A short break on the sofa | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a workplace break room, two adults sit on a sofa, stretch, and plan to get coffee..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use A short break on the sofa to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

J'ai besoin d'une courte pause.

zhay buh-ZWAN doon KOORT POHZ I need a short break.
B

Asseyons-nous sur le canapé.

ah-say-YON-noo sewr luh kah-nah-PAY Let's sit on the sofa.
A

Est-ce que je peux prendre du café ?

ess-kuh zhuh puh PRAHN-druh dew kah-FAY Can I get some coffee?
B

Il y a du café dans la cuisine.

eel yah dew kah-FAY dahn lah kwee-ZEEN There is coffee in the kitchen.
A

J'irai en chercher après quelques étirements.

zhee-RAY ahn shair-SHAY ah-PRAY kell zay-teer-MAHN I'll get some after I stretch a little.
B

Les étirements aident quand on est fatigué.

lay-zay-teer-MAHN zed kahn ohn-NAY fah-tee-GAY Stretching helps when you feel tired.
A

Cette pièce est calme.

set PYESS ay KAHLM This room is quiet.
B

On peut se reposer ici un moment.

ohn puh suh ruh-poh-ZAY ee-SEE uhn moh-MAHN We can rest here for a while.

Word by Word

J'ai “J'ai” means “I have.” In “J'ai besoin d'une courte pause”, it is the form used with besoin to express that the speaker needs something; it is a form of avoir. This pattern can be reused with a thing that is needed.
besoin “besoin” means “need” in “J'ai besoin d'une courte pause.” It is used with avoir and de to express a need, so the following phrase identifies what is needed. This is useful when asking for or stating a need.
d'une “d'une” means “of a” in “J'ai besoin d'une courte pause.” It introduces the thing that is needed and combines de with une before pause. The same form can introduce another single feminine noun after besoin de.
courte “courte” means “short” and describes pause in “d'une courte pause.” Its form matches the feminine noun pause. Use it before a feminine noun when describing a short duration or object.
pause “pause” means “break” in “J'ai besoin d'une courte pause.” It names a period when the speaker stops working or acting. It is useful when requesting time to rest during work.
Asseyons-nous “Asseyons-nous” means “let's sit down” in the suggestion “Asseyons-nous sur le canapé.” The ending “-nous” includes the speaker and the other person in the suggestion. Use this form to invite a group including yourself to sit.
sur “sur” means “on” in “sur le canapé.” It shows the position or destination of sitting on the sofa. It is useful before the thing that someone sits on.
le “le” means “the” before canapé in “sur le canapé.” It identifies one specific sofa in the shared situation. Here it is the article placed before canapé.
canapé “canapé” means “sofa” in “sur le canapé.” It identifies the seat where the two people plan to sit. It can be used after a preposition when describing location.
Est-ce “Est-ce” begins the question frame “Est-ce que je peux prendre du café ?” Together with que, it helps form a yes-or-no question. It is useful for making a polite direct question.
que “que” completes the question frame “Est-ce que je peux prendre du café ?” In this dialogue it helps introduce the question rather than expressing the standalone meaning “that.” Keep it directly after Est-ce in this question pattern.
je “je” means “I” and is the subject in “je peux prendre du café.” It identifies the person asking for permission. It is used before a verb when the speaker talks about themself.
peux “peux” means “can” in “je peux prendre du café.” It is the form used with je to express ability or permission. It is followed here by the infinitive prendre, so the pattern expresses being able or allowed to do something.
prendre “prendre” means “get” or “have” in “prendre du café.” In this context, it refers to getting or having some coffee, not to the whole permission question. After peux, it stays in this infinitive form.
du “du” means “some” before café in “prendre du café.” It indicates an unspecified amount of coffee. It is useful before a masculine mass noun when referring to some of it.
café “café” means “coffee” in “du café.” It is the drink that the speaker asks to get and that is available in the kitchen. It can follow du when referring to some coffee.
Il “Il” is part of the fixed expression “Il y a du café dans la cuisine”, which means “There is coffee in the kitchen.” Here it does not refer to a particular person. Keep it at the beginning of this expression when stating that something exists or is present.
y “y” is part of “Il y a”, the expression used for “there is” in “Il y a du café dans la cuisine.” It helps form the existential expression and does not independently give the location here. The location is supplied later by dans la cuisine.
a “a” is part of “Il y a”, meaning “there is” in this sentence. Although the same form can express possession in other contexts, it has the existential function here. Use it inside the fixed pattern Il y a when saying that something is present.
dans “dans” means “in” in “dans la cuisine.” It introduces the place where the coffee is located. It is useful before a place when describing something as being inside it.
la “la” means “the” before cuisine in “dans la cuisine.” It identifies the specific kitchen in the situation. Here it is the article placed before cuisine.
cuisine “cuisine” means “kitchen” in “dans la cuisine.” It names the place where the coffee is available. It can follow dans when giving a location.
J'irai “J'irai” means “I will go” in “J'irai en chercher après quelques étirements.” It is a form of aller that presents the speaker's later action. It can introduce a future intention, including an intention followed by another action.
en “en” refers to some of the coffee in “en chercher.” It replaces the thing being fetched, so the phrase means going to get some of it. Here it is a pronoun, not the preposition meaning “in.”
chercher “chercher” means “get” or “fetch” in “en chercher.” It describes going to obtain the coffee referred to by en. It is useful after a verb of movement when the purpose is to fetch something.
après “après” means “after” in “après quelques étirements.” It places the planned coffee-fetching after the stretching. It can introduce an activity or event that happens earlier than the main action.
quelques “quelques” means “a few” or “some” before étirements in “quelques étirements.” It indicates a small, unspecified number of stretching exercises. It is used before a plural noun.
étirements “étirements” means “stretches” or “stretching exercises” in “quelques étirements.” It is the plural form of the noun étirement and names the exercises the speaker plans to do. It can be used after quelques when referring to a few such exercises.
Les “Les” means “the” before étirements in “Les étirements aident.” It identifies the stretching exercises as the subject of the statement. Here it is the plural article before étirements.
aident “aident” means “help” in “Les étirements aident quand on est fatigué.” It says that the stretching has a beneficial effect when someone is tired. The plural subject Les étirements is followed by this verb form.
quand “quand” means “when” in “quand on est fatigué.” It introduces the situation in which stretching helps. It is useful for connecting an action with the time or condition when it applies.
on “on” refers generally to a person or people, like “you” or “one,” in “on est fatigué.” It gives the sentence a general meaning rather than naming a particular person. The pattern quand on + clause can describe what happens when people are in a certain situation.
est “est” means “is” in “on est fatigué.” It is a form of être that links on with the state of being tired. It is useful in the pattern subject + est + description.
fatigué “fatigué” means “tired” in “on est fatigué.” It describes the state in which the stretching is helpful. It follows est here to describe how the person feels.
Cette “Cette” means “this” before pièce in “Cette pièce est calme.” It points to the particular room where the speakers are. It is used before the singular feminine noun pièce.
pièce “pièce” means “room” in “Cette pièce est calme.” It identifies the room being described as quiet. It can be the subject of a sentence that gives a description of the room.
calme “calme” means “quiet” in “Cette pièce est calme.” It describes the room's peaceful condition. It follows est here as a description of the subject.
peut “peut” means “can” in “On peut se reposer ici un moment.” It expresses that resting is possible in the room. With on, it is followed by the infinitive se reposer.
se “se” is the reflexive pronoun in “se reposer.” It links the resting action back to the subject on. It stays before the infinitive in this reflexive expression.
reposer “reposer” is the verb part of “se reposer”, which means “rest.” Together with se, it describes the speakers taking a rest. This expression can be followed by a place or a period of time, as in the dialogue.
ici “ici” means “here” in “se reposer ici.” It identifies the current room as the place where the speakers can rest. It is useful for pointing to the place where an action happens.
un “un” means “a” in “un moment.” It introduces one unspecified period of time. Here it forms the expression un moment, which means “for a while” in the sentence.
moment “moment” means “moment” or “a while” in “un moment.” Together with un, it gives the length of time for resting. It is useful when referring to a period of time without specifying its exact duration.

