Save the file and take a coffee break | Learn French in English

About This Lesson

Use Save the file and take a coffee break to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer.

zhuh nah-REE ploo ah muh kohn-sahn-TRAY I am losing focus.

Éloignons-nous un peu et prenons un café.

ay-lwah-NYOHN-noo uhn PUH ay pruh-NOHN-zuhn kah-FAY Let's step away and get coffee.

Une petite pause semble utile.

oon puh-TEET POHZ sahmbl oo-TEEL A short break sounds helpful.

Nous pouvons nous étirer avant de nous rasseoir.

noo poo-VOHN noo-zay-tee-RAY ah-VAHN duh noo rah-SWAHR We can stretch before we sit down again.

Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport après le café ?

ess-kohn duh-VRAY ruh-PRANDR luh rah-POHR ah-PRAY luh kah-FAY Should we return to the report after coffee?

Nous pourrons finir la partie suivante ensuite.

noo poo-ROHN fee-NEER lah par-TEE swee-VAHNT ahn-SWEET We can finish the next part then.

Je vais enregistrer le fichier avant de partir.

zhuh vay ahn-ruh-zhee-STRAY luh fee-SHYAY ah-VAHN duh par-TEER I will save the file before we leave.

Enregistre-le maintenant, comme ça nous ne perdrons rien.

ahn-ruh-ZHEESTR luh man-tuh-NAHN, kohm sah noo nuh pair-DROHN RYEHN Save it now, so we do not lose anything.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” here and identifies the speaker as the subject of the sentence. It is used before a verb when talking about yourself, as in “Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer.”

n'arrive In “Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer”, “n'arrive” contributes the idea of no longer managing to do something. With “à” and an infinitive, this form describes difficulty or inability with an action. You can reuse the pattern “arriver à” plus an action when saying whether you manage to do something.

plus In “Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer”, “plus” means “any longer” or “any more”. Together with “ne” and “n'arrive”, it shows that the ability has stopped. The pattern “ne ... plus” is useful for saying that something no longer happens.

à In “n'arrive plus à me concentrer”, “à” links the expression about managing with the action that follows. It introduces the infinitive “me concentrer” in this construction. Reuse “arriver à” followed by an action when describing whether you manage to do it.

me In “me concentrer”, “me” refers back to the speaker and shows that the speaker is concentrating themself. It appears before the infinitive in this reflexive construction. This form is useful when the action is directed back toward the speaker.

concentrer “Concentrer” names the action of concentrating in “me concentrer”. It follows “à” as the action the speaker can no longer manage. In this dialogue, the form is used for staying focused while working.

Éloignons-nous “Éloignons-nous” is an inclusive suggestion to step away together. The “-nous” part includes the speaker and the other person, as in “Éloignons-nous un peu”. You can use this kind of suggestion when inviting someone to move away from a task or place with you.

un In “un café”, “un” introduces one coffee or a coffee. It comes before the noun “café” in the suggestion to get a drink. The pattern “un” plus a singular noun is useful when referring to one item without specifying which one.

peu In “un peu”, “peu” means “a little” and limits the amount of the suggested movement. “Éloignons-nous un peu” means to step away a little. This expression is useful when asking for a small degree or amount.

et “Et” means “and” and connects the two suggestions in “Éloignons-nous un peu et prenons un café”. It shows that the speakers propose both actions. Use it to join related actions or ideas.

prenons In “prenons un café”, “prenons” makes a suggestion that both speakers get or have coffee. The noun “un café” follows it as the thing involved in the suggestion. This form is useful when proposing a shared action involving a drink or another item.

café “Café” means “coffee” here, first as the drink in “prenons un café” and later in “après le café”. It is the reason for the short break. You can reuse “un café” when suggesting one coffee and “le café” when referring to the coffee already understood in the situation.

