinitive “pouvoir”, used before “tu” in the question “Peux-tu”; a reusable pattern is “Peux-tu + infinitive ?”. Use it to make a request politely in a familiar conversation.
tu “Tu” means you in “Peux-tu”, referring to the person being asked to look at the answers. It appears after “Peux” because the question uses inversion; the reusable pattern is “Peux-tu + infinitive ?” for asking one person to do something. Use it with someone addressed directly in an informal or familiar way.
regarder “Regarder” means to look at in “regarder mes réponses”. It is the infinitive after “Peux-tu” and is followed by the object “mes réponses”; a reusable pattern is “regarder + object”. Use it when asking someone to examine your work.
mes “Mes” means my in “mes réponses”, showing that the answers belong to the speaker. It comes before the plural noun “réponses”; a reusable pattern is “mes + plural noun” when identifying several things as yours. Use it when talking about your own notes, answers, or belongings.
réponses “Réponses” means answers in “mes réponses”, referring to the answers the speaker has written. It appears as a plural noun after “mes”; a common pattern is “regarder mes réponses” when asking someone to check written work. Use it in a classroom or exercise context.
plus In “plus tard”, “plus” combines with “tard” to express later in time; it does not carry that entire meaning alone here. The reusable expression is “plus tard”, used to postpone an action. Use it when saying that something will happen at a later time.
tard In “plus tard”, “tard” helps express later in time. Together, “plus tard” means at a later time, and it commonly appears at the end of a sentence. Use it when arranging or referring to a future time that is not now.
Apporte “Apporte” tells the other person to bring something in “Apporte-les-moi”. It is the imperative form related to “apporter”, followed by “les” for the things being brought and “moi” for the recipient; the reusable pattern is “Apporte + object + recipient”. Use it when asking someone to bring an item to you.
moi “Moi” means me in “Apporte-les-moi”, identifying the person who should receive the answers. In the combined expression “les-moi”, it marks the recipient after the object pronoun “les”; a reusable pattern is “Apporte-le-moi” or “Apporte-les-moi” when asking someone to bring something to you. Use it when making a direct request for an item to be brought to you.
après “Après” means after in “après avoir fini”, placing the bringing of the answers after the finishing action. Here it is followed by “avoir fini”, forming the meaning after finishing; a reusable pattern is “après + action” to order two events. Use it when telling someone what to do once another task is complete.
avoir “Avoir” is the infinitive to have in “après avoir fini”, where it helps form the expression after finishing. Together, “avoir fini” refers to the completed action that happens first; a reusable pattern is “après avoir + past participle”. Use it when describing one completed action before another.
fini “Fini” means finished in “avoir fini”, referring to completing the homework or exercise. It is the past participle related to “finir” and appears with “avoir” in the expression “après avoir fini”; a reusable pattern is “avoir fini” for saying that an action is complete. Use it when explaining that something must be done before the next step.

Grammar Points

devoir / pouvoir + infinitif

Je dois faire mes devoirs.

zhuh DWAH FEHR may duh-VWAR

I must do my homework.

After devoir or pouvoir, French uses the infinitive: dois faire means “must do.”

nom féminin pluriel + adjectif en -es

des questions courtes

day kes-TYON KOORT

short questions

Courtes agrees with feminine plural questions by taking -es; English adjectives do not change.

French Vocabulary

commencer verb
koh-mahn-SAY to start Commence

Commence par faire

court adj
KOOR short courtes

les questions courtes

devoir verb
duh-VWAR should; must dois

Que dois-je faire

devoirs noun
duh-VWAR homework

pour les devoirs

exercice noun
eg-zair-SEESS exercise

cet exercice

faire verb
FEHR to do; to make

faire cet exercice

finir verb
fee-NEER to finish Finis

Finis-le

page noun
PAHZH page

Quelle page

quand adv
KAHN when

Quand dois-je le finir

quel det
KELL which; what Quelle

Quelle page

question noun
kes-TYON question questions

les questions courtes

utiliser verb
yoo-tee-lee-ZAY to use Utilise

Utilise la page

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Start by completing this exercise.

Show AnswerCommence par faire cet exercice.

Which page should I use?

Show AnswerQuelle page dois-je utiliser ?

When should I finish it?

Show AnswerQuand dois-je le finir ?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

exercise

Show Answerexercice

question

Show Answerquestions

should; must

Show Answerdois

to start

Show AnswerCommence