Asking about a delayed bus | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: At a bus stop, two adults talk about a delayed bus, traffic, and whether to wait for the same route..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Asking about a delayed bus to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, le bus est en retard ?

ek-skew-ZAY mwah, luh byoos eh ahn ruh-TAR Excuse me, is the bus delayed?
B

Il y a beaucoup de circulation dans le coin.

eel yah boh-KOO duh seer-koo-la-SYON dahn luh KWAHN There's heavy traffic nearby.
A

Savez-vous quand il va arriver ?

sa-vay-VOO kahn eel vah ah-ree-VAY Do you know when it will arrive?
B

Il est toujours en route.

eel eh too-ZHOOR ahn ROOT It's still on the way.
B

Alors, l'attente peut être plus longue.

ah-LOR, lah-TAHNT puh ehtr plew lohng So the wait may be longer.
A

Est-ce qu'il y a un autre bus pour le même trajet ?

ess-keel yah uhn OH-truh byoos poor luh MEM tra-ZHAY Is there another bus for the same route?
B

Il y en a un autre, mais cette option prend plus de temps.

eel yahn-nah uhn OH-truh, meh set op-SYON prahn plew duh tahn There is, but that option takes longer.
A

Je vais attendre ce bus ici.

zhuh veh ah-TAHN-druh suh byoos ee-SEE I'll stay here for this bus.
B

C'est probablement le mieux si vous pouvez attendre.

seh proh-bab-luh-MAHN luh MYUH see voo poo-VAY ah-TAHN-druh That's probably best if you can wait.

