Using a shared office | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Using a shared office to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Est-ce que je peux travailler dans ce bureau partagé ?

ess-kuh zhuh puh trah-vah-YAY dahn suh byoo-ROH par-tah-ZHAY Can I work in this shared office?

Choisis un bureau libre.

shwah-ZEE uhn byoo-ROH LEEBR Choose an open desk.

Je peux utiliser celui près de la porte.

zhuh puh ew-tee-lee-ZAY suh-LWEE preh duh pohrt I can use the one near the door.

Laisse-le propre quand tu as fini.

less-luh PROHPR kahn tew ah fee-NEE Leave it clean when you finish.

J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme.

zhay buh-ZWAN duhn ahn-DRWAH kahlm I need a quiet place.

Essaie le bureau près du mur.

ess-SAY luh byoo-ROH preh duh mewr Try the desk by the wall.

Je vais ranger mes affaires avant de partir.

zhuh vay rahn-ZHAY may zah-FAIR ah-VAHN duh par-TEER I will clear my things before I leave.

Comme ça, le bureau reste prêt pour la personne suivante.

kohm SAH luh byoo-ROH rest PREH poor lah pair-SON swee-VAHNT That keeps the desk ready for the next person.

Word by Word

Est-ce que Est-ce que turns the following clause into a yes-or-no question: “Est-ce que je peux travailler...” Here, “Est-ce” begins the question form and “que” links it to the clause. Use “Est-ce que + clause” for a direct question.

je “Je” means “I” and is the person who can work in the shared office here. It appears before the verb in “Je peux utiliser...” and “Je vais ranger...”. Use “je + verb” to talk about your own action.

peux “Peux” expresses ability or permission in “je peux travailler” and “Je peux utiliser”: “I can” or “I may”. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “peux travailler” and “peux utiliser”. Use “je peux + infinitive” for something you can or may do.

travailler “Travailler” means “to work” in the question about working in the shared office. It is an infinitive after “je peux”. Use “pouvoir + travailler” when saying that someone can work.

dans “Dans” means “in” in “dans ce bureau partagé”, showing the place where the work happens. It is followed here by a noun phrase naming the place. Use “dans + place” to say where someone is or works.

ce “Ce” points to the particular office being discussed in “ce bureau partagé”, meaning “this”. It comes directly before “bureau”. Use “ce + noun” to identify a specific masculine noun.

bureau “Bureau” refers to the shared office in “bureau partagé” and to a desk in “bureau libre” or “le bureau”. Its meaning depends on the office context or the desk context. Use “un bureau” when referring to an office or a desk as appropriate.

partagé “Partagé” means “shared” in “ce bureau partagé”, describing an office used by more than one person. It comes after the noun it describes here. Use “bureau partagé” for a shared office.

Choisis “Choisis” tells one person to choose an available desk. It is the direct instruction in “Choisis un bureau libre”. Use “Choisis + object” when telling one person to choose something.

un “Un” means “a” in “un bureau libre”, introducing one unspecified desk. It comes before the noun “bureau”. Use “un + singular noun” when introducing one masculine singular item.

libre “Libre” means “open” or “available” in “un bureau libre”, describing a desk that can be chosen. It comes after “bureau”. Use “bureau libre” to identify an available desk.

utiliser “Utiliser” means “to use” in “Je peux utiliser celui...”. It is an infinitive after “peux” and takes the thing being used as its object. Use “utiliser + object”, such as “utiliser un bureau”.

celui “Celui” means “the one” and refers back to a masculine noun, here the desk near the door. In “celui près de la porte”, it avoids repeating “bureau”. Use “celui + description” to identify one particular masculine item.

près “Près” means “near” in “près de la porte” and “près du mur”. It is used with a following landmark to show location. Use “près de + place” to say that something is nearby.

de In “près de la porte”, “de” helps introduce the landmark located near the desk; it also appears in “avant de partir”. Its exact function depends on the construction around it. Use “près de + noun” for a nearby place and “avant de + infinitive” for an action that comes before another.

la “La” means “the” before “porte” in “la porte”, identifying a specific door. It comes directly before the noun. Use “la + noun” with a feminine singular noun.

porte “Porte” means “door” in “la porte”, the landmark used to locate the desk. It follows the article “la”. Use “près de la porte” to say that something is near the door.

Laisse-le “Laisse-le” means “leave it” in the instruction to leave the desk clean. “Laisse” gives the instruction and “-le” refers to the desk as the thing being left. Use “Laisse-le + adjective” when telling one person to leave something in a particular state.

propre “Propre” means “clean” in “Laisse-le propre”, describing the state in which the desk should be left. It describes the object referred to by “-le”. Use “laisser quelque chose propre” when saying that something should remain clean.

quand “Quand” means “when” and introduces the time condition in “quand tu as fini”. It connects the instruction with the moment the person finishes. Use “quand + clause” to say when something happens.

tu “Tu” means “you” when addressing one person directly in “tu as fini”. It is the person who finishes the work. Use “tu + verb” when speaking directly to one person in this informal form.

as “As” means “have” in the expression “tu as fini”, which says that you have finished. Together with “fini”, it describes completion before the desk is left clean. Use “tu as + completed action” when saying that one person has done something.

fini “Fini” means “finished” in “tu as fini”, referring to the completion of the work. With “as”, it forms the expression for having finished. Use “avoir fini” to say that an activity is complete.