Une “Une” introduces “une petite pause”, meaning “a short break”. It begins the noun phrase that is the subject of the next statement. Use it before a singular noun when introducing one unspecified item in this type of phrase.

petite In “une petite pause”, “petite” describes the break as short or small. It appears directly before “pause” in this dialogue. This form is useful when describing a break that will not last long.

pause “Pause” means “break” in “Une petite pause semble utile”. It is the activity being evaluated as helpful before the speakers return to work. You can reuse “une pause” when talking about taking a break during work or study.

semble “Semble” means “seems” and presents the break as appearing useful rather than stating it as an absolute fact. In “semble utile”, it links “pause” with the assessment “utile”. This form is useful for giving a careful or tentative opinion.

utile “Utile” means “helpful” or “useful” in “Une petite pause semble utile”. It describes the possible benefit of taking a short break. You can reuse it after “semble” when saying that something appears helpful.

Nous “Nous” means “we” when it begins “Nous pouvons nous étirer”. The lower-case form “nous” also appears inside “nous étirer”, “nous rasseoir”, and “nous ne perdrons rien”, where it refers to the two speakers as a group. Use it as the subject before a verb or as a pronoun referring to the group.

pouvons “Pouvons” means “can” or “are able to” in “Nous pouvons nous étirer”. It presents stretching as an available option for the speakers. The pattern “pouvons” plus an infinitive is useful for saying what the group can do.

étirer In “nous étirer”, “étirer” names the action of stretching. It follows “pouvons” as the action the speakers can do during the break. In this dialogue, it is used for a brief physical stretch before sitting down again.

avant “Avant” means “before” in “avant de nous rasseoir”. It places stretching earlier than the action of sitting down again. The pattern “avant de” followed by an action is useful for describing what happens first.

de In “avant de nous rasseoir”, “de” links “avant” to the following action. Together, “avant de” means “before doing something”. Reuse this pattern before an infinitive when placing one action earlier than another.

rasseoir In “nous rasseoir”, “rasseoir” means sit back down. It follows “de” in “avant de nous rasseoir” and describes what the speakers will do after stretching. This form is useful when talking about returning to a seated position.

Est-ce At the start of “Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport”, “Est-ce” marks the sentence as a question. It introduces a question about a possible shared action. The pattern “Est-ce que” is useful for forming a direct question.

qu'on In “Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport”, “qu'on” links the question marker to the clause and refers to the speakers as “we”. The form combines “que” with “on” in this sentence. Reuse the pattern “Est-ce qu'on” when asking whether the group should do something.

devrait “Devrait” means “should” in “Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport”. It asks whether resuming the report would be a good or advisable action. The pattern “on devrait” followed by an infinitive is useful for making or asking about a suggestion.

reprendre In “reprendre le rapport”, “reprendre” means to return to or resume the report. It follows “devrait” as the proposed action. You can reuse it with a task or activity when work is being continued after an interruption.

le In “le rapport”, “le” means “the” and identifies the report as a specific work document. The report is already understood in the conversation. Use “le” before a noun when referring to a particular item known in the situation.

rapport “Rapport” means “report” in “reprendre le rapport”. It is the work document that the speakers plan to continue after coffee. The phrase “reprendre le rapport” is useful when returning to that document after a break.

après “Après” means “after” in “après le café”. It places returning to the report later than the coffee break. Use “après” before a noun to describe what follows an event or activity.

pourrons “Pourrons” means “will be able to” in “Nous pourrons finir la partie suivante ensuite”. It places the group’s ability to finish the next part after the planned break. This form is useful with an infinitive when describing a future possibility or ability.

finir In “finir la partie suivante”, “finir” means to finish. It follows “pourrons” and takes “la partie suivante” as the work to be completed. You can reuse this pattern with a task, section, or other work item.

la In “la partie suivante”, “la” means “the” and introduces a specific part of the work. It points to the next part that the speakers already have in mind. Use it before a noun when the item is identifiable from the context.

partie “Partie” means “part” in “la partie suivante”. It refers to one section of the report that the speakers plan to complete. The phrase “finir la partie suivante” is useful when continuing work section by section.

suivante In “la partie suivante”, “suivante” means “next” or “following”. It identifies which part the speakers will finish: the one that comes after the current part. Here it appears with “partie” to specify the order of the work.

ensuite “Ensuite” means “then” or “afterwards” in “Nous pourrons finir la partie suivante ensuite”. It marks the finishing action as happening later, after the coffee break and return to work. This word is useful for organizing actions in sequence.

