Planning a quiet dinner with a friend | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: While making plans with a friend, two adults arrange a quiet dinner and choose familiar food at a calm place..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Planning a quiet dinner with a friend to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tu aimerais dîner ensemble ?

tew ehm-uh-RAY dee-NAY ahn-SAHMBL? Would you like to have dinner together?
B

Ça me plairait. Un dîner tranquille semble agréable.

sah muh pleh-RAY. uhn dee-NAY trahn-KEEL sahmbl ah-gray-AHBL. I'd like that. A quiet dinner sounds nice.
A

Est-ce que je devrais choisir un endroit calme ?

ess-kuh zhuh duh-VRAY shwah-ZEER uhn ahn-DRWAH kahlm? Should I choose a calm place?
B

Un endroit calme nous aiderait à parler.

uhn ahn-DRWAH kahlm noo-zay-DREH ah pah-LAY. Somewhere quiet would help us talk.
A

Tu préfères des plats simples ou quelque chose de nouveau ?

tew preh-FAIR day plah SAMPL oo kelk-SHOHZ duh noo-VOH? Do you prefer simple food or something new?
B

Je préférerais choisir quelque chose de familier ce soir.

zhuh preh-fair-AY shwah-ZEER kelk-SHOHZ duh fah-mee-LYAY suh SWAHR. I would rather choose something familiar tonight.
A

Je peux réserver une table dans un restaurant près d'ici.

zhuh puh ray-zair-VAY een TAHBL dahn-zuhn res-toh-RAHN preh dee-SEE. I can reserve a table at a nearby restaurant.
B

Envoie-moi les détails quand tu peux, s'il te plaît.

ahn-VWAH mwah lay day-TAHY kahn tew puh, seel tuh PLAY. Please send me the details when you can.

