Choosing a lunch set with preferences | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a lunch set with preferences to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Je veux commander une formule déjeuner pour nous.

zhuh vuh kuh-mohn-DAY ewn for-MOOL day-zhuh-NAY poor NOO I want to order a lunch set for us.

Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?

tew pray-FEHR luh poo-LAY oo luh pwah-SONG Would you prefer chicken or fish?

Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.

luh pwah-SONG muh SAHMBL may-YUHR oh-zhoor-DWEE Fish sounds better to me today.

C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.

say ah-VEK dew REE ay ewn puh-TEE ah-kohm-pahn-YUH-MAHN It comes with rice and one small side.

Quel accompagnement a l'air le meilleur ?

KEL ah-kohm-pahn-YUH-MAHN ah LEHR luh may-YUHR Which side looks best?

Les légumes ont l'air frais et simples.

lay lay-GEWM ohn LEHR fray ay sahmpl The vegetables look fresh and simple.

Choisissons les légumes.

shwah-ZEE-sohn lay lay-GEWM Let's choose the vegetables.

Je peux passer la commande maintenant.

zhuh puh pah-SAY lah kuh-MAHND mah(n)-tuh-NAHN I can place the order now.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who wants to order. It appears before the verb in “Je veux”. Use it when stating your own action, wish, or preference.

veux “veux” means “want” in “Je veux commander une formule déjeuner pour nous.” It is the first-person singular form of vouloir and is followed here by the infinitive commander. Use “Je veux + infinitive” to state what you want to do, especially when ordering or making a plan.

commander “commander” means “to order” in “Je veux commander une formule déjeuner pour nous.” It names the action wanted after “Je veux”. Use it when ordering food or drinks in a restaurant or through an ordering service.

une “une” introduces “formule déjeuner” as one lunch set. It is the feminine singular indefinite article used before formule. Use it before a feminine singular noun when introducing one item or option.

formule “formule” means “set meal” in “une formule déjeuner”. It refers here to a meal package that includes selected food items. Use it when choosing or ordering a set menu.

déjeuner “déjeuner” means “lunch” in “formule déjeuner”. It specifies the type of meal included in the set. Use it after formule to identify a lunch set.

pour “pour” means “for” in “pour nous” and marks who the lunch set is intended for. It is followed here by the pronoun nous. Use “pour + person or pronoun” to show who will receive or use something.

nous “nous” means “us” in “pour nous”, referring to the speaker and the other person together. After pour, it marks the intended recipients. Use “pour nous” when arranging something for yourself and another person or group.

Tu “Tu” means “you” when addressing one person informally in “Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?” It marks the person being asked to choose. Use it with someone you address in an informal singular way.

préfères “préfères” means “prefer” in “Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?” It is the second-person singular form of préférer, followed by the two choices. Use “Tu préfères ... ou ... ?” to ask one person to choose between options.

le “le” means “the” before the masculine singular food nouns in “le poulet” and “le poisson”. It presents each food as a specific option in the choice. Use it before these masculine singular food nouns when naming the options.

poulet “poulet” means “chicken” in “le poulet”. It is one of the two main food options being offered. Use “le poulet” when naming chicken as an option in a food order.

ou “ou” means “or” and connects the alternatives “le poulet” and “le poisson”. It makes the question a choice between two options. Use “X ou Y” when asking someone to choose between alternatives.

poisson “poisson” means “fish” in “le poisson”. It is the food option that the speaker prefers today. Use “le poisson” when naming fish as a choice in a meal order.

me “me” means “to me” in “me semble meilleur”, marking the person who has the impression. It comes before semble in this construction. Use “me semble” to express how something seems to you.

semble “semble” means “seems” in “Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.” It introduces the speaker’s personal impression about the fish. It is the third-person singular form of sembler; use “me semble + adjective” to describe how something seems to you.

meilleur “meilleur” means “better” in “me semble meilleur”, describing the fish as the preferred option. Its masculine singular form matches poisson in this sentence. Use “semble meilleur” to express that one option appears better.

aujourd'hui “aujourd'hui” means “today” and limits the preference to the current day in “me semble meilleur aujourd'hui”. It gives the time of the speaker’s impression. Use it when a choice or opinion applies to today.

