About This Lesson
Use Asking to move a report deadline to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
J'ai besoin de plus de temps pour le rapport.
ZHAY beh-ZWAN duh PLOO duh TAHN poor luh ra-POHR I need more time for the report.
B
Qu'est-ce qui ralentit les choses ?
KESS-kee rah-lahn-TEE lay SHOHZ What's slowing things down?
A
Il manque encore des informations.
eel MAHNK ahn-KOR day an-for-ma-SYON Some information is still missing.
B
De combien de temps as-tu encore besoin ?
duh kohm-BYAN duh TAHN ah-TOO ahn-KOR beh-ZWAN How much more time do you need?
A
Est-ce qu'on peut repousser la date limite à plus tard cette semaine ?
ess kohng puh ruh-poo-SAY la daht lee-MEET ah PLOO tahr set suh-MEN Could we move the deadline to later this week?
B
Ça marche, mais envoie une courte mise à jour à l'équipe.
sa MARSH, meh ahn-VWA oon koort meez ah ZHOOR ah lay-KEEP That works, but send the team a short update.
A
Je vais expliquer ce qui est prêt et ce qui manque encore.
zhuh vay ex-plee-KAY suh kee ay PREH ay suh kee MAHNK ahn-KOR I'll explain what is ready and what is still missing.
B
Ça aidera tout le monde à s'organiser avec ce retard.
sa eh-DRAH too luh MOHND ah sor-gah-nee-ZAY ah-VEK suh ruh-TAHR That will help everyone plan around the delay.Word by Word
J'ai
In “J'ai besoin de”, this means “I need”; the expression as a whole states a need. A reliable pattern is “J'ai besoin de + thing” when saying what you need. Here it is used at work to request more time.
besoin
In “J'ai besoin de plus de temps”, this means “need” as part of the expression for needing something. It is used with “de” before the thing that is needed. Use this pattern when explaining a practical need, such as needing more time.
de
In “J'ai besoin de plus de temps”, “de” introduces what is needed, while in “De combien de temps” it introduces the amount being asked about. It is therefore used both after “besoin” and before an amount expression here. These patterns are useful when stating or asking about a need.
plus
In “plus de temps”, “plus” means “more”; in “plus tard”, it means “later” as part of the expression. “Plus de + noun” adds to an amount, while “plus tard” refers to a later time. Here it helps request more time and a later deadline.
temps
In “plus de temps”, this means “time”, specifically the additional time needed for the report. It follows “de” in the amount expression “de plus de temps”. Use it when discussing how much time a task requires.
pour
In “pour le rapport”, “pour” means “for” and connects the needed time with its purpose. The pattern “du temps pour + task or object” identifies what the time is intended for. Here the purpose is completing the report.
le
In “le rapport”, “le” means “the” and marks the report as a specific item. It comes before the noun in the pattern “le + specific noun”. Here it refers to the report being discussed at work.
rapport
In “le rapport”, this means “report”. It names the work document for which more time is needed. A useful pattern is “le rapport” when referring to a specific report.
Qu'est-ce
In “Qu'est-ce qui ralentit les choses ?”, “Qu'est-ce” introduces a question asking “what”. The pattern “Qu'est-ce qui + verb” asks what is causing or doing something. Here it opens a question about the cause of the delay.
qui
In “Qu'est-ce qui ralentit les choses ?”, “qui” links the question opener to the thing that performs the action. Together, “Qu'est-ce qui” asks what is slowing things down. Use this pattern when asking what causes an observed problem.
ralentit
In “ralentit les choses”, this means “slows things down”. The form describes the action affecting “les choses” in the question. A reusable pattern is “subject + ralentit + object” when explaining that something is making a process slower.
les
In “les choses”, “les” means “the” before a plural noun. It marks the things being referred to as a group. The pattern “les + plural noun” is used when discussing a known or relevant group of things.
choses
In “ralentit les choses”, this means “things” and refers broadly to the work or processes being slowed down. It appears after “les” in the expression “les choses”. Here it is useful when the exact parts of the work are not specified.
