Handling a broken umbrella | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: Outside in heavy rain, one adult offers shelter and an extra umbrella after another person's umbrella breaks..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Handling a broken umbrella to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mon parapluie s'est cassé dans le vent fort.

mohn pah-rah-PLOO-ee seh kah-SAY dahn luh vahn FOR My umbrella broke in the strong wind.
B

Viens à l'abri avant que la pluie ne te trempe.

vee-AN ah lah-BREE ah-VAHN kuh lah plwee nuh tuh TRAHMP Come under the shelter before you get soaked.
A

La pluie est plus forte qu'elle n'en avait l'air.

lah plwee eh ploos FOHRT kel nahn ah-VAY LAIR The rain is heavier than it looked.
B

Tu peux emprunter mon parapluie de rechange.

too puh ahn-pruhn-TAY mohn pah-rah-PLOO-ee duh ruh-SHAHNJ You can borrow my extra umbrella.
A

Tu es sûr de ne pas en avoir besoin ?

too eh SOOR duh nuh pah zahn ah-VWAHR buh-ZWAN Are you sure you don't need it?
B

J'ai un imperméable, alors je peux me débrouiller.

zhay uhn an-pair-may-AHBL ah-LOHR zhuh puh muh day-broo-YAY I have a raincoat, so I can manage.
A

Je peux te le rendre demain.

zhuh puh tuh luh RAHN-druh duh-MAN I can bring it back tomorrow.
B

Reste simplement au sec en rentrant chez toi.

rehst sahm-pluh-MAHN oh SEHK ahn rahn-TRAHN shay TWAH Just stay dry on your way home.

