Borrowing a charger and adapter | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shared space, one person borrows a charger and adapter and checks whether the cable can reach the table..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a charger and adapter to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Est-ce qu'il y a un chargeur que je peux emprunter ?

ess-kuh-EL yah uhn shah-ZHUR kuh zhuh puh ahn-pruhn-TAY Is there a charger I can borrow?
B

Utilise celui à côté de mon ordinateur portable.

oo-tee-LEEZ suh-LWEE ah koh-TAY duh mohn or-dee-nah-TUR por-TAHBL Use the one beside my laptop.
A

Est-ce que j'ai besoin de cet adaptateur aussi ?

ess-kuh zhay buh-ZWAN duh set ah-dap-tah-TUR oh-SEE Do I need this adapter too?
B

Utilise-le si ta fiche ne rentre pas.

oo-tee-LEEZ-luh see tah FEESH nuh RAHN-truh pah Use it if your plug does not fit.
A

Est-ce que le câble ira jusqu'à la table ?

ess-kuh luh KAHBL eer-AH zhoos-KAH lah TAHBL Will the cable reach the table?
B

Il atteint la table si tu t'assieds près du mur.

eel ah-TAHN lah TAHBL see too tah-SYAY preh dew MEWR It reaches if you sit near the wall.
A

Je remettrai tout à sa place quand j'aurai fini.

zhuh ruh-meh-TRAY too-tah sah PLAHS kahn zhoh-RAY fee-NEE I will put everything back when I finish.
B

Laisse-le sur mon bureau, je pourrai le trouver.

less-luh SEWR mohn bew-ROH, zhuh poo-RAY luh troo-VAY Leave it on my desk so I can find it.

