About This Lesson
Use Taking a short break for fresh air to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Je me sens fatigué à mon bureau.
zhuh muh SAHN fah-tee-GAY ah mohn byoo-ROH I feel tired at my desk.
B
Ouvrons la fenêtre un instant.
oo-VROHN lah fuh-NETR uhn ehn-STAHN Let's open the window for a moment.
A
J’ai besoin d’air frais.
zhay buh-ZWAN dair FRAY I need some fresh air.
B
L’air dehors est frais.
lair duh-ORH ay FRAY The air outside feels cool.
A
On peut se reposer près de la fenêtre ?
ohn puh suh ruh-poh-ZAY pray duh lah fuh-NETR Can we rest by the window?
B
On peut faire une petite pause ici.
ohn puh fair oon puh-TEET pohz ee-SEE We can take a short break here.
A
Je me sens moins fatigué maintenant.
zhuh muh SAHN mwan fah-tee-GAY meh(n)-tuh-NAHN I feel less tired now.
B
Retournons bientôt au travail.
ruh-toor-NOHN byehn-TOH oh trah-VY Let's go back to work soon.Word by Word
Je
“Je” means “I” and is the speaker in “Je me sens fatigué”. It is used before a verb to identify the person speaking; a common pattern is “Je + verb”.
me
“me” shows that the feeling in “Je me sens fatigué” is experienced by the speaker. It is used with “sens” in the pattern “Je me sens + adjective”.
sens
“sens” means “feel” in “Je me sens fatigué”. It is the form of “sentir” used with “Je”; the pattern “Je me sens + adjective” describes a current feeling.
fatigué
“fatigué” describes feeling tired in “Je me sens fatigué”. With “Je me sens”, it states the speaker’s condition; a useful pattern is “Je me sens + adjective”.
à
“à” places the speaker at the desk in “à mon bureau”. It commonly introduces a place, as in “à + place”.
mon
“mon” means “my” before “bureau” in “à mon bureau”. It shows that the desk belongs to or is associated with the speaker; use “mon” before a noun for “my”.
bureau
“bureau” means “desk” in “à mon bureau”. Together, “à mon bureau” means “at my desk”; this phrase can be used to say where someone is working.
Ouvrons
“Ouvrons” means “let’s open” in “Ouvrons la fenêtre”. It is the form of “ouvrir” used to suggest an action done together; a reusable pattern is “Ouvrons + object”.
la
“la” means “the” before “fenêtre” in “la fenêtre”. It introduces the specific window being discussed; use it before a known noun.
fenêtre
“fenêtre” means “window” in “la fenêtre”. The phrase “ouvrir la fenêtre” means “open the window” and is useful when asking or suggesting that a window be opened.
un
“un” means “a” in “un instant”. Together, “un instant” means “a moment”; this article is used before the noun in this short time expression.
instant
“instant” means “moment” in “un instant”. The expression “un instant” refers to a short period of time, as when asking someone to wait briefly.
J’ai
“J’ai” means “I have” in “J’ai besoin d’air frais”. It is the written form of “Je” before “ai”; the pattern “J’ai besoin de + noun” introduces something the speaker needs.
besoin
“besoin” means “need” in the expression “J’ai besoin d’air frais”. With “avoir”, the pattern “avoir besoin de + noun” expresses needing something.
d’air
“d’air” means “of air” and identifies what is needed in “J’ai besoin d’air frais”. It follows “besoin” in the pattern “avoir besoin de + noun”, with the noun here referring to air.
frais
“frais” describes the air as fresh in “J’ai besoin d’air frais” and as cool in “L’air dehors est frais”. It is placed after “air” here; “air frais” is a useful expression when talking about fresh outdoor air.
L’air
“L’air” means “the air” in “L’air dehors est frais”. It is the subject of the sentence; a common pattern is “L’air + description” when describing the air.
dehors
“dehors” means “outside” in “L’air dehors”. It indicates where the air is; it can be used after a noun to specify an outside location or context.
est
“est” means “is” in “L’air dehors est frais”. It is the form of “être” used with “L’air” to connect the subject with its description; a common pattern is “subject + est + description”.
