Politely discussing noise from next door | Learn French in English

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Use Politely discussing noise from next door to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Le voisin était assez bruyant hier soir.

luh vwah-ZAN ay-TAY ah-SAY brwee-YAHN yair SWAHR. The neighbor was quite noisy last night.

J'ai entendu de la musique forte pendant que nous essayions de dormir.

zhay ahn-tahn-DOO duh lah mew-ZEEK FORT pahn-DAHN kuh noo-zay-SAY-YOHN duh dor-MEER. I heard loud music while we were trying to sleep.

Est-ce que nous devrions laisser un message poli ?

ess kuh noo duh-vree-YOHN lay-SAY uhn meh-SAHZH poh-LEE? Should we leave a polite message?

Nous devrions écrire un message amical, pas un message agressif.

noo duh-vree-YOHN ay-KREER uhn meh-SAHZH ah-mee-KAHL, pah uhn meh-SAHZH ah-greh-SEEF. We should make it friendly, not angry.

Je dirai que le bruit nous a empêchés de dormir.

zhuh dee-RAY kuh luh brwee noo-zah ahn-pay-SHAY duh dor-MEER. I'll say the noise kept us from sleeping.

Ajoute que nous savons que les soirées peuvent être bien remplies.

ah-ZHOOT kuh noo sah-VON kuh lay swah-RAY puh-VUH ET-truh byan rahn-PLEE. Add that we know evenings can get busy.

Ça rend le message plus doux et plus clair.

sah RAHN luh meh-SAHZH ploo DOO ay ploo KLAIR. That keeps the message softer and clearer.

Nous pouvons le mettre près de leur porte plus tard.

noo poo-VON luh MET-truh pray duh luhr PORT ploo TAR. We can put it near their door later.

Word by Word

Le “Le” means “the” in “Le voisin”, referring to one specific neighbor. It is used before a masculine singular noun; a new example is “le message”.

voisin “Voisin” means “neighbor” here, specifically the person whose noise is being discussed. It commonly appears after “le” in “le voisin”; a new example is “mon voisin” for “my neighbor”.

était “Était” means “was” and describes the neighbor’s condition last night. It is a form of “être” used with “Le voisin”; a new example is “Il était fatigué” for “He was tired.”

assez “Assez” means “quite” or “fairly” here and moderates the description “assez bruyant”. It is placed before the adjective it modifies; a new example is “assez clair” for “quite clear.”

bruyant “Bruyant” means “noisy” in “assez bruyant”, describing the neighbor. It can be used after “être” to describe a person or place; a new example is “La rue est bruyante” for “The street is noisy.”

hier “Hier” means “yesterday” and places the event in the previous day. It can be combined with a time expression as in “hier soir”; a new example is “hier matin” for “yesterday morning.”

soir “Soir” means “evening” or “night” in the time expression “hier soir”, meaning “last night”. The expression “hier soir” is used for an event that happened the previous evening; a new example is “ce soir” for “tonight.”

J'ai “J’ai” means “I have”, but in “J’ai entendu” it introduces what the speaker heard. It combines “je” with the form “ai” of “avoir”; a new example is “J’ai compris” for “I understood.”

entendu “Entendu” means “heard” in “J’ai entendu de la musique forte”. It is the form of “entendre” used after “J’ai” in this expression; a new example is “J’ai entendu un bruit” for “I heard a noise.”

de “De” introduces the uncounted amount of music in “de la musique forte”. Here it is part of the expression “de la”; a new example is “de la soupe” for “some soup.”

la “La” means “the” in “de la musique”, referring to the feminine noun “musique”. Together with “de”, “de la” can introduce an uncounted amount; a new example is “de la lumière” for “some light.”

musique “Musique” means “music” here, specifically the loud music the speaker heard. It is used after “de la” in “de la musique”; a new example is “J’écoute de la musique” for “I listen to music.”

forte “Forte” means “loud” in “de la musique forte”. It describes “musique” and has the form used with that noun; a new example is “une voix forte” for “a loud voice.”

pendant “Pendant” means “during” or “while” and introduces the time period in “pendant que nous essayions de dormir”. It is commonly followed by “que” plus a clause when two actions overlap; a new example is “pendant le repas” for “during the meal.”

que “Que” completes the expression “pendant que”, which means “while” and introduces the clause “nous essayions de dormir”. In this dialogue it links the hearing of the music with the attempt to sleep; a new example is “pendant que je travaille” for “while I work.”

nous “Nous” means “we” in “nous essayions de dormir” and “us” in “nous a empêchés de dormir”. Its role depends on the construction around it; a new example is “Nous travaillons” for “We are working.”

essayions “Essayions” means “were trying” in “nous essayions de dormir”. It is used with “de” followed by an infinitive to state what someone is trying to do; a new example is “Nous essayions de comprendre” for “We were trying to understand.”

dormir “Dormir” means “to sleep” in “essayer de dormir”. It follows “de” after “essayer” to name the action being attempted; a new example is “Je veux dormir” for “I want to sleep.”

