A quiet place to study | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use A quiet place to study to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Cette table est libre ?

set TAH-bl eh LEEBR? Is this table free?

Personne n'est assis ici.

pehr-SONN neh tah-SEE ee-SEE. No one is sitting here.

J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.

zhay beh-ZWAN dun ahn-DWAR KAHLM poor mah-SWAHR. I need a quiet place to sit.

Cette table est loin de la porte.

set TAH-bl eh LWAN duh lah POHRT. This table is away from the door.

Alors, c'est un bon endroit pour étudier.

ah-LOR, seh-tun bohn ahn-DWAR poor ay-tew-DYAY. Then this is a good place to study.

S'il vous plaît, parlez doucement pendant que vous étudiez.

seel voo PLAY, par-LAY doos-MAHN pahn-DAHN kuh voo ay-tew-DYAY. Please keep your voice low while you study.

D'accord, je vais parler doucement.

dah-KOR, zhuh vay par-LAY doos-MAHN. Sure, I'll keep my voice down.

Cela aide les autres à étudier.

suh-LAH ed lay ZOH-tr ah ay-tew-DYAY. That helps other people study.

Word by Word

Cette “Cette” means “this” in “Cette table est libre ?”. It identifies the table being discussed and comes before the feminine singular noun “table”. Use “cette” before a feminine singular noun when pointing to one specific thing.

table “table” means “table” in “Cette table est libre ?”. Here it refers to a library table that someone may use. It can be used with a determiner to name a table being discussed.

est “est” means “is” in “Cette table est libre ?”. It links “Cette table” with the description “libre”. A common pattern is a subject followed by “est” and a description.

libre “libre” means “free” or “available” in “Cette table est libre ?”. Here it asks whether the table is unoccupied and can be used. The same word can describe whether a place or seat is available.

Personne “Personne” means “no one” in “Personne n'est assis ici.”. It refers to the absence of any person in the place. With “n'est”, it forms the negative pattern “Personne n'est...”.

n'est “n'est” means “is not” in “Personne n'est assis ici.”. It is the contracted form of “ne” and “est” used in the negative sentence. The pattern “Personne n'est...” says that no one has the stated condition.

assis “assis” means “sitting” or “seated” in “Personne n'est assis ici.”. It describes the condition of a person in the sentence. It is used after a form of “être” to describe someone as seated.

ici “ici” means “here” in “Personne n'est assis ici.”. It identifies the place where nobody is seated. Use it to point to the speaker’s current location or the place under discussion.

J'ai “J'ai” means “I have”, and in “J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.” it begins the expression for “I need”. The reusable pattern is “J'ai besoin de” followed by the thing needed.

besoin “besoin” contributes the idea of “need” in “J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.”. The complete expression “J'ai besoin de...” means that something is necessary for the speaker. Use it before the thing that is needed.

d'un “d'un” means “of a” in “J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.”. It is the combination of “de” and “un” after “J'ai besoin”. Use it before a masculine singular thing that is needed.

endroit “endroit” means “place” in “J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.”. Here it refers to a place where the speaker can sit. The pattern “un endroit pour...” introduces a place intended for an activity.

calme “calme” means “quiet” in “un endroit calme”. It describes the place as suitable for sitting and studying without much noise. It can describe a place or atmosphere that is not noisy.

pour “pour” introduces the purpose in “pour m'asseoir” and “pour étudier”. Here it means “to” or “in order to”. Use “pour” followed by an infinitive to explain the purpose of an action.

m'asseoir “m'asseoir” means “to sit down” in “pour m'asseoir”. It says what the place is needed for. After “pour”, an infinitive such as “m'asseoir” can express the intended action.

loin “loin” means “far” or “away” in “loin de la porte”. It indicates that the table is at a distance from the door. The reusable pattern is “loin de” followed by a reference point.

de “de” means “from” in “loin de la porte”. It connects the distance expressed by “loin” to the door used as the reference point. Use “loin de” to describe distance from something.

la “la” means “the” in “la porte”. It identifies one specific door in the library context. It is placed before the feminine singular noun “porte”.

porte “porte” means “door” in “loin de la porte”. Here the door is the reference point for describing where the table is. It can be used after “de la” when referring to a specific door.

Alors “Alors” means “then” or “so” in “Alors, c'est un bon endroit pour étudier.”. It introduces a conclusion based on the table being away from the door. Use it to connect information with a resulting decision or conclusion.

c'est “c'est” means “this is” or “it is” in “c'est un bon endroit pour étudier.”. It identifies and evaluates the place being discussed. A common pattern is “c'est” followed by a noun or description.

un “un” means “a” in “un bon endroit”. It introduces one non-specific masculine singular place. It comes before the noun and its description in this expression.

bon “bon” means “good” in “un bon endroit pour étudier”. It describes the place as suitable for studying. It appears before the noun in “un bon endroit”.