Word by Word

Tu In “Tu aimerais dîner ensemble ?”, “Tu” means “you”, the person being invited. It is used for addressing one person informally. A common pattern is “Tu + verb ... ?” when asking that person a question.
aimerais In “Tu aimerais dîner ensemble ?”, “aimerais” asks whether someone would like something. It makes the invitation polite and is used before an infinitive, as in “Tu aimerais dîner ... ?”.
dîner In “Tu aimerais dîner ensemble ?”, “dîner” means to have dinner. It follows “aimerais” to name the activity the person may want to do. A reusable pattern is “aimerais + infinitive” for saying what someone would like to do.
ensemble In “Tu aimerais dîner ensemble ?”, “ensemble” means together, referring to the two people sharing the dinner. It commonly comes after the activity or verb it describes. Use it when emphasizing that people do something together.
Ça In “Ça me plairait”, “Ça” refers to the suggested dinner and means that or it. Together with “me plairait”, it expresses a positive response to the suggestion. “Ça” can refer back to an idea, offer, or activity already mentioned.
me In “Ça me plairait”, “me” identifies the person to whom the idea would be pleasing: me. It occurs before “plairait” in this construction. The pattern “Ça me plaît” or “Ça me plairait” is used to say that something appeals to you.
plairait In “Ça me plairait”, “plairait” expresses that the suggested dinner would please or appeal to the speaker. Its meaning comes with “Ça me”, so the whole expression is a way to accept or welcome a suggestion. A reusable pattern is “Ça me plairait” when responding positively to an option.
Un In “Un dîner tranquille semble agréable”, “Un” introduces one dinner as a non-specific example or option. It comes before the masculine noun “dîner”. Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one non-specific item.
tranquille In “Un dîner tranquille”, “tranquille” describes the dinner as quiet or peaceful. It follows the noun it describes in this expression. It can also describe a place or atmosphere intended to be calm.
semble In “Un dîner tranquille semble agréable”, “semble” means seems and presents “agréable” as an impression or judgment. It links the subject “Un dîner tranquille” with the description that follows. A common pattern is “subject + semble + description” when something appears a certain way.
agréable In “semble agréable”, “agréable” describes the dinner as pleasant or nice. It follows “semble” as the speaker’s evaluation. Use it after a verb such as “semble” to give a positive description of an experience, place, or thing.
Est-ce que In “Est-ce que je devrais choisir un endroit calme ?”, “Est-ce que” is the fixed opener for a yes-or-no question. “Est-ce” and “que” work together before the clause “je devrais choisir ...”; they do not each carry a separate question meaning here. Use “Est-ce que” before a statement-shaped clause when forming a question.
je In “Est-ce que je devrais choisir ... ?” and “Je peux réserver ...”, “je” means I and identifies the speaker. It comes before the verb in both questions and statements. A common pattern is “je + verb” when saying what you think, can do, or should do.
devrais In “je devrais choisir un endroit calme”, “devrais” expresses what the speaker should do or is asking whether it would be advisable to do. It is followed by the infinitive “choisir”. The pattern “je devrais + infinitive” is useful for asking or discussing a possible action.
choisir In “devrais choisir un endroit calme” and “préférerais choisir quelque chose de familier”, “choisir” means to choose. It names the action that follows “devrais” or “préférerais”. Use “choisir + object” when selecting a place, food, or another option.
endroit In “un endroit calme”, “endroit” means a place or location. It is specified by “calme”, so the phrase means a quiet place. A common pattern is “un endroit + description” when choosing or describing a location.
calme In “un endroit calme”, “calme” describes the place as quiet or calm. It follows “endroit” in this phrase. It is useful when describing a place where people can relax or talk without much noise.
nous In “nous aiderait à parler”, “nous” means us and identifies the people who would be helped: the two people planning dinner. It comes before “aiderait” as the people receiving the help. A common pattern is “aider quelqu’un à + infinitive”, meaning to help someone do something.
aiderait In “Un endroit calme nous aiderait à parler”, “aiderait” means would help. The quiet place is presented as helping “nous” carry out the activity “à parler”. Use “aiderait à + infinitive” to describe a condition that would make an action easier.
à In “aiderait à parler”, “à” introduces the action that the help makes possible. Here it connects “aiderait” with “parler”. The reusable pattern is “aider à + infinitive” or “aider quelqu’un à + infinitive”.
parler In “nous aiderait à parler”, “parler” means to talk. It follows “à” after “aiderait” and names the activity the quiet place would make easier. Use “à + infinitive” after “aider” to state the action being helped.
préfères In “Tu préfères des plats simples ou quelque chose de nouveau ?”, “préfères” asks which option the other person likes better. It is followed by two choices joined by “ou”. A common pattern is “Tu préfères A ou B ?” when asking someone to choose between options.
des In “des plats simples”, “des” introduces an unspecified quantity of the plural noun “plats”. It refers to some dishes rather than particular dishes already identified. Use “des” before a plural noun when referring to non-specific items.
plats In “des plats simples”, “plats” means dishes or prepared food. It is modified by “simples”, which describes the food as simple. Use “plats” when discussing individual menu items or kinds of prepared food.
simples In “des plats simples”, “simples” describes the dishes as simple or uncomplicated. It follows the plural noun “plats” and matches the plural expression. It can be used to describe food that is not elaborate.
ou In “des plats simples ou quelque chose de nouveau”, “ou” means or and connects the two choices being compared. It introduces the alternative “quelque chose de nouveau”. Use “ou” between options when asking or stating a choice.
quelque chose In “quelque chose de nouveau”, “quelque chose” means something, an unspecified thing or option. “Quelque” contributes the idea of an unspecified amount or choice, and “chose” names a thing; together they form the expression “quelque chose”. Use it before a description such as “de nouveau” when describing an unspecified thing.
de In “quelque chose de nouveau”, “de” links “quelque chose” to the description “nouveau”. This pattern is used after “quelque chose” before an adjective. Keep “de” in the reusable pattern “quelque chose de + description”.
nouveau In “quelque chose de nouveau”, “nouveau” describes the unspecified option as new. It follows “de” after “quelque chose”. Use “quelque chose de nouveau” when referring to an unfamiliar or different option without naming it.
préférerais In “Je préférerais choisir quelque chose de familier ce soir”, “préférerais” expresses the speaker’s preferred choice in this situation: they would rather choose something familiar. It is followed by the action “choisir”. A reusable pattern is “Je préférerais + infinitive” when stating a preference politely.
familier In “quelque chose de familier”, “familier” describes the choice as familiar to the speaker. It refers to something known or already comfortable, rather than an unspecified new option. Use it after “quelque chose de” to describe a known or recognizable option.
ce In “ce soir”, “ce” helps refer to the evening connected with the current situation, meaning tonight. Together with “soir”, it forms the time expression “ce soir”. Use “ce soir” when talking about the evening of the current day.
soir In “ce soir”, “soir” means evening. With “ce”, it forms the expression for tonight. Use “soir” in time expressions referring to an evening.
peux In “Je peux réserver une table”, “peux” means can and expresses that the speaker is able or available to make the reservation. It is followed by the infinitive “réserver”. A common pattern is “Je peux + infinitive” when offering or stating an ability to do something.
réserver In “Je peux réserver une table”, “réserver” means to reserve or book. It is followed by the object “une table”, which states what will be reserved. Use “réserver + object” for arranging a table, room, ticket, or other service.
une In “une table”, “une” introduces one non-specific table. It comes before the feminine singular noun “table”. Use “une” before a feminine singular noun when referring to one non-specific item.
table In “réserver une table”, “table” means table, specifically the table being booked at the restaurant. It is the object of “réserver”. The pattern “réserver une table” is used when arranging restaurant seating.
dans In “dans un restaurant près d'ici”, “dans” means in and places the restaurant within the relevant location. It introduces “un restaurant”, the place where the table will be reserved. Use “dans + place” to say where something is or happens.
restaurant In “dans un restaurant près d'ici”, “restaurant” means restaurant. It is the place in which the table will be reserved. Use it after a location preposition such as “dans” when describing where a meal or reservation is arranged.
près In “près d'ici”, “près” means near and expresses short distance from a reference point. It is followed by “d'ici” in this dialogue. The common pattern “près de + place or person” is used to say that something is nearby.
d'ici In “un restaurant près d'ici”, “d'ici” means from here and identifies the reference point for “près”: the restaurant is near the current place. Together, “près d'ici” means nearby. Use it after “près” when describing something close to where the speakers are.
Envoie-moi In “Envoie-moi les détails”, “Envoie-moi” means send me and directly asks the other person to send something to the speaker. It combines the sending command with “moi”, the recipient. A reusable pattern is “Envoie-moi + object” when asking someone to send you something.
les In “les détails”, “les” introduces the specific details being discussed, namely the dinner arrangements. It comes before the plural noun “détails”. Use “les” before plural items that are identifiable from the context.
détails In “Envoie-moi les détails”, “détails” means details, referring to information about the planned dinner. It is the object of “Envoie-moi”. Use “les détails” when asking for the specific information needed about an arrangement or plan.
quand In “quand tu peux”, “quand” means when and introduces the time condition for sending the details. The phrase means when you can or whenever you are able. Use “quand + clause” to connect an action with the time it can happen.
s'il te plaît In “Envoie-moi les détails quand tu peux, s'il te plaît”, “s'il te plaît” is the polite expression please. “S'il”, “te”, and “plaît” work together in this fixed expression: it literally presents the request as something that pleases you, with “te” referring to the person addressed. Place “s'il te plaît” after a request to make it more polite when speaking to one person informally.

