Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting | Learn French in English

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Use Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Je dois passer un court appel.

zhuh dwah pah-SAY uhn koor ah-PELL. I need to make a short phone call.

Tu peux utiliser le couloir si tu as besoin d'intimité.

tee puh ew-tee-lee-ZAY luh koo-LWAHR see tee ah buh-ZWAN dee(n)-tee-mee-TAY. You can use the hallway if you need privacy.

Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde.

zhuh nuh vuh pah day-RAHN-ZHAY too luh MOND. I don't want to disturb everyone.

Le couloir devrait être calme en ce moment.

luh koo-LWAHR duh-VRAY ay-truh kalm ahn suh moh-MAHN. It should be quiet out there right now.

Je reviendrai avant le début de la réunion.

zhuh ruh-vyan-DRAY ah-VAHN luh day-BEW duh lah ray-ew-nee-OHN. I'll return before the meeting starts.

Ça marche. Nous avons encore assez de temps.

sah MARSH. noo zah-VOHN ahn-KOR ah-SAY duh tah(n). That works. We still have enough time.

Garde-moi une place pendant que je téléphone, s'il te plaît.

gard-MWAH ewn PLASS pahn-DAHN kuh zhuh tay-lay-FON, seel tuh PLAY. Please save my seat while I call.

Je garderai tes notes ici.

zhuh gard-ruh-RAY tay noht ee-SEE. I'll keep your notes here.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “Je dois passer un court appel.” It identifies the person who needs to make the call. Use “Je” before a verb when talking about yourself.

dois In “Je dois passer un court appel”, “dois” expresses that I need to or must do something. It is a form of “devoir” followed here by the infinitive “passer”. Reuse “Je dois” + an infinitive for a personal obligation or need.

passer In “passer un court appel”, “passer” is used in the expression for making a phone call. The complete expression, rather than “passer” alone, gives this meaning. Reuse “passer un appel” when referring to making a call.

un “Un” means “a” in “un court appel” and introduces one phone call. It comes before the noun and its adjective here. Reuse “un” before a singular masculine noun such as “un appel”.

court “Court” means “short” in “un court appel”, describing the call as brief. It is placed before “appel” in this expression. Reuse “un court appel” for a brief phone call.

appel “Appel” means “call” in “un court appel”, specifically the phone call that the speaker needs to make. Together with “passer”, it forms the expression “passer un appel”. Reuse “un appel” when naming a phone call.

Tu “Tu” means “you” and is the subject in “Tu peux utiliser le couloir”. It addresses one person informally, here the other adult in the conversation. Use “Tu” before a verb when speaking directly to one familiar person.

peux In “Tu peux utiliser le couloir”, “peux” expresses ability or permission: “you can use”. It is a form of “pouvoir” followed by the infinitive “utiliser”. Reuse “Tu peux” + an infinitive to offer or ask about what someone can do.

utiliser “Utiliser” means “to use” in “utiliser le couloir”. It is an infinitive after “peux” and takes “le couloir” as what is used. Reuse “utiliser” followed by the thing someone uses.

le “Le” means “the” in “le couloir” and introduces the specific hallway being discussed. It comes before the noun “couloir”. Reuse “le” before a singular masculine noun when referring to a specific thing.

couloir “Couloir” means “hallway” in “le couloir”. It is the place where the speaker can make the private call. Reuse “le couloir” when referring to a particular hallway.

si “Si” means “if” in “si tu as besoin d'intimité” and introduces a condition. The condition is needing privacy before using the hallway. Reuse “si” before a clause that describes a possible condition.

as In “tu as besoin d'intimité”, “as” is the form of “avoir” used in the expression for needing something. The complete pattern is “avoir besoin de” + a noun. Reuse “tu as besoin de” when saying that someone needs something.

besoin “Besoin” means “need” in the expression “avoir besoin d'intimité”. It appears with “avoir” and “de”, rather than expressing the whole idea by itself. Reuse “avoir besoin de” + a noun for a need.

d'intimité “D'intimité” means “of privacy” in “tu as besoin d'intimité”. It follows “besoin” and names what privacy the person needs. Reuse “besoin d'intimité” when explaining that privacy is needed.

ne “Ne” begins the negation in “Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde”. It works together with “pas” to show that the speaker does not want something. Reuse “ne” before the verb as part of the pattern “ne ... pas”.