On
“On” means “we” in “On peut se reposer” and “On peut faire une petite pause”. It is the subject used for the people taking the break; a reusable pattern is “On peut + infinitive”.
peut
“peut” means “can” in “On peut se reposer”. It is the form of “pouvoir” used with “On” and is followed by an infinitive, as in “On peut + verb”.
se
“se” forms the reflexive expression “se reposer” in “On peut se reposer”. It shows that the subject is resting; use it with “reposer” in the pattern “se reposer”.
reposer
“reposer” means “rest” in “se reposer”. After “peut”, it stays in this infinitive form; the reusable expression “On peut se reposer” means “We can rest”.
près
“près” means “near” in “près de la fenêtre”. It is used with “de” to identify a nearby place; the pattern is “près de + noun”.
de
“de” completes the location expression “près de la fenêtre”. It links “près” to the place that is nearby; use “près de + noun” for “near + noun”.
faire
“faire” means “take” in “faire une petite pause”. After “peut”, it is an infinitive; the expression “faire une pause” is used to say “take a break”.
une
“une” means “a” in “une petite pause”. It introduces the noun “pause”; use it before the noun in this expression for one break.
petite
“petite” describes the break as short or small in “une petite pause”. It comes before “pause” here; the phrase “une petite pause” is useful when suggesting a brief break.
pause
“pause” means “break” in “faire une petite pause”. The expression “faire une pause” is used at work or during an activity when someone stops briefly.
ici
“ici” means “here” in “On peut faire une petite pause ici”. It points to the current place; it can be added to a sentence to say where an action happens.
moins
“moins” means “less” in “moins fatigué”. It reduces the degree of the adjective, so “Je me sens moins fatigué” means the speaker feels less tired; use “moins + adjective” for a lower degree.
maintenant
“maintenant” means “now” in “Je me sens moins fatigué maintenant”. It places the feeling at the present time; it can be added to the end of a sentence to emphasize a change in the current situation.
Retournons
“Retournons” means “let’s go back” in “Retournons bientôt au travail”. It suggests returning together; a reusable pattern is “Retournons + place”.
bientôt
“bientôt” means “soon” in “Retournons bientôt au travail”. It places the return in the near future; it can be used with an action that will happen shortly.
au
“au” means “to the” in “au travail”. It connects the movement in “Retournons” with the destination “travail”; use “au + place” when the destination is expressed this way.
travail
“travail” means “work” in “au travail”. The expression “retourner au travail” means “go back to work” and is used when resuming work after a break.
Grammar Points
avoir besoin de + nom
ai besoin d’air frais
ay buh-ZWAN dair FRAYneed fresh air
This fixed expression uses de before a noun; de becomes d’ before a vowel, as in d’air.
French Vocabulary
air
noun
air
air
d’air frais
avoir besoin de
phrase
ah-VWAHR buh-ZWAN duh
to need
ai besoin d’
J’ai besoin d’air frais.
besoin
noun
buh-ZWAN
need
J’ai besoin d’air.
bureau
noun
byoo-ROH
desk
à mon bureau
dehors
adv
duh-ORH
outside
L’air dehors est frais.
est
verb
ay
is
L’air dehors est frais.
fatigué
adj
fah-tee-GAY
tired
Je me sens fatigué.
fenêtre
noun
fuh-NETR
window
la fenêtre
frais
adj
fray
fresh; cool
dehors est frais
instant
noun
ehn-STAHN
moment
un instant
me sens
verb
muh SAHN
feel
Je me sens fatigué.
ouvrons
verb
oo-VROHN
let's open
Ouvrons la fenêtre.
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Let's open the window for a moment.
Show Answer
Ouvrons la fenêtre un instant.I need some fresh air.
Show Answer
J’ai besoin d’air frais.The air outside feels cool.
Show Answer
L’air dehors est frais.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
need
Show Answer
besointired
Show Answer
fatiguédesk
Show Answer
bureaumoment