C'est “C'est” means “it is” in “C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.” Here it introduces what comes with the selected meal. Use “C'est avec ...” to describe items included with something.

avec “avec” means “with” in “avec du riz et un petit accompagnement”. It marks the foods included alongside the main option. Use “avec + food or item” to say what something comes with.

du “du” introduces an unspecified amount of rice in “du riz”. It is the masculine singular partitive determiner used here with the food noun riz. Use “avec du + food” to describe an uncounted food included in a meal.

riz “riz” means “rice” in “du riz”, one of the items included with the meal. The phrase refers to an unspecified amount of rice. Use “du riz” when talking about rice as food rather than a counted item.

et “et” means “and” and joins “du riz” with “un petit accompagnement”. It adds another item to the list of included foods. Use “X et Y” to connect items in a list.

un “un” introduces “petit accompagnement” as one side dish. It is the masculine singular indefinite article used before accompagnement. Use it before a masculine singular noun when referring to one item.

petit “petit” means “small” and describes the side dish in “un petit accompagnement”. It appears before the noun and limits its size. Use “un petit + masculine singular noun” to describe one small item.

accompagnement “accompagnement” means “side dish” in “un petit accompagnement”. It names the additional food served with the main option. Use it when asking about or selecting a side in a meal.

Quel “Quel” means “which” in “Quel accompagnement a l'air le meilleur ?” and asks the listener to identify one side from the available options. It is the masculine singular form used with accompagnement. Use “Quel + masculine singular noun” to ask which item someone means or prefers.

a “a” means “has” as part of “a l'air”, the expression used to say that something looks or seems a certain way. It is the third-person singular form of avoir. Use the construction avoir l'air followed by an adjective to describe appearance; “a” alone does not carry the whole meaning “looks” here.

l'air “l'air” refers to appearance or look in “a l'air le meilleur”. Together with a, it helps express how the side appears. Use the construction avoir l'air followed by an adjective when describing how something seems.

Les “Les” means “the” before the plural noun “Les légumes”. It refers to the group of vegetables being considered as a side. Use it before a plural noun when referring to multiple items as a group.

légumes “légumes” means “vegetables” in “Les légumes”. It names the plural vegetable side that the speakers decide to choose. Use it after les when talking about vegetables as a group.

ont “ont” means “have” in “Les légumes ont l'air frais et simples.” It is the third-person plural form of avoir, with légumes as its subject. Together with l'air, it forms the expression meaning that the vegetables look fresh and simple.

frais “frais” means “fresh” in “ont l'air frais et simples”. It describes the vegetables’ apparent condition. Its plural form matches légumes here; use an adjective after avoir l'air to describe how food appears.

simples “simples” means “simple” in “ont l'air frais et simples”. It gives a second description of the vegetables. Use it after avoir l'air when saying that something appears uncomplicated or plain.

Choisissons “Choisissons” means “let’s choose” in “Choisissons les légumes.” It proposes that the speaker and listener make the choice together. It is the first-person plural imperative form of choisir; use “Choisissons + object” to make a joint suggestion.

peux “peux” means “can” or “am able to” in “Je peux passer la commande maintenant.” It is the first-person singular form of pouvoir and is followed by the infinitive passer. Use “Je peux + infinitive” to offer or state that you can do something.

passer “passer” means “place” in “passer la commande”, not simply “pass” in this context. It is the infinitive after peux and names the action of submitting the order. Use “passer la commande” when placing an order.

la “la” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “commande” in “la commande”. It refers to the order that is about to be placed. Use it before commande when referring to this order as a specific item.

commande “commande” means “order” in “passer la commande”. It is the noun that receives the action of passer. Use “passer la commande” to say that you are placing the order.

maintenant “maintenant” means “now” in “Je peux passer la commande maintenant.” It shows that the order can be placed immediately. Use it to indicate that an action is happening or can happen at the present time.

Grammar Points

avoir l'air + adjectif

Le poisson a l'air meilleur.

luh pwah-SONG ah LEHR may-YUHR

The fish looks better.

French uses avoir l'air followed by an adjective to express appearance or impression: “to look/seem + adjective.”

French Vocabulary

accompagnement noun

ah-kohm-pahn-YUH-MAHN side dish

C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.

aujourd'hui adv

oh-zhoor-DWEE today

Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.

avec prep

ah-VEK with

C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.

commander verb

kuh-mohn-DAY to order

Je veux commander une formule déjeuner.

formule déjeuner phrase

for-MOOL day-zhuh-NAY lunch set

Je veux commander une formule déjeuner pour nous.

meilleur adj

meh-YUHR better

Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.

petit adj

puh-TEE small

C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.

poisson noun

pwah-SONG fish

Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?

poulet noun

poo-LAY chicken

Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?

préférer verb

pray-fay-RAY to prefer préfères

Tu préfères le poulet ou le poisson ?

riz noun

REE rice

C'est avec du riz et un petit accompagnement.

sembler verb

SAHMB-LAY to seem semble

Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Fish sounds better to me today.

Show Answer

Le poisson me semble meilleur aujourd'hui.

Let's choose the vegetables.

Show Answer

Choisissons les légumes.

I can place the order now.

Show Answer

Je peux passer la commande maintenant.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

fish

Show Answer

poisson

chicken

Show Answer

poulet

to seem

Show Answer

semble

to prefer

Show Answer

préfères