vais In “Je vais enregistrer le fichier”, “vais” helps express what the speaker is going to do next. It is followed by the infinitive “enregistrer”. The pattern “Je vais” plus an action is useful for stating an immediate plan or intention.

enregistrer In “enregistrer le fichier”, “enregistrer” means to save the file. It is the action the speaker plans to complete before leaving. You can reuse it with a file or document when making sure recent work is stored.

fichier “Fichier” means “file” in “enregistrer le fichier”. It is the work item that must be saved before the speakers leave. The phrase “enregistrer le fichier” is useful when talking about saving a digital document.

partir In “avant de partir”, “partir” means to leave. It follows “de” after “avant” and identifies the action that has not happened yet. This phrase is useful when saying that something must happen before leaving.

Enregistre-le “Enregistre-le” is a direct instruction meaning “save it”, with “le” referring to the file. It tells the other speaker to save the file immediately. Use this form when giving someone a direct instruction about saving a specific item.

maintenant “Maintenant” means “now” in “Enregistre-le maintenant”. It specifies that the saving should happen immediately rather than later. This time word is useful with an instruction when the action should be done at once.

comme In “comme ça”, “comme” helps express the intended way or result of the action. Together with “ça”, it connects saving the file now with avoiding a loss. This expression is useful when explaining that one action will make a desired result possible.

ça In “comme ça”, “ça” refers to saving the file now and means “that way” in this context. It contributes to the idea that the proposed action will prevent a problem. Reuse “comme ça” when pointing to the result of an action just mentioned.

ne In “ne perdrons rien”, “ne” is the first part of the negative construction with “rien”. It helps express that the speakers will not lose anything. The pattern “ne ... rien” is useful for negating an object or saying that nothing will be lost.

perdrons In “nous ne perdrons rien”, “perdrons” means “will lose”. It describes the future loss that the speakers want to prevent by saving the file. Here it appears inside the negative construction with “ne” and “rien”.

rien In “nous ne perdrons rien”, “rien” is the thing being negated, so the whole expression means “we will lose nothing”. It refers broadly to anything that could be lost, such as the work in the file. The pattern “ne ... rien” is useful when saying that nothing will happen or be affected.

Grammar Points

avant de + infinitif

Avant de nous étirer, prenons une pause.

ah-VAHN duh noo-zay-tee-RAY, pruh-NOHN-zuhn oon POHZ

Before stretching, let’s take a break.

Use avant de before an infinitive to express an action that happens earlier.

impératif à la 1re personne du pluriel

Prenons une pause.

pruh-NOHN-zuhn oon POHZ

Let’s take a break.

The nous form in the imperative suggests or invites an action shared by the speaker and listener.

French Vocabulary

après prep

ah-PRAY after

Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport après le café ?

avant de prep

ah-VAHN duh before

Nous pouvons nous étirer avant de nous rasseoir.

pause noun

POHZ break

Une petite pause semble utile.

prendre verb

PRAHNDR to take; to get prenons

Éloignons-nous un peu et prenons un café.

rapport noun

rah-POHR report

Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport après le café ?

reprendre verb

ruh-PRANDR to resume; to return to

Est-ce qu'on devrait reprendre le rapport après le café ?

s'éloigner verb

say-lwah-NYAY to step away Éloignons-nous

Éloignons-nous un peu et prenons un café.

s'étirer verb

say-tee-RAY to stretch nous étirer

Nous pouvons nous étirer avant de nous rasseoir.

se concentrer verb

suh kohn-sahn-TRAY to concentrate me concentrer

Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer.

se rasseoir verb

suh rah-SWAHR to sit down again nous rasseoir

Nous pouvons nous étirer avant de nous rasseoir.

un peu adv

uhn PUH a little

Éloignons-nous un peu et prenons un café.

utile adj

oo-TEEL helpful; useful

Une petite pause semble utile.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am losing focus.

Show Answer

Je n'arrive plus à me concentrer.

A short break sounds helpful.

Show Answer

Une petite pause semble utile.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

helpful; useful

Show Answer

utile

to take; to get

Show Answer

prenons

break

Show Answer

pause

to resume; to return to

Show Answer

reprendre