Grammar Points

Il y a + nom

Il y a un canapé dans la cuisine.

eel yah uhn kah-nah-PAY dahn lah kwee-ZEEN

There is a sofa in the kitchen.

« Il y a » indique qu’une ou plusieurs choses existent ou se trouvent quelque part.

Futur simple : j’irai + infinitif

J’irai chercher un café.

zhee-RAY shair-SHAY uhn kah-FAY

I will go get a coffee.

« J’irai » est le futur de « aller » à la première personne et exprime une action à venir.

French Vocabulary

aller verb
ah-LAY to go irai
asseyons-nous verb
ah-say-YON-noo let's sit
besoin noun
buh-ZWAN need
café noun
kah-FAY coffee
canapé noun
kah-nah-PAY sofa
court adj
KOOR short courte
cuisine noun
kwee-ZEEN kitchen
dans prep
DAHN in
il y a phrase
eel yah there is; there are
pause noun
POHZ break
pouvoir verb
poo-VWAHR can; to be able to peux
prendre verb
PRAHN-druh to take; to get

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need a short break.

Show AnswerJ'ai besoin d'une courte pause.

Let's sit on the sofa.

Show AnswerAsseyons-nous sur le canapé.

I'll get some after I stretch a little.

Show AnswerJ'irai en chercher après quelques étirements.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

break

Show Answerpause

short

Show Answercourte

can; to be able to

Show Answerpeux

coffee

Show Answercafé