Est-ce “Est-ce” is part of “Est-ce que”, the question marker at the beginning of “Est-ce que nous devrions laisser un message ?”. It turns the following statement into a question; a new example is “Est-ce que tu viens ?” for “Are you coming?”

devrions “Devrions” means “should” in “nous devrions laisser un message”, expressing a suggestion about what to do. It is followed here by the infinitive “laisser”; a new example is “Nous devrions attendre” for “We should wait.”

laisser “Laisser” means “to leave” in “laisser un message”, meaning to leave a message for someone. It is followed by the object “un message”; a new example is “laisser une note” for “to leave a note.”

un “Un” means “a” in “un message”, introducing one unspecified message. It is placed before the masculine singular noun “message”; a new example is “un voisin” for “a neighbor.”

message “Message” means “message” here, referring to the note they plan to leave. It appears after “un” in “un message”; a new example is “écrire un message” for “to write a message.”

poli “Poli” means “polite” in “un message poli”, describing the intended tone of the message. It follows the noun in this expression; a new example is “une demande polie” for “a polite request.”

écrire “Écrire” means “to write” in “écrire un message”, the action suggested for making the message. It is followed by the object “un message”; a new example is “écrire une lettre” for “to write a letter.”

amical “Amical” means “friendly” in “un message amical”, describing the tone they want to use. It follows “message” here; a new example is “un ton amical” for “a friendly tone.”

pas “Pas” contributes “not” in “pas un message agressif”, rejecting an angry or aggressive tone. Here it appears in the shortened contrast “pas un message…”; a new example is “pas maintenant” for “not now.”

agressif “Agressif” means “aggressive” in “un message agressif”, describing the tone they do not want. It follows “message” in that noun phrase; a new example is “un ton agressif” for “an aggressive tone.”

Je “Je” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Je dirai”. It normally comes before the verb; a new example is “Je comprends” for “I understand.”

dirai “Dirai” means “will say” in “Je dirai que…”, introducing what the speaker plans to say. It is a form of “dire” followed here by “que” and a clause; a new example is “Je dirai la vérité” for “I will tell the truth.”

bruit “Bruit” means “noise” in “le bruit nous a empêchés de dormir”. It is used after “le” when referring to the specific noise being discussed; a new example is “J’entends un bruit” for “I hear a noise.”

a “A” is the auxiliary in “nous a empêchés de dormir”, helping express that the noise prevented them from sleeping. It is used together with “empêchés” in this construction; a new example is “Le bruit a réveillé le bébé” for “The noise woke the baby.”

empêchés “Empêchés” means “prevented” or “kept” in “nous a empêchés de dormir”. The construction “empêcher quelqu’un de faire quelque chose” means to prevent someone from doing something; a new example is “La pluie nous a empêchés de sortir” for “The rain kept us from going out.”

Ajoute “Ajoute” means “add” in the direct instruction “Ajoute que…”. It introduces another point to include in the message; a new example is “Ajoute une phrase” for “Add a sentence.”

savons “Savons” means “know” in “nous savons que…”, stating that the speakers recognize something. It is followed here by “que” and a clause; a new example is “Nous savons où il habite” for “We know where he lives.”

les “Les” means “the” before the plural noun “soirées” in “les soirées”. It identifies evenings in general in this context; a new example is “les voisins” for “the neighbors.”

soirées “Soirées” means “evenings” in “les soirées peuvent être bien remplies”. It refers to evening periods and is used here as the subject of the clause; a new example is “Les soirées sont calmes” for “The evenings are quiet.”

peuvent “Peuvent” means “can” in “les soirées peuvent être bien remplies”, expressing a possibility. It is followed by “être” and a description; a new example is “Ils peuvent attendre” for “They can wait.”