Word by Word

Excusez-moi “Excusez-moi” means “excuse me” and is used to get someone’s attention politely. “Excusez” addresses the person politely and comes from “excuser”, while “moi” means “me”. Use it when you want to ask a question, as at this bus stop.
le “le” means “the” in “le bus”, referring to the specific bus being discussed. It is the masculine singular definite article before “bus”. Use “le bus” when the bus is known from the situation.
bus “bus” means “bus” in “le bus est en retard”. It names the vehicle that the speakers are waiting for. Use it with a determiner such as “le” when referring to a particular bus.
est “est” means “is” in “le bus est en retard”, describing the bus’s current status. It is a form of “être”. Use it after a subject to describe a state, such as being delayed.
en In “en retard”, “en” is part of the expression meaning “late” or “delayed”; it does not mean “in” on its own here. The complete expression describes the bus’s status. Use “être en retard” when a person or service is late.
retard “retard” means lateness or delay in “en retard”, so “le bus est en retard” means that the bus is delayed. The word names the delay within this expression. Use “en retard” when reporting a delayed bus or another late service.
Il “Il” means “it” when it refers to the bus in “Il est toujours en route” and “il va arriver”. In “Il y a beaucoup de circulation”, it is also part of the expression meaning “there is”. Use it to refer back to the bus after it has been introduced.
y In “Il y a beaucoup de circulation dans le coin”, “y” contributes the meaning “there”. The complete expression “Il y a” means “there is” or “there are”. Use “Il y a” to say that something exists or is present in a place.
a In “Il y a”, “a” helps form the expression meaning “there is” or “there are”, rather than simply meaning “has”. It is a form of “avoir”. Use “Il y a” to report something present, such as “Il y a beaucoup de circulation”.
beaucoup “beaucoup” means “a lot” in “beaucoup de circulation”, describing a large amount of traffic. With “de”, it forms the quantity pattern “beaucoup de” before a noun. Use it when explaining that there is a large amount of something.
de In “beaucoup de circulation”, “de” connects the quantity “beaucoup” to the noun “circulation”. Here it is part of the pattern “beaucoup de”, not a separate word meaning “of” in the English sentence. Use this pattern before a noun when describing a large quantity.
circulation “circulation” means “traffic” in “beaucoup de circulation”. It describes the movement of vehicles that is making the bus late. Use it when talking about traffic conditions near a road or bus stop.
dans “dans” means “in” in “dans le coin”, locating the traffic in the nearby area. It introduces the place where something is happening. Use “dans” before a place expression when describing location.
coin “coin” means “area” or “nearby place” in “dans le coin”. It refers to the local surroundings of the bus stop. Use “dans le coin” when talking about what is happening nearby.
Savez-vous “Savez-vous” means “do you know” and is a polite way to ask someone for information. “Savez” is a form of “savoir”, and “vous” means “you” in this question. It is followed here by “quand il va arriver” to ask about the bus’s arrival time.
quand “quand” means “when” in “quand il va arriver”. It introduces the time being asked about. Use it when asking when a bus, person, or event will arrive or happen.
qu'il “qu'il” is the combination of “que” and “il” in “Est-ce qu'il y a un autre bus”. Here it belongs to the question structure “Est-ce qu'il y a”, where “il” is part of “Il y a”. Use this structure to ask whether something is available or present.
va “va” means “is going to” or “will” in “il va arriver”, expressing an expected future arrival. It is a form of “aller” followed by the infinitive “arriver”. Use “va arriver” to talk about something expected to arrive soon.
arriver “arriver” means “arrive” in “il va arriver”. It is the infinitive that follows “va” in this future construction. Use “va arriver” when asking or saying when a bus or person is expected to arrive.
toujours “toujours” means “still” in “Il est toujours en route”, showing that the bus remains on its way. Here it describes a situation that continues. Use it to say that a condition has not changed yet.
route “route” means “way” or “route” in “en route”. The whole expression “être en route” means “to be on the way”. Use it when a bus or person is traveling toward a destination.
Alors “Alors” means “so” in “Alors, l'attente peut être plus longue”, connecting the traffic problem to its likely consequence. It introduces a conclusion based on what was just said. Use it when explaining what follows from a situation.
l'attente “l'attente” means “the wait” in “l'attente peut être plus longue”. “l'” is the article before “attente”, and the word refers to the period spent waiting. Use it when discussing how long someone may have to wait.
peut “peut” means “may” or “can” in “l'attente peut être plus longue”, expressing a possibility. It is a form of “pouvoir”. Use it when saying that an outcome is possible, such as a wait becoming longer.
plus In “plus longue”, “plus” marks a greater degree and contributes the meaning “more” or “longer”. It forms a comparison with the adjective “longue”. Use “plus” before an adjective when comparing duration or another quality.
longue “longue” describes the wait as “longer” in “l'attente peut être plus longue”. It is the feminine form of “long”, matching “l'attente”. Use “plus longue” when comparing one waiting period with another.
Est-ce “Est-ce” begins the yes-or-no question “Est-ce qu'il y a un autre bus”. “Est” and “ce” work together as a question opener, rather than meaning “is this” separately here. Use “Est-ce que...” to ask a direct question politely.
que In “Est-ce qu'il y a un autre bus”, “que” is part of the question structure “Est-ce que...”. It connects the question opener to the clause that follows and does not function as a separate “that” here. Use it in this structure when asking whether something is available or true.
un “un” introduces one singular bus in “un autre bus”. It has the meaning “a” or “one” and comes before the noun. Use “un + noun” when referring to one item that is not yet specified.
autre “autre” means “another” or “other” in “un autre bus”, identifying a different bus from the one already being discussed. It modifies “bus”. Use it when asking about an alternative person, object, or option.
pour “pour” means “for” in “pour le même trajet”, showing the route that the bus is intended to serve. It introduces the purpose or destination associated with the bus. Use it when saying that transport is for a particular journey or route.
même “même” means “same” in “le même trajet”. It shows that the alternative bus serves the route already under discussion. Use “le même” before a noun when referring to the identical route, object, or situation.
trajet “trajet” means “route” or “journey” in “pour le même trajet”. It names the journey that the bus serves. Use it when comparing whether different transport options cover the same journey.
mais “mais” means “but” in “Il y en a un autre, mais cette option prend plus de temps”. It introduces a contrast between the availability of another bus and its longer duration. Use it to connect two opposing pieces of information.
cette “cette” means “this” in “cette option”, pointing to the alternative just mentioned. It is the feminine singular form used before “option”. Use it to identify a specific option that is currently under discussion.
option “option” means “option” in “cette option prend plus de temps”. It names the alternative bus choice. Use it when discussing or comparing different possible choices.
prend “prend” means “takes” in “cette option prend plus de temps”, describing how much time the option requires. It is a form of “prendre”. Use “prendre plus de temps” to compare the duration of travel options.
temps “temps” means “time” in “prend plus de temps”. It measures the duration required by the alternative option. Use it with “prendre” when saying how long a journey or activity requires.
Je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “Je vais attendre”. It identifies the speaker who is making the decision. Use it when stating your own plan or action.
vais “vais” means “am going to” in “Je vais attendre”, expressing the speaker’s immediate intention. It is a form of “aller” followed by the infinitive “attendre”. Use “Je vais...” to announce what you intend to do next.
attendre “attendre” means “wait” in “Je vais attendre ce bus ici”. It is the infinitive following “vais” in the future-intention construction. Use it when saying that you will remain until a bus or person arrives.
ce “ce” means “this” in “ce bus”, pointing to the particular bus that the speaker has chosen to wait for. It is placed before the masculine singular noun “bus”. Use it to identify a specific nearby object or service.
ici “ici” means “here” in “Je vais attendre ce bus ici”. It identifies the speaker’s current location, the bus stop. Use it when saying where someone will stay or where something is happening.
C'est “C'est” means “it is” or “that's” in “C'est probablement le mieux”. “Ce” provides the demonstrative element and “est” is a form of “être”; together they form “C'est”. Use it when giving an assessment or recommendation.
probablement “probablement” means “probably” in “C'est probablement le mieux”. It shows that the speaker is making a likely recommendation rather than stating complete certainty. Use it when offering advice with some uncertainty.
mieux In “le mieux”, “mieux” means “best”, referring to the most suitable option in this situation. The complete phrase “le mieux” evaluates one choice as preferable. Use it when recommending the option that seems most suitable.
si “si” means “if” in “si vous pouvez attendre”. It introduces the condition under which waiting is considered the best choice. Use it to connect advice with a condition someone may be able to meet.
vous “vous” means “you” in “si vous pouvez attendre”. Here it addresses the other adult politely and is the subject of “pouvez”. Use “vous” when speaking formally to one person or to more than one person.
pouvez “pouvez” means “can” or “are able to” in “vous pouvez attendre”. It is a form of “pouvoir” followed by the infinitive “attendre”. Use “pouvez + infinitive” to talk about someone’s ability or possibility of doing something.

