Reporting a lost travel card | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Reporting a lost travel card to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Je pense que j'ai perdu ma carte de transport dans le train.

zhuh PAHNS kuh zhay pair-DOO mah KART duh trahn-SPOR dahn luh TRAN I think I lost my travel card on the train.

Vous devriez aller au bureau des objets trouvés.

voo duh-vreh-YAY ah-LAY oh byoo-ROH day zohb-ZHAY troo-VAY You should go to the lost property office.

Est-ce qu'ils peuvent empêcher qu'on utilise la carte ?

ess keel PUHV ahm-pay-SHAY kohn ee-tee-LEEZ lah KART Can they stop the card from being used?

Ils peuvent vous aider à remplir un formulaire pour la bloquer.

eel PUHV voo zay-DAY ah rahm-PLEER uhn for-myoo-LAIR poor lah bloh-KAY They can help you fill out a form to block it.

J'ai les informations de mon compte avec moi.

zhay lay zan-for-ma-SYOHN duh mohn KOHNT ah-VEK mwah I have my account details with me.

Ces informations aideront le personnel.

say zan-for-ma-SYOHN zay-DAIR-ohn luh pair-soh-NEL That information will help the staff.

Alors, je vais demander si je dois prendre une nouvelle carte.

ah-LOR zhuh vay duh-mahn-DAY see zhuh DWAH PRAHN-druh ewn noo-VEL KART Then I'll ask whether I should get a new card.

Demandez d'abord, parce que quelqu'un l'a peut-être rapportée.

duh-mahn-DAY dah-BOR pairsk kuh kel-KUHN lah puh-TETR rah-por-TAY Ask first, because someone might have handed it in.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” here: it identifies the speaker who thinks and reports the lost card. It is used before a verb, as in “Je pense”. The same subject pattern is reusable when stating your own thought or action.

pense “pense” means “think” in “Je pense que j'ai perdu...”. It is the verb used to introduce the speaker’s belief about what happened. A reusable pattern is “Je pense que” followed by a statement.

que In “Je pense que j'ai perdu...”, “que” introduces the information the speaker thinks is true. It links “Je pense” with the following clause. The reusable pattern is “penser que” followed by a statement.

j'ai “j'ai” means “I have” and begins the expression “j'ai perdu”, which says that the speaker lost the card. It is the shortened form of “je” before “ai”, a form of “avoir”. The pattern “j'ai” plus a past action is used to report something that has happened.

perdu “perdu” expresses “lost” in “j'ai perdu ma carte”. It is the form used with “j'ai” to report the completed loss. A reusable pattern is “J'ai perdu” followed by the thing that is missing.

ma “ma” means “my” before “carte”; it shows that the travel card belongs to or is associated with the speaker. The reusable pattern is “ma” plus a feminine noun, as in “ma carte” here.

carte “carte” means “card” in “ma carte de transport”. It is the item the speaker has lost and wants to block or replace. A reusable pattern is “carte de” followed by the card’s purpose or type.

de In “carte de transport”, “de” links “carte” with “transport” and helps specify what kind of card it is. The reusable pattern is “nom de” plus a noun that identifies its type or purpose.

transport “transport” identifies the purpose of the “carte”: it is a travel or transport card. It completes the exact expression “carte de transport”. This pattern can be reused when naming an item connected with transport.

dans “dans” means “in” in “dans le train”, locating the lost card inside the train. It is used before a noun phrase to show an interior location. The reusable pattern is “dans” plus a place or container.

le “le” means “the” before “train” in “le train”. It refers to the specific train involved in the situation. The reusable pattern is “le” plus a masculine noun.

train “train” means “train” in “dans le train”, the place where the card may have been lost. It follows “le” in this phrase. A reusable pattern is “dans le train” when locating something on or inside the train.

Vous “Vous” means “you” in the advice “Vous devriez aller...”. It addresses the other adult respectfully or addresses more than one person. It is used before the verb in a pattern such as “Vous devriez” followed by an action.

devriez “devriez” expresses “should” in “Vous devriez aller...”, giving advice about the next step. It is used with “vous” before the action being recommended. The reusable pattern is “Vous devriez” plus an infinitive.

aller “aller” means “go” in “aller au bureau des objets trouvés”. It is the action recommended after “Vous devriez”. The reusable pattern is “aller à” or “aller au” followed by a destination.

au “au” means “to the” in “aller au bureau”. It combines “à” with “le” before the destination. The reusable pattern is “aller au” plus a masculine place or office.

bureau “bureau” means “office” in “au bureau des objets trouvés”, the place where the lost card should be reported. It is followed by “des objets trouvés” to identify which office. A reusable pattern is “au bureau de” plus the service or activity.

des In “bureau des objets trouvés”, “des” links the office with “objets trouvés” and means “of the” in this expression. It is the form used before the plural phrase “objets trouvés”. The reusable pattern is “bureau des” followed by the name of a service or category.

objets trouvés “objets trouvés” means “lost property” as a whole in “le bureau des objets trouvés”. “objets” refers to objects, and “trouvés” describes them as found. The full expression “objets trouvés” is used for belongings that have been found and handed to a lost-property service.

