Finding blue folders in a shop | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shop, a customer asks staff where to find blue folders and whether a pack is available..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding blue folders in a shop to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, où se trouve le rayon de papeterie ?

ehk-skew-ZAY-mwah, OO suh TROOV luh ray-YOHN duh pah-puh-TREE? Excuse me, where is the stationery section?
B

C'est après le présentoir de cahiers, à droite.

say ah-PRAY luh pray-zahn-TWAHR duh kah-YAY, ah DRWAHT. It's past the notebook display on the right.
A

Je cherche des chemises bleues.

zhuh SHARESH day shuh-MEEZ BLUH. I'm looking for blue folders.
B

Je vais vérifier si elles sont encore disponibles.

zhuh vay vay-ree-FYAY see el sawn tawn-KOR dee-spoh-NEEBL. Let me check if they are still available.
A

Est-ce qu'il y en a en stock aujourd'hui ?

ess-kuh eel yahn-NAH ahn STOCK oh-zhoor-DWEE? Are there any in stock today?
B

Nous en avons dans la réserve.

noo zahn ah-VOHN dahn lah ray-ZAIRV. We have some in the back room.
A

Pouvez-vous m'apporter un paquet ?

poo-vay VOO mah-por-TAY uhn pah-KAY? Could you bring one pack for me?
B

Je vais vous apporter un paquet.

zhuh vay VOO zah-por-TAY uhn pah-KAY. I'll bring a pack over.
B

Attendez près de ce présentoir, s'il vous plaît.

ah-tahn-DAY pray duh suh pray-zahn-TWAHR, seel voo PLAY. Please wait near this display.