Grammar Points

pouvoir + infinitif

Vous pouvez prendre l'autre option.

voo poo-VAY PRAHN-druh LOH-truh op-SYON

You can take the other option.

Après pouvoir, le verbe suivant reste à l'infinitif : pouvez prendre, et non une forme conjuguée.

être en retard

Le bus est en retard.

luh byoos eh ahn ruh-TAR

The bus is late.

En retard est une expression fixe qui signifie « late » ; elle s'emploie avec le verbe être.

French Vocabulary

arriver verb
ah-ree-VAY to arrive

il va arriver

attente noun
ah-TAHNT wait; waiting time

l'attente peut être plus longue

beaucoup adv
boh-KOO a lot; much

beaucoup de circulation

bus noun
byoos bus

le bus

circulation noun
seer-koo-la-SYON traffic

beaucoup de circulation

coin noun
KWAHN area; neighborhood

dans le coin

en retard phrase
ahn ruh-TAR late; delayed

Le bus est en retard.

en route phrase
ahn ROOT on the way

Il est toujours en route.

excusez-moi phrase
ek-skew-ZAY mwah excuse me

Excusez-moi, le bus est en retard ?

long adj
LOHN long longue

l'attente peut être plus longue

savoir verb
sa-VWAHR to know savez

Savez-vous quand il va arriver ?

toujours adv
too-ZHOOR still; always

Il est toujours en route.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Do you know when it will arrive?

Show AnswerSavez-vous quand il va arriver ?

It's still on the way.

Show AnswerIl est toujours en route.

So the wait may be longer.

Show AnswerAlors, l'attente peut être plus longue.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to know

Show Answersavez

area; neighborhood

Show Answercoin

still; always

Show Answertoujours

traffic

Show Answercirculation