Word by Word

Est-ce “Est-ce” opens the question marker in this line. “Est” and “ce” are joined here to form the beginning of “Est-ce que”, which turns the sentence into a question.
qu'il “qu'il” connects the question marker to “il y a” in “Est-ce qu'il y a un chargeur”. Here, “que” links the question to “il”, the subject used in this expression for asking whether something exists. A reusable pattern is “Est-ce qu'il y a ... ?”.
y In “il y a”, “y” contributes the idea of “there” when asking whether something exists. Reuse it in the pattern “il y a + noun”, as in “il y a un chargeur”.
a The citation form is avoir; “a” is the form used in “il y a” to say that something exists. Reuse the complete pattern “il y a + noun” when asking or saying that something is available.
un “un” means “a” or “one” before “chargeur”; it introduces one charger without identifying a specific one. Reuse “un” before a singular noun when introducing one item.
chargeur “chargeur” means charger, the item being borrowed in this dialogue. Reuse it in “un chargeur” when asking for or referring to a charger.
que “que” has two roles here. In “Est-ce que”, it helps form the question marker; in “un chargeur que je peux emprunter”, it links “chargeur” to the clause describing which charger can be borrowed. Reuse “Est-ce que ... ?” for a question and “un noun que ...” to add information about a noun.
je “je” means “I” and is the subject of “je peux emprunter”. Reuse “je” before a verb when talking about your own ability or action.
peux The citation form is pouvoir; “peux” means “can” in “je peux emprunter”, expressing the speaker’s ability or permission to borrow. Reuse the pattern “je peux + infinitive”, as in “je peux emprunter”.
emprunter “emprunter” means to borrow in the question about taking the charger temporarily. It is used after “je peux”; a new example is “Je peux emprunter ton stylo ?”.
Utilise-le The citation form is utiliser; “Utilise-le” tells one person to use the charger that has just been identified. The form combines the command with “-le”, meaning “it”. Reuse “Utilise-le” when giving the same kind of instruction about a known object.
celui “celui” means “the one” and identifies one item instead of repeating “chargeur”. In “celui à côté de mon ordinateur portable”, the following location phrase specifies which one. Reuse “celui + location phrase” when choosing one item from several.
à In “à côté de”, “à” helps form the location expression meaning “beside” or “next to”. Reuse the exact pattern “à côté de + noun” to locate something beside another object.
côté “côté” means “side” in the location expression “à côté de”, which means “beside”. Reuse “à côté de” when identifying an object by what it is next to.
de In “à côté de mon ordinateur portable”, “de” completes the location expression “à côté de”. Reuse “à côté de + noun” to say that something is beside a person, place, or object.
mon “mon” means “my” before “ordinateur portable”, identifying the speaker’s laptop. Reuse “mon + noun” when referring to something that belongs to or is associated with you.
ordinateur “ordinateur” means computer in “ordinateur portable”. Together with “portable”, the phrase means laptop. Reuse the exact phrase “ordinateur portable” for a laptop.
portable In “ordinateur portable”, “portable” specifies that the computer is portable, so the whole phrase means laptop. Reuse “ordinateur portable” when referring to this kind of computer.
j'ai The citation form is avoir; “j'ai” means “I have” in “j'ai besoin de”. In this complete expression, the speaker says that they need something. Reuse “j'ai besoin de + noun” to state a need.
besoin “besoin” names the need in “j'ai besoin de cet adaptateur”. The complete expression “j'ai besoin de” means “I need”, so do not use “besoin” alone for that meaning. Reuse “j'ai besoin de + noun” when asking for or stating a necessity.
cet “cet” means “this” before “adaptateur” and points to a specific adapter. Reuse “cet” before a noun when identifying one particular item in this way.
adaptateur “adaptateur” means adapter, the extra item whose necessity is being checked. Reuse it in “cet adaptateur” when referring to this adapter.
aussi “aussi” means “too” or “also” and adds the adapter to the charger already under discussion. At the end of “Est-ce que j'ai besoin de cet adaptateur aussi ?”, it asks whether this additional item is needed. Reuse it to add another item or action.
si “si” means “if” and introduces the condition “ta fiche ne rentre pas”. Reuse “si + clause” when one action or result depends on a condition.
ta “ta” means “your” before “fiche”, referring to the other person’s plug. Reuse “ta + noun” when addressing one person and identifying something associated with them.
fiche “fiche” means plug in this dialogue, specifically the plug that may not fit. Reuse it in “ta fiche” when discussing whether someone’s plug fits.
ne “ne” starts the negation in “ne rentre pas”. It works together with “pas” around the verb to say that the plug does not fit. Reuse the pattern “ne ... pas” for a negative statement.
rentre The citation form is rentrer; “rentre” means “fits” or “goes in” in “ta fiche ne rentre pas”. Reuse the exact negative pattern “ne rentre pas” when a plug or object does not fit.
pas “pas” completes the negation with “ne” in “ne rentre pas”, giving the meaning “does not fit”. Reuse “ne + verb + pas” to make a negative statement.
le “le” has two uses in this dialogue. In “le câble”, it is the definite article “the”; in “Utilise-le” and “Laisse-le”, it is the object pronoun “it”, referring to the known item. Reuse the appropriate form according to whether it comes before a noun or after a command.