Grammar Points

Conditionnel pour exprimer un souhait ou une préférence : j'aimerais, je préférerais

J'aimerais dîner ensemble. Je préférerais un endroit familier.

zhem-RAY dee-NAY ahn-SAHMBL. zhuh preh-fair-AY uhn ahn-DRWAH fah-mee-LYAY.

I would like to have dinner together. I would rather have a familiar place.

Le conditionnel rend une demande ou une préférence plus douce et polie.

Impératif + pronom complément : envoie-moi

Envoie-moi les détails, s'il te plaît.

ahn-VWAH mwah lay day-TAHY, seel tuh PLAY.

Send me the details, please.

À l'impératif affirmatif, le pronom se place après le verbe et se relie avec un trait d'union.

French Vocabulary

agréable adj
ah-gray-AHBL pleasant
aiderait verb
eh-DREH would help
aimerais verb
ehm-uh-RAY would like
Ça me plairait phrase
sah muh pleh-RAY I would like that
choisir verb
shwah-ZEER choose
devrais verb
duh-VRAY should
dîner ensemble phrase
dee-NAY ahn-SAHMBL have dinner together
endroit noun
ahn-DRWAH place
nous pron
noo us
parler verb
par-LAY talk
semble verb
SAHMBL seems
tranquille adj
trahn-KEEL quiet

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you like to have dinner together?

Show AnswerTu aimerais dîner ensemble ?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

choose

Show Answerchoisir

should

Show Answerdevrais

seems

Show Answersemble

quiet

Show Answertranquille