veux In “Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde”, “veux” expresses wanting. It is a form of “vouloir” followed by the infinitive “déranger”, and the surrounding “ne ... pas” makes it negative. Reuse “je veux” + an infinitive to say what you want to do.

pas “Pas” completes the negation in “Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde”, giving the meaning “do not”. It is used with “ne” around the verb. Reuse the pattern “ne” + verb + “pas” to negate a statement.

déranger “Déranger” means “to disturb” in “ne veux pas déranger tout le monde”. It is an infinitive after “veux” and names the action the speaker does not want to do. Reuse “ne pas déranger” when saying that you do not want to disturb someone.

tout In “tout le monde”, “tout” contributes the idea of “all” or “every”. Together with “monde”, the expression means “everyone” in this dialogue. Reuse “tout le monde” when referring to all the people in a group.

monde In “tout le monde”, “monde” refers to people rather than to the physical world. The complete expression means “everyone”. Reuse “tout le monde” as a fixed expression for all the people present or concerned.

devrait In “Le couloir devrait être calme”, “devrait” expresses an expectation or a likely situation: the hallway should be quiet. It is a form of “devoir” followed by “être”. Reuse “devrait” + an infinitive when describing what is expected to happen or be true.

être “Être” means “to be” in “devrait être calme”. It links “le couloir” with the description “calme”. Reuse “être” before an adjective to describe a person or thing.

calme “Calme” means “quiet” in “être calme”, describing the hallway at that time. It is the quality expected of “le couloir”. Reuse “être calme” to describe a quiet situation or place.

en In “en ce moment”, “en” is part of the expression meaning “at the moment” or “right now”. Its meaning here comes from the complete expression, not from “en” alone. Reuse “en ce moment” to refer to the present time.

ce In “en ce moment”, “ce” means “this” and points to the current moment. It comes directly before “moment”. Reuse “ce” before a singular masculine noun when referring to a specific thing or time.

moment “Moment” means “moment” or “time” in “en ce moment”. Together, “en ce moment” means “right now”. Reuse “en ce moment” when describing what is happening at the present time.

reviendrai In “Je reviendrai avant le début de la réunion”, “reviendrai” means “will return”. It is a form of “revenir” used for the speaker’s planned return. Reuse “Je reviendrai” with a time expression when saying that you will come back.

avant “Avant” means “before” in “avant le début de la réunion”. It places the return earlier than the beginning of the meeting. Reuse “avant” followed by a noun phrase to say that something happens earlier.

début “Début” means “beginning” or “start” in “le début de la réunion”. It identifies the point when the meeting begins. Reuse “le début de” + a noun when referring to the start of something.

de In “le début de la réunion”, “de” links the beginning with the meeting and means “of”. It shows what the beginning belongs to. Reuse “le début de” before the thing that is beginning.

la “La” means “the” in “la réunion” and introduces the specific meeting being discussed. It comes before the noun “réunion”. Reuse “la” before a singular feminine noun when referring to a specific thing.

réunion “Réunion” means “meeting” in “le début de la réunion”. It is the event that the speaker will return before. Reuse “la réunion” when referring to a particular meeting.

Ça In “Ça marche”, “Ça” refers to the proposed arrangement and helps express “that” or “it”. The complete expression means that the plan is acceptable or works. Reuse “Ça marche” to agree that a suggestion or arrangement is fine.

marche In “Ça marche”, “marche” comes from “marcher”, but the complete expression means “that works” or “okay”. It responds positively to the plan to make a quick call. Reuse “Ça marche” when accepting a suggestion or arrangement.

Nous “Nous” means “we” and is the subject in “Nous avons encore assez de temps”. It refers to the speaker and the person being addressed together. Use “Nous” before a verb when talking about yourself and another person or group.

avons In “Nous avons encore assez de temps”, “avons” means “have”. It is a form of “avoir” used with the subject “Nous”. Reuse “Nous avons” + a noun phrase to say what you and others have.

encore “Encore” means “still” in “Nous avons encore assez de temps”. It shows that enough time remains. Reuse “encore” when something continues to be available or true.

assez “Assez” means “enough” in “assez de temps”. It indicates a sufficient amount. Reuse “assez de” before a noun when describing a sufficient quantity.

temps “Temps” means “time” in “assez de temps”. Together with “assez de”, it says that there is sufficient time for the call. Reuse “avoir assez de temps” when saying that there is enough time to do something.

