Borrowing and using a ladder safely | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shared space, two adults borrow a ladder to reach a high shelf and talk about using it safely..

EN → FR / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing and using a ladder safely to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Est-ce que je peux emprunter ton échelle ?

ess-kuh zhuh puh ahn-prun-TAY tawn ay-SHELL? Can I borrow your ladder?
B

Bien sûr, mais fais attention à l'échelle.

byan SOOR, may fay ah-tahn-SYON ah lay-SHELL. Sure, but please be careful with it.
A

J'ai besoin d'atteindre une étagère haute.

zhay buh-ZWAN dah-TANDR oon ay-tah-ZHAIR oht. I need to reach a high shelf.
B

Je peux la tenir bien stable pour toi.

zhuh puh lah tuh-NEER byan STAH-bl poor TWAH. I can hold it steady for you.
A

Ça m'aiderait beaucoup.

sah meh-duh-RAY boh-KOO. That would help a lot.
B

Ne reste pas sur la marche du haut.

nuh REST pah syur lah MARSH dew OH. Stay off the top step.
A

Je resterai sur une marche plus basse.

zhuh res-tuh-RAY syur oon MARSH ploo BASS. I will stay on a lower step.
B

Rapporte-la quand tu as fini.

rah-PORT lah kahn tew ah fee-NEE. Bring it back when you finish.

Word by Word

Est-ce “Est-ce” begins the fixed question marker “Est-ce que” in this question. Together with “que”, it introduces a yes-or-no question such as “Est-ce que je peux… ?”
que “Que” completes the question marker “Est-ce que” here. The full expression introduces a yes-or-no question before the subject and verb.
je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “peux” in this question. It is commonly placed before the verb in a sentence such as “je peux…”
peux “Peux” expresses ability or permission with “je” in “je peux emprunter”. It can be reused before an infinitive to ask whether you can do something.
emprunter “Emprunter” means “to borrow” in this request for temporary use of the ladder. After “peux”, it stays in this infinitive form, as in “je peux emprunter…”
ton “Ton” means “your” before “échelle” in “ton échelle”. French uses this form before a vowel-initial noun here; it is reused before a possessed singular noun in a phrase such as “ton livre”.
échelle “Échelle” means “ladder” in this dialogue. It is the object being borrowed and later held and returned; “une échelle” means “a ladder”.
Bien “Bien” contributes to the expression “Bien sûr”, meaning “sure” or “of course” in this reply. Together with “sûr”, it is a common way to accept a request.
sûr “Sûr” completes “Bien sûr”, which means “sure” or “of course” here. The full expression is useful when agreeing to someone’s request.
mais “Mais” means “but” and introduces the caution that follows the agreement. It is reused to connect an opposing point or condition to what was just said.
fais “Fais” helps form the warning “fais attention”, meaning “be careful” or “pay attention”. In this dialogue, it gives a direct instruction about the ladder.
attention “Attention” means “attention” or “care” in the expression “fais attention”. The reusable pattern is “faire attention à” followed by the person or thing requiring care.
à “À” links “attention” to the thing requiring care in “attention à l'échelle”. The pattern “faire attention à + thing” means to pay attention to or be careful with something.
l'échelle “L'échelle” means “the ladder” in this warning. It is the definite form of “échelle”, with “l'” used before its vowel sound.
J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” and is the first part of “J'ai besoin d'atteindre…”, which expresses a need. It is reused before “besoin” when stating that you need something.
besoin “Besoin” means “need” in the expression “J'ai besoin d'atteindre”. The common reusable pattern is “avoir besoin de + noun or infinitive” for saying that something is needed.
d'atteindre “D'atteindre” means “to reach” after “J'ai besoin”. It is the contracted form used in the pattern “avoir besoin d'atteindre…” before this infinitive.
une “Une” introduces “étagère” as “a” shelf in this sentence. It is reused before a singular noun when referring to one non-specific item.
étagère “Étagère” means “shelf” in “une étagère haute”. Here it identifies the high place the speaker wants to reach.
haute “Haute” describes the shelf as high in “une étagère haute”. It appears after the noun in this expression and can be reused to describe a high object.
la “La” means “it” and refers back to the feminine noun “l'échelle” in “la tenir”. It is placed before the infinitive when the ladder is the object being held.
tenir “Tenir” means “to hold” in “Je peux la tenir”. After “peux”, it is an infinitive and takes “la” as the thing being held.
stable “Stable” means “steady” in “la tenir bien stable”. It describes the ladder’s condition while the other person holds it.
pour “Pour” means “for” and introduces the person who benefits from the help in “pour toi”. It is commonly followed by a person or thing that receives a benefit.
toi “Toi” means “you” after the preposition “pour” in “pour toi”. This pattern identifies the person for whom an action is done.
Ça “Ça” means “that” or “it” and refers to the offer to hold the ladder in “Ça m'aiderait”. It is commonly used to refer to an action, situation, or thing already understood from the conversation.
m'aiderait “M'aiderait” means “would help me” in the response to the offer. The “m'” identifies the person helped, and the whole form expresses the expected benefit of that help.
beaucoup “Beaucoup” means “a lot” in “m'aiderait beaucoup”, showing that the help would be very useful. It commonly follows a verb phrase to express a large amount or degree.
Ne “Ne” begins the negation in “Ne reste pas”. It works together with “pas” to turn the instruction into “do not stay”.
reste “Reste” means “stay” in the instruction “Ne reste pas sur la marche du haut”. The reusable pattern is “rester sur + place” when saying where someone should remain.
pas “Pas” completes the negation with “Ne” in “Ne reste pas”. Together, “ne … pas” means “not” or “do not” in this instruction.
sur “Sur” means “on” and indicates the step where someone might remain in “sur la marche du haut”. It is reused before a surface or position.
du “Du” links “marche” with “haut” in “la marche du haut”, identifying the step at the top. It is the contracted form used in this “of the” expression.
haut “Haut” identifies the upper part in “la marche du haut”, meaning “the top step”. It can be reused to describe the upper part or position of something.
resterai “Resterai” means “will stay” in the speaker’s promise to remain on a lower step. It is used here to state a future decision or commitment.
plus “Plus” marks the comparison in “plus basse”, meaning “lower”. The reusable pattern is “plus + adjective” when comparing a quality or position.
basse “Basse” describes the step as lower in “une marche plus basse”. Together with “plus”, it compares this step with the top step mentioned earlier.
Rapporte-la “Rapporte-la” means “bring it back” in this instruction about returning the ladder. The exact expression combines the command with “la”, which refers to “l'échelle” and is attached after the command with a hyphen.
quand “Quand” means “when” and introduces the time condition in “quand tu as fini”. It is reused before a clause that says when an action should happen.
tu “Tu” means “you” and is the subject of “as fini” in this time clause. It is placed before the verb when addressing one person.
as “As” contributes “have” in the completed-action expression “tu as fini”. Together with “fini”, it means that you have finished.
fini “Fini” means “finished” in “tu as fini”. With “as”, it forms the expression “have finished”, which gives the point in time for returning the ladder.

