Choosing between a sandwich and a salad | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing between a sandwich and a salad to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Est-ce que je choisis un sandwich ou une salade ?

ess-kuh zhuh shwah-ZEE uhn sahn-DWEECH oo oon sah-LAHD? Should I choose a sandwich or a salad?

La salade est une option plus légère.

lah sah-LAHD eh-TÜN op-SYON plew lay-ZHAIR. The salad is a lighter option.

Je n'ai pas très faim.

zhuh nay pah treh feh(n). I am not very hungry.

Alors, elle te conviendra peut-être mieux.

ah-LOR, el tuh kohn-vyen-DRUH puh-TEHTR MYUH. Then it may suit you better.

Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?

kess-kuh tew prahn? What are you getting?

Je veux quelque chose de plus grand.

zhuh vuh kel-kuh SHOHZ duh plew GRAHN. I want something bigger.

Je vais choisir le sandwich.

zhuh vay shwah-ZEER luh sahn-DWEECH. I will choose the sandwich.

La salade me convient.

lah sah-LAHD muh kohn-VYEN. The salad works for me.

Commandons quand le serveur revient.

koh-mahn-DOHN kahn luh sair-VUHR ruh-VYEN. Let's order when the server comes back.

Word by Word

Est-ce que “Est-ce que” introduces a yes-or-no question; here, “Est-ce que je choisis un sandwich ou une salade ?” asks which option the speaker should choose. “Est-ce” begins the question structure, and “que” links it to “je choisis”. Use “Est-ce que” before a normal statement word order when asking a question.

je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “choisis” in “Est-ce que je choisis un sandwich ou une salade ?”. It is placed before the verb in this question structure. Use “je” when the speaker is the person doing the action.

choisis “Choisis” expresses “choose” in “Est-ce que je choisis un sandwich ou une salade ?”. It is the exact form used with “je” here; the citation form is “choisir”. Use it before the thing or option being chosen, such as “je choisis un sandwich”.

un “Un” means “a” or “one” before “sandwich” in “un sandwich”. It marks this masculine noun as one unspecified item. Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one item.

sandwich “Sandwich” means “sandwich” in “un sandwich”. Here it is one of the two food choices. Use it after a determiner such as “un” or “le” when talking about a sandwich.

ou “Ou” means “or” and connects the two alternatives in “un sandwich ou une salade”. Use “ou” between choices when asking or stating which alternative is selected.

une “Une” means “a” or “one” before “salade” in “une salade”. It marks this feminine singular noun as one unspecified item. Use “une” before a feminine singular noun when referring to one item.

salade “Salade” means “salad” in “une salade” and “La salade”. Here it is one of the food choices and later the chosen food. Use it with “une” for an unspecified salad or “la” for the specific salad being discussed.

est “Est” means “is” in “La salade est une option plus légère”. It links “la salade” with the description “une option plus légère”. Use “est” to describe what something is or what it is like.

option “Option” means “option” in “une option plus légère”. Here it identifies the salad as a possible choice. Use “option” with a description when explaining why one choice may be suitable.

plus “Plus” means “more” and forms the comparison in “plus légère”, meaning “lighter”. It shows that the salad is being compared with the sandwich or another choice. Use “plus” before an adjective when describing a greater degree.

légère “Légère” means “light” in “une option plus légère”, referring to food that is less heavy. The form is feminine because it describes “option”. Use “plus légère” to describe a feminine noun as lighter than another choice.

n'ai In “Je n'ai pas très faim”, “n'ai” is part of the expression for saying that the speaker is not hungry. “N'” marks the negative structure before “ai”, the form of “avoir” used here, while “pas” completes the negation. Use “Je n'ai pas faim” to say that you are not hungry; add “très” for “not very hungry”.

pas “Pas” completes the negation in “Je n'ai pas très faim”, making the statement negative. It works with “n'” before “ai” rather than carrying the whole negative meaning alone. Use “ne … pas” around the verb to make a basic negative statement.

très “Très” means “very” in “Je n'ai pas très faim”, so the speaker is not very hungry. It is placed before “faim” in this expression. Use “très” before a word or expression when intensifying its meaning.

faim “Faim” means “hunger” in the expression “avoir faim”; “Je n'ai pas très faim” means “I am not very hungry”. With “faim”, French uses “avoir” rather than a form of “être”. Use “avoir faim” to talk about being hungry.

Alors “Alors” means “then” in “Alors, elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”, connecting the speaker’s conclusion to the fact that the other person is not very hungry. It can introduce a consequence or response. Use “Alors” at the beginning of a reply when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

elle “Elle” means “she” or “it” for a feminine noun. In “elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”, it refers to “la salade”. Use “elle” to refer back to a feminine noun instead of repeating it.

te “Te” means “you” as the person affected in “elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”. It identifies the person whom the salad may suit better. Use “te” before the verb when speaking informally to one person about something that affects or suits them.

conviendra “Conviendra” means “will suit” in “elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”, saying that the salad may be a better fit for the listener. It is the exact form used with “elle” here; the citation form is “convenir”. Use the pattern “quelque chose te conviendra” when saying that something will suit you.

peut-être “Peut-être” means “perhaps” or “maybe” in “elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”. It makes the statement less certain. Use “peut-être” when suggesting a possibility rather than stating a definite result.

mieux “Mieux” means “better” in “elle te conviendra peut-être mieux”, comparing how well the salad may suit the listener. It describes a better fit among the available choices. Use “mieux” when saying that one option suits someone better than another.