Il
In “Il manque encore des informations”, “Il” is an impersonal “it” or “there” used to state that something is missing. It works with “manque” in the pattern “Il manque + thing”. Here the construction reports a gap in the information needed for the report.
manque
In “Il manque encore des informations”, this says that information is missing or lacking. It is used with the missing thing after it in the pattern “Il manque + noun”. Here it explains why more time is needed.
encore
In “Il manque encore des informations”, “encore” means “still”, showing that the information remains missing. The same meaning appears in “ce qui manque encore”. It is useful for describing an unfinished situation that continues at the present time.
des
In “des informations”, “des” means “some” before a plural noun. It introduces the information that is still missing. The pattern “des + plural noun” is useful when referring to an unspecified amount of several things.
informations
In “des informations”, this means “information” in the context of the details needed for the report. It follows “des” in the phrase for some missing information. Here it identifies what has not yet been supplied.
combien
In “De combien de temps”, “combien” asks “how much” about an amount. The pattern “combien de + noun” asks for the quantity of something. Here it asks how much additional time is needed.
as-tu
In “as-tu encore besoin”, this is the question form used to ask what the other person still needs. Together with “besoin”, it contributes to the meaning “do you need”. Here it is used in a direct workplace question about the required time.
Est-ce
In “Est-ce qu'on peut repousser la date limite”, “Est-ce” opens a yes-or-no question about whether something is possible. It is followed by “qu'on” and the rest of the question. Here it makes the request to move the deadline more tentative and polite.
qu'on
In “Est-ce qu'on peut repousser”, “qu'on” connects the question opener with “on”, meaning “we” in this situation. The pattern “Est-ce qu'on peut + action” asks whether the group can do something. Here the group is being asked about moving the deadline.
peut
In “on peut repousser”, “peut” means “can” or “is able to”. It is followed by “repousser”, which names the possible action. This pattern is useful when asking whether a proposed workplace action is possible.
repousser
In “repousser la date limite”, this means “postpone” or “push back”. It is followed by the deadline being moved and by the new time introduced with “à”. Here it is used to request a later deadline for the report.
la
In “la date limite”, “la” means “the” and introduces the specific deadline under discussion. It comes before the noun phrase in the pattern “la + specific noun”. Here it points to the report’s deadline.
date
In “la date limite”, “date” means “date”. Together with “limite”, it identifies the deadline that may be moved. Use this phrase when discussing a specific due date.
limite
In “date limite”, “limite” means “limit” and helps form the expression “deadline” with “date”. The whole phrase refers to the date by which something is due. Here it is the date being postponed.
à
In “à plus tard cette semaine”, “à” introduces the later time to which the deadline is moved; in “à l'équipe”, it introduces the recipient of the update. It also forms part of the whole expression “mise à jour”. Here its meaning depends on the construction: destination in one phrase and recipient in another.
tard
In “plus tard”, “tard” contributes the idea of a later time. The full expression “plus tard cette semaine” identifies when the deadline could be moved to. Here it is used while negotiating a new time.
cette
In “cette semaine”, “cette” means “this” and points to the current week being discussed. It comes before “semaine” in the pattern “cette + noun”. Here it limits the possible delay to the current week.
semaine
In “cette semaine”, this means “week”. The phrase refers to the current week as the time period for the postponed deadline. Use it when setting a time within the week.
Ça
In “Ça marche” and “Ça aidera”, “Ça” refers to the situation, proposal, or plan being discussed. In the first line it means that the proposal works, and in the second it refers to the agreed plan helping everyone. A useful pattern is “Ça + verb” when referring back to a situation.
marche
In “Ça marche”, “marche” means “works” or “is acceptable”, not a physical action. This expression is a common way to accept a proposal or arrangement. Here it confirms that moving the deadline is acceptable.
mais
In “Ça marche, mais”, “mais” means “but” and introduces a condition or additional request after an agreement. It connects acceptance of the new deadline with the request to update the team. Use it to add an important qualification.
envoie
In “envoie une courte mise à jour à l'équipe”, “envoie” tells the listener to send something. It is followed by the item being sent and then the recipient introduced with “à”. Here it gives a direct workplace instruction about informing the team.
une
In “une courte mise à jour”, “une” means “a” and introduces one update. It comes before the noun phrase in the pattern “une + noun”. Here it refers to a single short update for the team.
courte
In “une courte mise à jour”, “courte” means “short” and describes the update as limited in length. It appears before the noun it describes. Here it specifies that the team does not need a long message.
mise à jour
The whole expression “mise à jour” means “update”. Within it, “mise” contributes “putting”, “à” contributes “to”, and “jour” contributes “day”, together giving the idea of bringing information up to date. A reusable pattern is “une mise à jour” for a brief communication about the current state of work.
l'équipe
In “à l'équipe”, this means “the team”. The form combines the article and noun in one elided form before a vowel. Here it names the group receiving the update.