Est-ce “Est-ce” helps form the yes-or-no question “Est-ce qu'ils peuvent empêcher...?”. It signals that the following statement is being turned into a question. The reusable pattern is “Est-ce que” followed by a complete question.

qu'ils In “Est-ce qu'ils peuvent...”, “qu'ils” introduces the subject “they” after the question marker. It combines “que” with “ils” before the verb “peuvent”. The reusable pattern is “Est-ce qu'ils” plus a verb when asking what a group can do.

peuvent “peuvent” means “can” in “ils peuvent empêcher...”, describing what the staff are able to do. It is used with the subject “ils” before an infinitive. The reusable pattern is “ils peuvent” plus an infinitive.

empêcher “empêcher” means “prevent” in “empêcher qu'on utilise la carte”: the question is whether use of the card can be prevented. It is an infinitive after “peuvent”. A reusable pattern is “empêcher que” followed by an action that should not happen.

qu'on In “empêcher qu'on utilise la carte”, “qu'on” introduces the action that should be prevented and means that someone or one uses the card. It combines “que” with “on”. The reusable pattern is “empêcher qu'on” plus a verb when referring generally to people’s action.

utilise “utilise” means “uses” in “qu'on utilise la carte”. It describes the action whose prevention is being discussed. The reusable pattern is “utiliser” plus the object being used, here “la carte”.

la “la” means “the” before “carte” in “la carte”. It refers to the specific travel card already being discussed. The reusable pattern is “la” plus a feminine noun.

Ils “Ils” means “they” in “Ils peuvent vous aider...”, referring to the staff at the lost-property office. It is placed before the verb. The reusable pattern is “Ils peuvent” plus an infinitive when describing what they are able to do.

aider “aider” means “help” in “vous aider à remplir un formulaire”. It describes assistance with completing the form. The reusable pattern is “aider quelqu'un à” followed by an action.

à In “aider à remplir”, “à” connects “aider” with the action that the person is helped to perform. It is followed here by the infinitive “remplir”. The reusable pattern is “aider à” plus an infinitive.

remplir “remplir” means “fill out” in “remplir un formulaire”. It names the action the listener can receive help with. The reusable pattern is “remplir un formulaire” when completing an official form.

un “un” means “a” before “formulaire” in “un formulaire”. It introduces one form that has not been specifically identified before. The reusable pattern is “un” plus a masculine noun.

formulaire “formulaire” means “form” in “remplir un formulaire”. It is the document the listener may need to complete to block the card. A reusable pattern is “remplir un formulaire” for providing information to an office or service.

pour In “pour la bloquer”, “pour” introduces the purpose of filling out the form: blocking the card. It is followed here by an infinitive phrase. The reusable pattern is “pour” plus an infinitive to express purpose.

bloquer “bloquer” means “block” in “pour la bloquer”, referring to stopping the card from being used. It follows “pour” as the purpose of the form. A reusable pattern is “bloquer” plus the thing whose use should be stopped.

les “les” means “the” before “informations” in “les informations de mon compte”. It refers to the specific account details the speaker has with them. The reusable pattern is “les” plus a plural noun.

informations “informations” means “information” or “details” in “les informations de mon compte”. These are the account details that can help the staff identify or handle the card. A reusable pattern is “informations de” followed by the subject they concern.

mon “mon” means “my” before “compte” in “mon compte”. It shows that the account belongs to or is associated with the speaker. The reusable pattern is “mon” plus a masculine noun.

compte “compte” means “account” in “les informations de mon compte”. It specifies which information the speaker has available. A reusable pattern is “compte” after a possessive such as “mon compte” when referring to a personal account.

avec In “avec moi”, “avec” means “with” and shows that the speaker has the information in their possession. It is used before “moi” in this expression. The reusable pattern is “avec moi” when saying that something is with the speaker.

moi “moi” means “me” in the expression “avec moi”. Together, “avec moi” means that the speaker has something with them. This expression is reusable when identifying what a person is carrying or has available.

Ces “Ces” means “these” in “Ces informations”, referring to the account details just mentioned. It comes before the plural noun “informations”. The reusable pattern is “ces” plus a plural noun when pointing to specific items.

aideront “aideront” means “will help” in “Ces informations aideront le personnel”. It describes the expected benefit of the account details for the staff. The reusable pattern is a subject followed by “aideront” and the person or group receiving the help.

personnel “personnel” means “staff” in “le personnel”, referring to the people working at the office. It is the group that the account information will help. The reusable expression is “le personnel” when referring collectively to employees at a service or organization.