Word by Word

Excusez-moi “Excusez-moi” is a polite way to get someone’s attention before asking a question. “Excusez” is the polite or plural form meaning “excuse,” and “moi” means “me.” Use it as a polite opener when speaking to shop staff or another person you do not know well.
où “où” asks about a place and means “where” here. It introduces the question about the location of the stationery section. A common reuse pattern is “où se trouve…” when asking where something is located.
se In “se trouve,” “se” is part of the expression used to say that something is located somewhere. It does not by itself mean “is located”; the full expression “se trouve” gives that meaning. Use “se trouve” before a place when asking or stating where something is.
trouve In “se trouve,” “trouve” means “is located” or “can be found.” Together with “se,” it describes the location of the stationery section. The same pattern can be used with another item or place as the subject.
le “le” means “the” before “rayon de papeterie” in this dialogue. It identifies a particular section in the shop. Use “le” before a masculine singular noun when referring to a specific thing.
rayon “rayon” means a shop section or aisle here. “le rayon de papeterie” is the stationery section. In a shop, use “rayon” with the type of goods when asking where to find them.
de In “rayon de papeterie,” “de” links the section with the goods associated with it, giving the meaning “stationery section.” It introduces “papeterie” as the type of shop section. This pattern can be reused with a section followed by “de” and its category.
papeterie “papeterie” means stationery here, referring to items such as notebooks and folders. In “le rayon de papeterie,” it identifies the section of the shop. Use it when talking about stationery goods or the stationery section.
C'est “C'est” means “it is” here and introduces the location of the section. It is followed by “après le présentoir de cahiers” and then “à droite.” Use “C'est…” to identify or describe a place or thing.
après “après” means “past” in the direction given here: the section is past the notebook display. It places one thing beyond another along the route. Use “après” with a place or landmark when giving directions.
présentoir “présentoir” means a display stand or display unit in the shop. “le présentoir de cahiers” is the display for notebooks. Use it when referring to a stand where products are displayed.
cahiers “cahiers” means notebooks here and identifies what is displayed on the stand. The phrase “le présentoir de cahiers” means the notebook display. Use “cahiers” when talking about notebooks in a shop or stationery context.
à In “à droite,” “à” helps express the position “on the right.” It introduces the direction in this short location phrase. Use “à” with a direction such as “à droite” when giving directions.
droite “droite” means “right” in “à droite.” The phrase tells the customer which side to look toward. Use “à droite” to give a direction or identify something on the right.
Je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “cherche” in “Je cherche des chemises bleues.” It shows that the speaker is stating their own need. Use “Je” before a verb to talk about yourself.
cherche “cherche” means “am looking for” in “Je cherche des chemises bleues.” It expresses the customer’s search for a specific product. A useful pattern is “Je cherche” followed by the item wanted.
des “des” introduces the plural item “chemises bleues” without specifying an exact number. Here it has the meaning “some” or simply plural “blue folders” in English. Use “des” before a plural noun when referring to unspecified items.
chemises “chemises” means folders in this stationery-shop context. It is the item the customer is looking for in “Je cherche des chemises bleues.” Use it with a color or other description when identifying folders.
bleues “bleues” means blue and describes the folders in “des chemises bleues.” Its ending matches the feminine plural form of “chemises.” Use it after a feminine plural noun when describing blue items.
vais In “Je vais vérifier,” “vais” helps express that the speaker is going to check something. The full phrase refers to an intended action that will happen shortly. A common reuse pattern is “Je vais” followed by an infinitive for a near-future action.
vérifier “vérifier” means to check or verify whether the folders are still available. It follows “Je vais” in the near-future expression “Je vais vérifier.” Use it before information or a situation that needs checking.
si “si” means “if” or “whether” in “si elles sont encore disponibles.” It introduces the matter that the shop employee will check. Use “si” before a clause when checking whether something is true.
elles “elles” means “they” here and refers back to the feminine plural folders, “chemises.” It is the subject of “sont encore disponibles.” Use it to refer to a group of feminine plural things or people.
sont “sont” means “are” in “elles sont encore disponibles.” It links the folders to the description “disponibles.” Use it with “elles” to describe the current state of feminine plural things.
encore “encore” means “still” here, asking whether the folders remain available. It shows that the availability may have continued from an earlier time. Use it before a description when asking whether a situation continues.
disponibles “disponibles” means available here, referring to the folders that may still be in stock. It completes the description after “elles sont.” Use it when asking or stating whether a product can still be obtained.
Est-ce “Est-ce” begins the yes-or-no question “Est-ce qu'il y en a en stock aujourd'hui ?” It marks the sentence as a question rather than adding the main meaning by itself. Use “Est-ce que…” to form a clear question.
qu'il In “Est-ce qu'il y en a,” “qu'il” connects the question marker with “il,” meaning “that it” in the fixed question structure. It helps introduce the question about whether any folders are available. Use “Est-ce qu'il y a…” when asking whether something is present.
y In “il y en a,” “y” contributes the idea of “there,” referring to the shop or the situation being discussed. The full expression asks whether there are any of the folders available. Use “il y a” to say that something exists or is present in a place.
en In “il y en a” and “Nous en avons,” “en” refers back to some of the folders already mentioned. It prevents repeating “des chemises bleues” while asking about or confirming their availability. Use “en” when referring to an unspecified quantity of something already discussed.
a In “il y en a,” “a” is part of the expression meaning “there are” or “there is.” Together with “il y,” it asks whether any of the folders are present or available. Use “il y a” to ask or state that something exists in a place.
stock “stock” means available inventory here, in “en stock.” The phrase asks whether the folders are currently available for sale. Use “en stock” when checking whether a shop has an item available.
aujourd'hui “aujourd'hui” means “today” and limits the stock question to the current day. It asks about availability now rather than at another time. Use it to specify that an event or situation concerns today.
Nous “Nous” means “we” and is the subject of “avons” in “Nous en avons dans la réserve.” The shop employee uses it to speak for the shop or staff. Use “Nous” before a verb when speaking as a group.
avons “avons” means “have” in “Nous en avons.” It says that the shop has some of the folders available. Use “nous avons” followed by an item, or use “en” when the item has already been mentioned.
dans “dans” means “in” and places the folders inside the back room in “dans la réserve.” It introduces the location containing the items. Use “dans” before a place or container when saying where something is.
la “la” means “the” before “réserve” in “la réserve.” It refers to the particular back room or storage area of the shop. Use “la” before a feminine singular noun when referring to a specific thing.
réserve “réserve” means the back room or storage area where extra shop stock is kept. In “dans la réserve,” it identifies where the folders are available. Use it when referring to a shop’s storage area.
Pouvez “Pouvez” means “can” or “could” in this polite request. In “Pouvez-vous m'apporter un paquet ?,” it asks staff to bring a pack. A useful question pattern is “Pouvez-vous” followed by an infinitive for a polite request.
vous “vous” means “you” in the polite request “Pouvez-vous m'apporter un paquet ?” and refers to the shop employee being addressed. It is also used in “s'il vous plaît.” Use “vous” for one person addressed politely or for more than one person.
m'apporter “m'apporter” means “to bring to me” in “Pouvez-vous m'apporter un paquet ?” The form combines “m'” for “to me” with “apporter,” meaning “bring.” Use it when asking someone to bring an item to you.
un “un” means “a” or “one” before “paquet.” It requests one pack without specifying which pack. Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one unspecified item.
paquet “paquet” means pack here, referring to a pack of folders. It is the item the customer asks the employee to bring. Use it with a quantity or product description when asking for a pack.
Attendez “Attendez” means “wait” in the polite instruction “Attendez près de ce présentoir.” It addresses the customer respectfully. Use it to ask someone politely to remain in place while something is being done.
près “près” means “near” in “près de ce présentoir.” It describes a position close to the display. Use “près de” followed by a place or object when saying that someone or something is nearby.
ce “ce” means “this” before “présentoir” in “ce présentoir.” It points to the particular display near which the customer should wait. Use “ce” before a masculine singular noun to identify a nearby or specific thing.
s'il vous plaît “s'il vous plaît” is the polite expression “please,” used here to soften the instruction “Attendez.” In the expression, “s'il” contains “si” and “il,” “vous” refers to the person addressed politely, and “plaît” contributes the idea of pleasing. Use the full expression when making a polite request or instruction.

Grammar Points

Où se trouve + nom ?

Où se trouve la papeterie ?

OO suh TROOV lah pah-puh-TREE?

Where is the stationery section?

French uses se trouver to ask where something is located; se trouve agrees with the singular subject.

m' + infinitif

m'apporter un paquet

mah-por-TAY uhn pah-KAY

to bring me a pack

Before a vowel, the object pronoun me becomes m' before the infinitive apporter.

French Vocabulary

à droite phrase
ah DRWAHT on the right
bleu adj
BLUH blue bleues
cahier noun
kah-YAY notebook cahiers
chemise noun
shuh-MEEZ folder chemises
chercher verb
SHARESH-ay to look for cherche
Excusez-moi phrase
ehk-skew-ZAY-mwah excuse me
où adv
OO where
papeterie noun
pah-puh-TREE stationery
présentoir noun
pray-zahn-TWAHR display
rayon noun
ray-YOHN section
se trouver verb
suh TROOV-ay to be located se trouve
vérifier verb
vay-ree-FYAY to check

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I'm looking for blue folders.

Show AnswerJe cherche des chemises bleues.

We have some in the back room.

Show AnswerNous en avons dans la réserve.

Could you bring one pack for me?

Show AnswerPouvez-vous m'apporter un paquet ?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to look for

Show Answercherche

notebook

Show Answercahiers

display

Show Answerprésentoir

section

Show Answerrayon