Je
In “Je vais expliquer”, “Je” means “I” and is the subject of the planned action. It comes before the verb phrase in the pattern “Je + verb”. Here the speaker announces what they will explain.
vais
In “Je vais expliquer”, “vais” helps express a future plan, meaning “am going to” or “will”. It is followed by the infinitive “expliquer” in the pattern “Je vais + infinitive”. Here it introduces the speaker’s planned explanation.
expliquer
In “Je vais expliquer”, this means “explain”. It follows “vais” and names the action the speaker plans to take. Here the explanation concerns what is ready and what is still missing.
ce
In “ce qui est prêt” and “ce qui manque encore”, “ce qui” means “what” or “that which” and introduces information being described. It links each following verb to the thing under discussion. Here it introduces two parts of the report’s status.
est
In “ce qui est prêt”, “est” means “is” and links the information to the description “prêt”. The pattern “subject + est + description” identifies a current state. Here it states what is ready.
prêt
In “ce qui est prêt”, “prêt” means “ready”. It describes the part of the work that can already be identified as ready. A useful pattern is “être prêt” when stating that something is ready for the next step.
et
In “ce qui est prêt et ce qui manque encore”, “et” means “and”. It joins the two parallel pieces of information about the work’s status. Here it helps organize the explanation into what is ready and what is missing.
aidera
In “Ça aidera tout le monde”, “aidera” means “will help” and describes the expected result of the update. It is followed by the people helped and their action in “à s'organiser”. Here it explains how the update will support planning around the delay.
tout le monde
The whole expression “tout le monde” means “everyone”. “Tout” contributes “all”, “le” is the definite article, and “monde” literally means “world”; together they refer to all the people involved. A reusable pattern is “tout le monde + verb” when speaking about everyone as a group.
s'organiser
In “à s'organiser avec ce retard”, this means “to organize themselves” or “to plan” in response to the delay. The form includes the reflexive element “s'”, showing that the people arrange their own plans. The pattern “aider quelqu'un à s'organiser” is useful when explaining support with planning.
avec
In “s'organiser avec ce retard”, “avec” means “with” and connects planning to the delay that must be taken into account. The pattern “avec + noun” identifies the situation or circumstance involved. Here it describes planning around the delay.
retard
In “ce retard”, “retard” means “delay”. It refers to the later completion caused by the missing information. Here it is the situation that everyone must consider when organizing their plans.
Grammar Points
avoir besoin de + nom
J'ai besoin de temps.
ZHAY beh-ZWAN duh TAHNI need time.
Cette expression signifie « to need » et se construit toujours avec « de » avant le nom.
Il manque + nom
Il manque des informations.
eel MAHNK day an-for-ma-SYONInformation is missing.
La structure « il manque » indique qu’une chose n’est pas disponible ou n’est pas suffisante.
French Vocabulary
avoir besoin de
phrase
ah-vwahr beh-ZWAN duh
to need
J'ai besoin de
chose
noun
SHOHZ
thing
les choses
date limite
phrase
daht lee-MEET
deadline
encore
adv
ahn-KOR
still; again
information
noun
an-for-ma-SYON
information
des informations
manquer
verb
mahn-KAY
to be missing; to lack
Il manque
marcher
verb
mar-SHAY
to work; to function
Ça marche
ralentir
verb
rah-lahn-TEER
to slow down
ralentit
rapport
noun
ra-POHR
report
repousser
verb
ruh-poo-SAY
to postpone; to move back
semaine
noun
suh-MEN
week
temps
noun
TAHN
time
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
What's slowing things down?
Show Answer
Qu'est-ce qui ralentit les choses ?Some information is still missing.
Show Answer
Il manque encore des informations.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
still; again
Show Answer
encorereport
Show Answer
rapportto postpone; to move back
Show Answer
repoussertime