Grammar Points

est-ce que + question

Est-ce que ton échelle est stable ?

ess-kuh tawn ay-SHELL ay STAH-bl?

Is your ladder steady?

« Est-ce que » forme une question sans inverser le sujet et le verbe.

impératif + pronom objet

Rapporte-la.

rah-PORT lah.

Bring it back.

À l’impératif affirmatif, le pronom objet se place après le verbe avec un trait d’union.

French Vocabulary

atteindre verb
ah-TANDR to reach

I need to reach a high shelf.

bien adv
byan well

to hold it steady

bien sûr phrase
byan SOOR of course

Sure, but please be careful with it.

échelle noun
ay-SHELL ladder

Can I borrow your ladder?

emprunter verb
ahn-prun-TAY to borrow

Can I borrow your ladder?

est-ce que phrase
ess-kuh question marker

Can I borrow your ladder?

étagère noun
ay-tah-ZHAIR shelf

a high shelf

fais attention phrase
fay ah-tahn-SYON be careful

Please be careful with it.

haute adj
oht high

a high shelf

stable adj
STAH-bl steady

to hold it steady

tenir verb
tuh-NEER to hold

I can hold it steady for you.

ton det
tawn your

your ladder

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to reach a high shelf.

Show AnswerJ'ai besoin d'atteindre une étagère haute.

That would help a lot.

Show AnswerÇa m'aiderait beaucoup.

Bring it back when you finish.

Show AnswerRapporte-la quand tu as fini.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

ladder

Show Answeréchelle

shelf

Show Answerétagère

high

Show Answerhaute

to borrow

Show Answeremprunter