Alors “Alors” means “then” in “Alors, je vais demander...”, marking the next step in the conversation. It connects the new decision with the information just given. It is reusable at the start of a sentence when moving to a consequence or next action.

vais “vais” helps express “I am going to” in “je vais demander”, introducing the speaker’s planned next action. It is a form of “aller” used with an infinitive. The reusable pattern is “je vais” plus an infinitive for a near-future plan.

demander “demander” means “ask” in “je vais demander si...”. It introduces the question the speaker plans to put to the staff. A reusable pattern is “demander si” followed by an indirect yes-or-no question.

si In “demander si je dois prendre...”, “si” means “whether” and introduces the question being asked indirectly. It connects “demander” with the possible action of getting a new card. The reusable pattern is “demander si” plus a complete clause.

dois “dois” expresses “should” or “must” in “si je dois prendre une nouvelle carte”, asking whether getting a new card is necessary or appropriate. It is used with the subject “je” before the infinitive “prendre”. The reusable pattern is “je dois” plus an infinitive when discussing an obligation or needed action.

prendre “prendre” means “get” in “prendre une nouvelle carte”, referring to obtaining a replacement card. It follows “dois” in the indirect question. The reusable pattern is “prendre” plus the item that someone obtains or takes.

une “une” means “a” before “nouvelle carte” in “une nouvelle carte”. It introduces one possible replacement card. The reusable pattern is “une” plus a feminine noun.

nouvelle “nouvelle” means “new” in “une nouvelle carte”, describing a replacement card that has not been obtained yet. It modifies “carte” in this phrase. A reusable pattern is “une nouvelle” plus a feminine noun when referring to a replacement or newly obtained item.

Demandez “Demandez” means “ask” in the instruction “Demandez d'abord”. It tells the listener to ask the office before taking another step. The form is used for a direct instruction to the person addressed as “vous”.

d'abord “d'abord” means “first” in “Demandez d'abord”, specifying that asking should be the initial step. It commonly appears with an instruction to order actions. The reusable pattern is an imperative or action followed by “d'abord” when setting the priority.

parce que “parce que” means “because” and gives the reason for asking first. “parce” and “que” work together as the fixed expression “parce que”; the full expression introduces the reason clause “quelqu'un l'a peut-être rapportée”. The reusable pattern is “parce que” followed by a complete explanation.

quelqu'un “quelqu'un” means “someone” in “quelqu'un l'a peut-être rapportée”, referring to an unidentified person who may have returned the card. It is used when the person is unknown or not specified. The reusable pattern is “quelqu'un” plus a verb to describe an unknown person’s action.

l'a In “l'a peut-être rapportée”, “l'a” refers to the card and combines the object pronoun “l'” with “a” in the completed action. The following form “rapportée” completes the meaning “has handed it in” or “has returned it”. The reusable pattern is an object pronoun before “a” followed by the form that describes the action.

peut-être “peut-être” means “perhaps” or “maybe” in “l'a peut-être rapportée”, showing that the return of the card is only possible, not certain. “peut” and “être” form the fixed adverb “peut-être” here. It is reusable to express uncertainty about an action or situation.

rapportée “rapportée” means “handed in” or “returned” in “quelqu'un l'a peut-être rapportée”, referring to the travel card being brought back to the lost-property office. It completes the action introduced by “l'a”. The ending matches the feminine card referred to by “l'”; the reusable pattern is “rapporter” an item to a place or service.

Grammar Points

nouveau → nouvelle

une nouvelle carte

ewn noo-VEL KART

a new card

The adjective changes to nouvelle to agree with the feminine noun carte.

objets trouvés

objets trouvés

ohb-ZHAY troo-VAY

lost property

Trouvés follows objets and takes masculine plural agreement with the noun.

French Vocabulary

aider verb

ay-DAY to help

aller verb

ah-LAY to go

bureau noun

byoo-ROH office

carte noun

KART card

empêcher verb

ahm-pay-SHAY to prevent; to stop

objets trouvés phrase

ohb-ZHAY troo-VAY lost property

penser verb

pahn-SAY to think pense

perdre verb

pair-DRUH to lose perdu

remplir verb

rahm-PLEER to fill out

train noun

TRAN train

transport noun

trahn-SPOR transport

utiliser verb

ee-tee-lee-ZAY to use utilise

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That information will help the staff.

Show Answer

Ces informations aideront le personnel.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

office

Show Answer

bureau

transport

Show Answer

transport

to go

Show Answer

aller

to think

Show Answer

pense