câble “câble” means cable, whose reach to the table is being checked. Reuse it in “le câble” when referring to the cable.
ira The citation form is aller; “ira” asks whether the cable will reach as far as the table in “ira jusqu'à la table”. Reuse the pattern “subject + ira jusqu'à + destination” when asking about a future reach or endpoint.
jusqu'à “jusqu'à” means “up to” or “as far as” and marks the endpoint in “jusqu'à la table”. Reuse “jusqu'à + place” when describing how far something extends or goes.
la “la” means “the” before “table” and identifies the particular table being discussed. Reuse “la + noun” when referring to a specific feminine noun.
table “table” means table, the endpoint the cable may reach. Reuse it in “la table” when referring to this particular table.
Il “Il” means “it” here and refers back to the cable in “Il atteint la table”. Reuse “Il” as the subject before a verb when referring back to a known masculine noun such as “câble”.
atteint The citation form is atteindre; “atteint” means “reaches” in “Il atteint la table”. Reuse the pattern “Il atteint + destination” to say that an object reaches a place.
tu “tu” means “you” and addresses the one person who may sit near the wall. It is the subject in “si tu t'assieds”. Reuse “tu” before a verb when speaking directly to one person.
t'assieds The citation form is s'asseoir; “t'assieds” means “sit down” in “tu t'assieds près du mur”. Reuse “tu t'assieds + location” when telling where someone sits.
près “près” means “near” in “près du mur”. Reuse the location pattern “près de + noun” to say that someone or something is close to a place or object.
du In “près du mur”, “du” is the contracted form of “de” and “le”, completing the expression meaning “near the wall”. Reuse “près du + noun” before a masculine singular noun.
mur “mur” means wall in “près du mur”, which gives the place where the person should sit. Reuse it in the location phrase “près du mur”.
remettrai The citation form is remettre; “remettrai” says that the speaker will put the borrowed items back in “remettrai tout à sa place”. Reuse this expression when promising to return something to its proper place after using it.
tout “tout” means “everything” and refers here to all the items being used, such as the charger and adapter. In “remettrai tout à sa place”, it is the object of the action of putting things back. Reuse “tout” when referring to all items or things together.
sa “sa” indicates the place associated with the item in “à sa place”. The whole phrase means “to its place”, so “sa” should be understood together with “place”. Reuse the exact expression “à sa place” when saying that something belongs in its proper place.
place “place” means “place” in “à sa place”, referring to the proper location for the item. The complete phrase “à sa place” means “in or to its place”. Reuse this phrase when returning something where it belongs.
quand “quand” means “when” and introduces the time clause “quand j'aurai fini”. Reuse “quand + clause” to connect an action with the time at which another action is completed.
j'aurai The citation form is avoir; “j'aurai” means “I will have” in “quand j'aurai fini”. Together with “fini”, it marks that the speaker will have finished before putting everything back. Reuse the exact pattern “quand j'aurai fini” when referring to an action that will be completed first.
fini The citation form is finir; “fini” means “finished” after “j'aurai” in “j'aurai fini”. The complete phrase means “I will have finished”. Reuse “j'aurai fini” when saying that an activity will be complete by a future point.
Laisse-le The citation form is laisser; “Laisse-le” tells one person to leave the known item where it is. It combines the command with “-le”, meaning “it”. Reuse “Laisse-le” when giving an instruction about leaving a specific object.
sur “sur” means “on” and shows the surface where the item should be left in “sur mon bureau”. Reuse “sur + surface” when describing where an object is placed.
bureau “bureau” means desk in “mon bureau”, the place where the item should be left. Reuse it in “sur mon bureau” when referring to the speaker’s desk.
pourrai The citation form is pouvoir; “pourrai” means “will be able to” in “je pourrai le trouver”. It expresses the speaker’s future ability to find the item. Reuse “je pourrai + infinitive” to say what you will be able to do.
trouver “trouver” means “find” and follows “je pourrai” in “je pourrai le trouver”. Reuse an ability expression with an infinitive, as in “je pourrai le trouver”, when saying that someone will be able to locate something.

Grammar Points

avoir besoin de + nom

J'ai besoin du chargeur.

zhay buh-ZWAN dew shah-ZHUR

I need the charger.

French uses avoir besoin de, literally “to have need of,” followed by de and the needed thing.

celui + complément

Celui près du mur.

suh-LWEE preh dew MEWR

The one near the wall.

Celui replaces a masculine singular noun; a phrase such as près du mur identifies which one.

French Vocabulary

à côté de prep
ah koh-TAY duh beside; next to
adaptateur noun
ah-dap-tah-TUR adapter
aussi adv
oh-SEE also; too
avoir besoin de phrase
ah-VWAR buh-ZWAN duh to need ai besoin de
câble noun
KAHBL cable
celui pron
suh-LWEE the one
chargeur noun
shah-ZHUR charger

un chargeur

emprunter verb
ahn-pruhn-TAY to borrow
fiche noun
FEESH plug
ordinateur portable noun
or-dee-nah-TUR por-TAHBL laptop
rentrer verb
RAHN-tray to fit; to go in rentre
utiliser verb
oo-tee-lee-ZAY to use Utilise

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

the one

Show Answercelui

adapter

Show Answeradaptateur

also; too

Show Answeraussi

to borrow

Show Answeremprunter