étudier “étudier” means “to study” in “pour étudier”. It names the purpose of choosing the place. Use it after “pour” when expressing the purpose of an action.

S'il vous plaît The whole expression “S'il vous plaît” means “please” and politely introduces the request “parlez doucement”. Within it, “S'il” contributes “if it”, “vous” refers to “you”, and “plaît” contributes “pleases”; together they form the polite request expression. Use it when asking someone to do something politely.

parlez “parlez” means “speak” in “parlez doucement”. It gives the listener the requested action. The pattern “parlez” plus an adverb can specify how someone should speak.

doucement “doucement” means “softly” or “quietly” in “parlez doucement”. It explains how the listener should speak in the library. Use it after an action such as “parlez” to describe a gentle or quiet manner.

pendant “pendant” means “during” or “while” in “pendant que vous étudiez”. It introduces the time when the listener should speak quietly. The pattern “pendant que” connects an action with the time of another action.

que “que” completes the time expression “pendant que vous étudiez”, meaning “while you study”. Here it connects “vous étudiez” to the preceding action “parlez doucement”. Use it after “pendant” when introducing a clause about what is happening at the same time.

vous “vous” means “you” in “vous étudiez” and also appears in “S'il vous plaît”. In this dialogue, it addresses the other person politely. Use “vous” before the verb when speaking to the person or people being addressed.

étudiez “étudiez” means “study” in “pendant que vous étudiez”. It describes the activity taking place while the listener is asked to speak quietly. It is used with “vous” in this sentence.

D'accord The whole expression “D'accord” means “okay” or “sure” and accepts the request. Within it, “D'” is the shortened written form of “de” before “accord”, and “accord” refers to agreement; together they express agreement. Use it as a response when accepting a request or plan.

je “je” means “I” in “je vais parler doucement”. It marks the speaker as the person who will carry out the action. Use it before a verb when talking about your own action.

vais “vais” means “am going to” in “je vais parler doucement”. With “parler”, it forms the pattern “je vais + infinitive” to express a planned or imminent action. Use this pattern to say what you intend to do.

parler “parler” means “to speak” in “je vais parler doucement”. It names the action the speaker promises to do. It follows “vais” in the pattern “je vais + infinitive”.

Cela “Cela” means “that” or “that fact” in “Cela aide les autres à étudier.”. It refers to the preceding action of speaking quietly. Use it at the beginning of a sentence to refer back to an action or situation.

aide “aide” means “helps” in “Cela aide les autres à étudier.”. It says that the quiet speaking benefits other people. A reusable pattern is “aide” followed by a person and “à” plus an infinitive.

les “les” means “the” in “les autres”. It introduces the plural group being referred to. Use it before a plural group or noun when referring to specific people or things.

autres “autres” means “other people” in “les autres”. It refers to people besides the speaker and the listener who are studying. The expression “les autres” is used to refer to other people in the situation.

à “à” means “to” in “aide les autres à étudier”. It introduces the action that the other people are helped to do. Use the pattern “aider quelqu'un à” followed by an infinitive for helping someone do something.

Grammar Points

cette + nom féminin

cette table libre

set TAH-bl LEEBR

this available table

French uses « cette » before a singular feminine noun; « table » is feminine.

verbe + adverbe

parlez doucement

par-LAY doos-MAHN

speak softly

« doucement » is an adverb describing how to speak, not an adjective.

French Vocabulary

alors adv

ah-LOR then

Alors, c'est un bon endroit pour étudier.

besoin noun

beh-ZWAN need

J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.

calme adj

KAHLM quiet; calm

un endroit calme

cette det

set this

Cette table est libre ?

endroit noun

ahn-DWAR place

J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme pour m'asseoir.

ici adv

ee-SEE here

Personne n'est assis ici.

libre adj

LEEBR free; available

Cette table est libre ?

loin adv

LWAN far; away

Cette table est loin de la porte.

m'asseoir verb

mah-SWAHR to sit down

pour m'asseoir

personne pron

pehr-SONN no one; nobody

Personne n'est assis ici.

porte noun

POHRT door

loin de la porte

table noun

TAH-bl table

Cette table est libre ?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this table free?

Show Answer

Cette table est libre ?

No one is sitting here.

Show Answer

Personne n'est assis ici.

Sure, I'll keep my voice down.

Show Answer

D'accord, je vais parler doucement.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

this

Show Answer

cette

free; available

Show Answer

libre

table

Show Answer

table

no one; nobody

Show Answer

personne