J'ai “J’ai” means “I have” in “J’ai besoin d’un endroit calme”, expressing the speaker’s need. It is followed by “besoin” in the construction “avoir besoin de”. Use “J’ai besoin de + noun” to say what you need.

besoin “Besoin” refers to a need in “J’ai besoin d’un endroit calme”. The full construction “avoir besoin de” means “to need”, and “besoin” names the need while the following phrase identifies what is needed. Use “avoir besoin de + noun” for a practical need.

d'un “D’un” means “of a” in “besoin d’un endroit”, introducing what is needed. It combines “de” with “un” before the noun “endroit”. Use “avoir besoin d’un + singular noun” to say that you need one item or place.

endroit “Endroit” means “place” in “un endroit calme”, the place where the speaker wants to work. It is followed here by the adjective “calme”. Use “un endroit + adjective” to describe a place.

calme “Calme” means “quiet” in “un endroit calme”, describing the place the speaker needs. It comes after “endroit”. Use “un endroit calme” for a quiet place.

Essaie “Essaie” means “try” in the suggestion “Essaie le bureau près du mur”. It tells one person to try a particular desk. Use “Essaie + object” when suggesting that one person try something.

le “Le” means “the” in “le bureau”, identifying the particular desk by the wall. It comes before the noun “bureau”. Use “le + noun” with a masculine singular noun.

mur “Mur” means “wall” in “près du mur”, which identifies the desk’s location. It follows the location expression “près du”. Use “près du mur” to say that something is near the wall.

vais “Vais” helps express a planned action in “Je vais ranger mes affaires”, meaning “I will” or “I am going to put away my things”. It is followed by the infinitive “ranger”. Use “je vais + infinitive” for an action you plan to do.

ranger “Ranger” means “to put away” or “to clear away” in “ranger mes affaires”. It describes removing the speaker’s belongings from the desk before leaving. Use “ranger + belongings or object” when putting things away.

mes “Mes” means “my” before the plural noun “affaires” in “mes affaires”. It shows that the things belong to the speaker. Use “mes + plural noun” to refer to several things that are yours.

affaires “Affaires” means “things” or “belongings” in “mes affaires”, referring to the speaker’s personal items on the desk. It is used here with the possessive “mes”. Use “mes affaires” for your belongings.

avant “Avant” means “before” in “avant de partir”, placing one action earlier than another. Here, the speaker will put away the belongings before leaving. Use “avant de + infinitive” to say that one action happens before another.

partir “Partir” means “to leave” in “avant de partir”. It is an infinitive after “avant de” and refers to leaving the shared office. Use “avant de partir” when saying “before leaving”.

Comme “Comme” means “like this” or “so” in “Comme ça”, introducing the result of putting the belongings away. Together, “Comme ça” means “That way”. Use “Comme ça” to explain the practical result of an action.

ça “Ça” means “that” or “it” in “Comme ça”, referring to the way the desk is left after the belongings are put away. Together, “Comme ça” means “That way”. Use “Comme ça” when referring to a method or result just mentioned.

reste “Reste” means “stays” or “remains” in “le bureau reste prêt”, describing the desk’s continuing state. It is followed by the adjective “prêt”. Use “rester + adjective” to say that something remains in a particular state.

prêt “Prêt” means “ready” in “le bureau reste prêt”, describing a desk prepared for another user. It follows “reste” and refers to the desk. Use “être prêt pour + person or purpose” when saying that something is ready for someone or something.

pour “Pour” means “for” in “pour la personne suivante”, identifying who the desk is ready for. It introduces the intended recipient or user. Use “pour + person” to say who benefits from or uses something.

personne “Personne” means “person” in “la personne suivante”, referring to the next user of the desk. It is followed by “suivante”, which describes that person. Use “la personne + description” to identify a particular person.

suivante “Suivante” means “next” in “la personne suivante”, referring to the person who will use the desk after the current speaker. It describes “personne” in the phrase. Use “la personne suivante” for the next person in a sequence.

Grammar Points

pouvoir + infinitif

Je peux travailler au bureau partagé.

zhuh puh trah-vah-YAY oh byoo-ROH par-tah-ZHAY

I can work at the shared desk.

After pouvoir, use the infinitive form of the next verb: peux travailler, not a conjugated form.

avant de + infinitif

Range tes affaires avant de partir.

rahnzh tay zah-FAIR ah-VAHN duh par-TEER

Put your things away before leaving.

Use avant de followed by an infinitive when the subject is the same in both actions.

French Vocabulary

bureau noun

byoo-ROH desk; office

celui pron

suh-LWEE the one

choisir verb

shwah-ZEER to choose Choisis

laisser verb

less-SAY to leave Laisse-le

libre adj

LEEBR available; free

partagé adj

par-tah-ZHAY shared

porte noun

pohrt door

pouvoir verb

poo-VWAR can; to be able to peux

près de prep

preh duh near

propre adj

PROHPR clean

travailler verb

trah-vah-YAY to work

utiliser verb

ew-tee-lee-ZAY to use

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Choose an open desk.

Show Answer

Choisis un bureau libre.

Leave it clean when you finish.

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Laisse-le propre quand tu as fini.

I need a quiet place.

Show Answer

J'ai besoin d'un endroit calme.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

desk; office

Show Answer

bureau

can; to be able to

Show Answer

peux

to choose

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Choisis

to use

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utiliser