Garde “Garde” is a request meaning “save” or “keep” in “Garde-moi une place”. It asks the other person to reserve a seat while the speaker is away. Reuse “Garde-moi” + a noun when asking someone to keep something for you.

moi In “Garde-moi une place”, “moi” means “me” and identifies the person for whom the seat should be saved. It appears after the imperative verb with a hyphen. Reuse “Garde-moi” when asking someone to keep something for you.

place “Place” means “seat” in “Garde-moi une place”. It is the place the speaker wants reserved before returning. Reuse “une place” when referring to a seat or a place reserved for someone.

pendant “Pendant” means “during” or “while” in “pendant que je téléphone”. Together with “que”, it introduces an action happening at the same time. Reuse “pendant que” + a clause to connect simultaneous actions.

que In “pendant que je téléphone”, “que” works with “pendant” to mean “while”. It introduces the clause describing the action that happens during the waiting period. Reuse the complete pattern “pendant que” + a clause.

téléphone In “je téléphone”, “téléphone” means “call” or “am on the phone”. It describes the action taking place while the other person keeps the seat. Reuse “je téléphone” when saying that you are making a phone call.

s'il te plaît “S'il te plaît” means “please” and makes “Garde-moi une place” a polite informal request. Within the expression, “s'il” contributes “if it”, “te” refers to the person addressed, and “plaît” contributes “pleases”; together they form the fixed expression “please”. Use “s'il te plaît” at the end of an informal request.

garderai In “Je garderai tes notes ici”, “garderai” means “will keep”. It is a form of “garder” used for the speaker’s promised action. Reuse “Je garderai” + an object when saying that you will keep something.

tes “Tes” means “your” in “tes notes” and shows that the notes belong to the person addressed. It comes before the plural noun “notes”. Reuse “tes” before plural things belonging to one person addressed informally.

notes “Notes” means “notes” in “tes notes”. These are the written notes that the other person will keep in the same place. Reuse “tes notes” when referring to notes belonging to the person addressed informally.

ici “Ici” means “here” in “Je garderai tes notes ici”. It identifies the place where the notes will remain. Reuse “ici” when pointing to the speaker’s current location or a nearby place.

Grammar Points

Futur simple : -ai

Je reviendrai avant le début de la réunion.

zhuh ruh-vyan-DRAY ah-VAHN luh day-BEW duh lah ray-ew-nee-OHN.

I will return before the beginning of the meeting.

The ending -ai marks the first-person singular future: reviendrai means “I will return.”

pendant que + présent

Pendant que je téléphone, garde-moi une place.

pahn-DAHN kuh zhuh tay-lay-FON, gard-MWAH ewn PLASS.

While I am calling, save me a seat.

Pendant que introduces an action happening at the same time as another action.

French Vocabulary

appel noun

ah-PELL call

Je dois passer un court appel.

besoin noun

buh-ZWAN need

Tu peux utiliser le couloir si tu as besoin d'intimité.

calme adj

kalm quiet; calm

Le couloir devrait être calme en ce moment.

couloir noun

koo-LWAHR hallway

Tu peux utiliser le couloir si tu as besoin d'intimité.

court adj

koor short

Je dois passer un court appel.

déranger verb

day-RAHN-ZHAY to disturb

Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde.

en ce moment phrase

ahn suh moh-MAHN right now; at the moment

Le couloir devrait être calme en ce moment.

intimité noun

an-tee-mee-TAY privacy

Tu peux utiliser le couloir si tu as besoin d'intimité.

passer verb

pah-SAY to make; to place

Je dois passer un court appel.

tout le monde pron

too luh MOND everyone

Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde.

utiliser verb

ew-tee-lee-ZAY to use

Tu peux utiliser le couloir si tu as besoin d'intimité.

veux verb

vuh want

Je ne veux pas déranger tout le monde.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to make a short phone call.

Show Answer

Je dois passer un court appel.

I'll keep your notes here.

Show Answer

Je garderai tes notes ici.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

call

Show Answer

appel

to use

Show Answer

utiliser

privacy

Show Answer

intimité

want

Show Answer

veux