Qu'est-ce que “Qu'est-ce que” introduces the question “Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?”, meaning “What are you getting?”. “Qu'” is the shortened form before the vowel in “est-ce”, “est-ce” is part of the question structure, and “que” introduces the action being asked about. Use “Qu'est-ce que” before the subject and verb when asking what someone is doing or choosing.

tu “Tu” means “you” as the informal subject in “Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?”. It is the person getting or choosing the food. Use “tu” when speaking directly and informally to one person.

prends “Prends” means “take” or, at the counter, “get” in “Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?”. It asks which food the other person is choosing or ordering. Use “prendre” with the item being selected, such as “prendre un sandwich” in a new example.

veux “Veux” means “want” in “Je veux quelque chose de plus grand”. It expresses the speaker’s desire for something larger. It is the exact form used with “je” here; use “je veux” before the thing wanted.

quelque chose “Quelque chose” means “something” in “Je veux quelque chose de plus grand”. “Quelque” and “chose” work together as one expression for an unspecified thing, and “de plus grand” describes that thing. Use “quelque chose de” followed by a description when saying that something has a particular quality.

de “De” links “quelque chose” to the description “plus grand” in “quelque chose de plus grand”. Here it introduces the adjective describing the unspecified thing. Use the pattern “quelque chose de” plus a description, such as “quelque chose de simple” in a new example.

grand “Grand” means “big” in “quelque chose de plus grand”, referring to something bigger than the available smaller option. It appears after “plus” to form the comparison. Use “plus grand” when comparing the size of one thing with another.

vais “Vais” means “am going” in “Je vais choisir le sandwich”. Together with the infinitive “choisir”, it expresses the speaker’s intended choice. It is the exact form used with “je”; use “je vais” before an infinitive to say what you are going to do.

choisir “Choisir” means “to choose” in “Je vais choisir le sandwich”. It is the infinitive used after “vais” in this expression. Use “aller” plus an infinitive when stating an intended action, such as “je vais choisir”.

le “Le” means “the” before “sandwich” in “le sandwich”. It refers to the specific sandwich being selected from the known choices. Use “le” before a masculine singular noun when the item is specific or already identified.

me “Me” means “me” in “La salade me convient”, identifying the speaker as the person for whom the salad works. It is placed before “convient”. Use “me” before the verb when saying that something suits or affects you.

convient “Convient” means “suits” or “works for” in “La salade me convient”. It says that the salad is acceptable or suitable for the speaker. It is the exact form used with “la salade”; use the pattern “quelque chose me convient” when saying that something works for you.

Commandons “Commandons” means “let’s order” in “Commandons quand le serveur revient”. It invites the other person to order together. It is the exact form used for this invitation; use it before the time or condition for the action, such as “quand…”.

quand “Quand” means “when” in “quand le serveur revient”. It introduces the time at which the speakers will order. Use “quand” before a clause to connect an action with the time it happens.

serveur “Serveur” means “server” in “le serveur revient”. Here it refers to the person serving customers at the food counter. Use “le serveur” when referring to a specific server in the situation.

revient “Revient” means “comes back” or “returns” in “le serveur revient”. It describes the server returning to the counter, after which the speakers will order. It is the exact form used with “le serveur”; use “revenir” when saying that someone comes back.

Grammar Points

L’impératif présent : 1re personne du pluriel

Commandons !

koh-mahn-DOHN

Let’s order!

À l’impératif, le sujet n’est pas exprimé : commandons signifie « let’s order ».

Accord de l’adjectif au féminin

option légère

op-SYON lay-ZHAIR

light option

L’adjectif léger devient légère au féminin pour s’accorder avec option.

French Vocabulary

alors adv

ah-LOR then

Alors, elle te conviendra peut-être mieux.

choisir verb

shwah-ZEER to choose choisis

Est-ce que je choisis un sandwich ou une salade ?

convenir verb

kohn-vuh-NEER to suit conviendra

elle te conviendra peut-être mieux

faim noun

feh(n) hunger

Je n'ai pas très faim.

léger adj

lay-ZHAY light légère

plus légère

mieux adv

MYUH better

te conviendra peut-être mieux

option noun

op-SYON option

une option plus légère

peut-être adv

puh-TEHTR perhaps

elle te conviendra peut-être mieux

prendre verb

PRAHNDR to get; to take prends

Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?

quelque chose pron

kel-kuh-SHOHZ something

Je veux quelque chose de plus grand.

salade noun

sah-LAHD salad

une salade

sandwich noun

sahn-DWEECH sandwich

un sandwich

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am not very hungry.

Show Answer

Je n'ai pas très faim.

Then it may suit you better.

Show Answer

Alors, elle te conviendra peut-être mieux.

What are you getting?

Show Answer

Qu'est-ce que tu prends ?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

then

Show Answer

alors

to choose

Show Answer

choisis

sandwich

Show Answer

sandwich

salad

Show Answer

salade