être “Être” means “to be” in “peuvent être bien remplies”. It follows “peuvent” and introduces the description of the evenings; a new example is “Il peut être difficile” for “It can be difficult.”

bien “Bien” strengthens “remplies” in “bien remplies”, giving the idea of being quite or very full. It is placed before the expression it modifies; a new example is “bien organisé” for “well organized.”

remplies “Remplies” means “full” or “busy” in “les soirées peuvent être bien remplies”, describing evenings with many activities. It agrees with “soirées” in this expression; a new example is “des journées bien remplies” for “busy days.”

Ça “Ça” means “that” or “it” in “Ça rend le message plus doux et plus clair”, referring to the wording just discussed. It acts as the subject of “rend”; a new example is “Ça aide beaucoup” for “That helps a lot.”

rend “Rend” means “makes” in “Ça rend le message plus doux et plus clair”. The construction “rendre quelque chose plus…” describes a change in how something is perceived or characterized; a new example is “Cette phrase rend le texte plus simple” for “This sentence makes the text simpler.”

plus “Plus” means “more” in “plus doux et plus clair”, forming comparisons for both adjectives. It comes before each adjective in this paired expression; a new example is “plus calme” for “calmer” or “quieter.”

doux “Doux” means “soft” or “gentle” in “plus doux”, describing the tone of the message. It follows “plus” in the comparative expression; a new example is “un ton doux” for “a gentle tone.”

et “Et” means “and” and links the two descriptions “plus doux” and “plus clair”. It joins items of equal grammatical role; a new example is “simple et poli” for “simple and polite.”

clair “Clair” means “clear” in “plus clair”, describing a message that is easier to understand. It follows “plus” in the paired comparison “plus doux et plus clair”; a new example is “un message clair” for “a clear message.”

pouvons “Pouvons” means “can” in “nous pouvons le mettre”, expressing what the speakers are able or permitted to do. It is followed by the infinitive “mettre”; a new example is “Nous pouvons attendre” for “We can wait.”

mettre “Mettre” means “to put” in “le mettre près de leur porte”. It is followed by the object “le” and the location “près de leur porte”; a new example is “mettre le livre sur la table” for “to put the book on the table.”

près “Près” means “near” in the location expression “près de leur porte”. It is used with “de” before the place or thing that gives the reference point; a new example is “près de la fenêtre” for “near the window.”

leur “Leur” means “their” in “leur porte”, showing that the door belongs to the neighbors. It comes directly before the singular noun “porte”; a new example is “leur maison” for “their house.”

porte “Porte” means “door” in “près de leur porte”, the place near which they plan to put the message. It follows the possessive “leur”; a new example is “ouvrir la porte” for “to open the door.”

tard “Tard” means “later” in “plus tard”, indicating that they will put the message there at a later time. The expression “plus tard” is a common way to say “later”; a new example is “Je viendrai plus tard” for “I will come later.”

Grammar Points

pendant que + imparfait

Pendant que nous essayions de dormir, la musique était forte.

pahn-DAHN kuh noo-zay-SAY-YOHN duh dor-MEER, lah mew-ZEEK ay-TAY FORT.

While we were trying to sleep, the music was loud.

“Pendant que” introduces an ongoing action; “essayions” and “était” are in the imparfait.

devoir au conditionnel + infinitif

Nous devrions laisser un message poli.

noo duh-vree-YOHN lay-SAY uhn meh-SAHZH poh-LEE.

We should leave a polite message.

“Devrions” expresses advice or obligation softly, followed directly by the infinitive “laisser”.

French Vocabulary

assez adv

ah-SAY quite; fairly

Le voisin était assez bruyant.

bruyant adj

brwee-YAHN noisy

Le voisin était assez bruyant.

devrions verb

duh-vree-YOHN should

Est-ce que nous devrions laisser un message poli ?

dormir verb

dor-MEER to sleep

essayer de dormir

entendu verb

ahn-tahn-DOO heard

J'ai entendu de la musique forte.

essayions verb

ay-SAY-YOHN were trying

nous essayions de dormir

était verb

ay-TAY was

Le voisin était assez bruyant.

forte adj

FORT loud

de la musique forte

hier soir phrase

yair SWAHR last night

Le voisin était assez bruyant hier soir.

musique noun

mew-ZEEK music

J'ai entendu de la musique forte.

pendant que conj

pahn-DAHN kuh while

pendant que nous essayions de dormir

voisin noun

vwah-ZAN neighbor

Le voisin était assez bruyant.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

music

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musique

quite; fairly

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assez

noisy

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bruyant

neighbor

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voisin