Word by Word

Mon In "Mon parapluie", "Mon" means "my" and shows that the umbrella belongs to the speaker. It comes directly before the owned noun. Use the same pattern when identifying something as belonging to you in a conversation.
parapluie In "Mon parapluie", "parapluie" means "umbrella". Here it is the object that breaks and is later offered as a spare. The reusable expression "parapluie de rechange" refers to a spare umbrella.
s'est In "s'est cassé", "s'est" helps express that the umbrella broke or became broken. It works together with "cassé" to describe the completed change to the umbrella. Use this exact type of construction when saying that an object has broken by itself or has become damaged.
cassé In "s'est cassé", "cassé" describes the broken result of the umbrella. Together with "s'est", it means that the umbrella broke. This form is useful for describing an item that is no longer working after an accident or difficult conditions.
dans In "dans le vent fort", "dans" means "in" and places the event in the surrounding conditions. It introduces the noun phrase describing where or under what conditions something happens. A common reuse pattern is "dans" followed by a noun.
le In "le vent", "le" means "the" and comes before the noun "vent". It identifies a specific kind of weather condition in the sentence. Use it before a noun when referring to something definite.
vent In "le vent fort", "vent" means "wind". Here it describes the weather that caused the umbrella to break. The expression "vent fort" is useful when talking about strong wind.
fort In "le vent fort", "fort" means "strong" and describes the wind. It comes after "vent" in this exact expression. Use it to describe wind that is powerful enough to affect objects or people.
Viens In "Viens à l'abri", "Viens" means "come" and functions as a direct invitation or command to one person. It calls the other person toward a place of safety. Use it when asking someone to come with you or toward a particular place.
à In "à l'abri", "à" contributes to the meaning "under cover" or "in a sheltered place". It forms the expression "à l'abri", rather than simply meaning movement to a destination here. Use "à l'abri" when telling someone to get protection from rain or another danger.
l'abri In "à l'abri", "l'abri" means "shelter" or a protected place. The complete expression "à l'abri" means sheltered or under cover. Use it when inviting someone to leave bad weather and come somewhere protected.
avant In "avant que la pluie ne te trempe", "avant" means "before" in time. It introduces the event that should be avoided or happen later. A reliable reuse pattern is "avant que" followed by a clause.
que In "avant que la pluie ne te trempe", "que" links "avant" to the event that may happen afterward. The whole phrase means "before the rain soaks you", rather than giving "que" an independent translation here. Use it as part of the time expression "avant que".
la In "la pluie", "la" means "the" and comes before the noun "pluie". It identifies the rain being discussed in the situation. Use it before a definite noun when referring to a specific thing or condition.
pluie In "la pluie ne te trempe", "pluie" means "rain". Here the rain is the thing that could soak the other person. It is useful in everyday conversations about weather and staying dry.
ne In "avant que la pluie ne te trempe", "ne" appears in the clause after "avant que". Here it does not make the event negative: the sentence still means "before the rain soaks you". This pattern can occur in warnings about an event that may happen.
te In "te trempe", "te" means "you" as the person affected by the rain. It comes before the verb in this construction. Use the same object-pronoun position when saying that an action affects the person being addressed.
trempe In "la pluie ne te trempe", "trempe" means "soaks" or "makes you wet". The rain is the thing doing the soaking, and "te" identifies the person affected. Use this expression when warning someone that rain or water may make them wet.
est In "La pluie est plus forte", "est" means "is" and links the rain with its description. It introduces the comparison that follows. Use this pattern to describe a current condition with an adjective.
plus In "plus forte qu'elle n'en avait l'air", "plus" marks a higher degree and contributes to the meaning "more" or "heavier". It works with "forte" and the comparison introduced by "que". A reusable comparison pattern is "plus" followed by a description and then "que".
forte In "La pluie est plus forte", "forte" describes the rain as stronger or heavier than it first appeared. It is part of the comparison "plus forte qu'elle n'en avait l'air". Use it when comparing the intensity of rain or another condition.
qu'elle In "plus forte qu'elle n'en avait l'air", "qu'elle" means "than it", with "elle" referring to the rain. It introduces the standard of comparison: how the rain appeared earlier. Use it as part of a comparison between an actual condition and its appearance.
n'en In "qu'elle n'en avait l'air", "n'en" belongs to the comparison expression meaning "than it looked". Its parts should be understood within that expression rather than translated separately. This pattern is useful when saying that something is different from its first appearance.
avait In "n'en avait l'air", "avait" is the past form used with "l'air" to describe how something appeared. Together, "avait l'air" contributes the meaning "looked" or "seemed". Use this expression when comparing reality with an earlier impression.
l'air In "avait l'air", "l'air" means "appearance" or "look", not physical air. The expression describes how the rain seemed before its intensity became clear. Use it when saying how a person, object, or situation appears.
Tu In "Tu peux" and "Tu es sûr", "Tu" means "you" and identifies the person being addressed. It is the subject of the question or offer. Use it at the beginning of a sentence when speaking directly to the other person in this conversation.
peux In "Tu peux emprunter", "peux" means "can" and presents borrowing as possible or permitted. It is followed by the action "emprunter". Use this pattern when offering someone permission or the possibility of doing something.
emprunter In "Tu peux emprunter mon parapluie de rechange", "emprunter" means "borrow". It is the action made possible by "peux" and takes the umbrella as its object. Use it when someone may use an item temporarily and return it later.
de The form "de" appears in two useful places here. In "parapluie de rechange", it links the umbrella with its spare or replacement purpose; in "de ne pas", it introduces the infinitive phrase after "sûr". Notice its meaning from the construction it belongs to rather than translating it the same way every time.
rechange In "parapluie de rechange", "rechange" means "spare" or "replacement". It explains that this is an extra umbrella kept for use when another one is unavailable or broken. Use "de rechange" after an item when identifying it as a spare.
es In "Tu es sûr", "es" means "are" and links the person addressed with the description "sûr". It forms a question about the other person's certainty. Use it with a description when asking whether someone is sure about something.
sûr In "Tu es sûr de ne pas en avoir besoin ?", "sûr" means "sure" or "certain". The speaker is checking whether the other person really does not need the umbrella. Use this expression when politely verifying someone's certainty.
pas In "de ne pas en avoir besoin", "pas" is part of the negative pattern with "ne". Together, "ne pas en avoir besoin" means "not need it". Use this pattern before an infinitive when expressing a negative action or state.
en The form "en" appears in two contexts. In "en avoir besoin", it stands for the umbrella after the expression meaning "need it"; in "n'en avait l'air", it belongs to the comparison expression meaning "looked". In both cases, its meaning comes from the larger construction.
avoir In "en avoir besoin", "avoir" is the infinitive used in the expression that means "to need". The meaning comes from the whole expression with "besoin", not from "avoir" alone. Use this construction when asking or saying whether someone needs an item.
besoin In "en avoir besoin", "besoin" means "need" as part of the expression for needing something. The umbrella is represented by "en" in this sentence. A reusable pattern is the expression for having need of a specific item or person.
J'ai In "J'ai un imperméable", "J'ai" means "I have" and states that the speaker possesses a raincoat. It is followed by the item possessed. Use "J'ai" to say that you have something available or with you.
un In "un imperméable", "un" means "a" and introduces one raincoat that has not been previously specified. It comes directly before the noun. Use it when mentioning a single, non-specific item.
imperméable In "un imperméable", "imperméable" means "raincoat". The speaker has one and can therefore manage without borrowing the umbrella. Use it when talking about clothing that protects you from rain.
alors In "alors je peux me débrouiller", "alors" means "so" and links the raincoat with the conclusion that the speaker can manage. It introduces the result of the preceding information. Use it to connect a reason with a consequence in conversation.
je In "je peux me débrouiller" and "Je peux te le rendre", "je" means "I" and identifies the speaker as the subject. It is followed by the action the speaker can do. Use "je" with a verb when describing your own ability, plan, or action.
me In "me débrouiller", "me" refers back to the speaker and forms the expression meaning "manage" or "cope". It is placed before the infinitive. Use this construction when saying that you can handle a situation on your own.
débrouiller In "me débrouiller", "débrouiller" contributes to the meaning "manage" or "cope". The complete expression, rather than the verb by itself, describes handling a difficulty independently. Use it here to explain that the raincoat is enough for the speaker.
rendre In "te le rendre", "rendre" means "return" or "give back". "Te" identifies the person receiving the item, and "le" identifies the item being returned, the borrowed umbrella. Use this construction when promising to return something to someone.
demain In "te le rendre demain", "demain" means "tomorrow" and gives the planned time for returning the umbrella. It appears after the action in this sentence. Use it to make a promise or plan for the following day.
Reste In "Reste au sec", "Reste" means "stay" or "remain" and gives friendly advice. It asks the other person to keep in a dry, protected condition. Use it when telling someone to remain safe or in a particular state.
simplement In "Reste simplement au sec", "simplement" means "simply" or "just". It presents staying dry as the straightforward priority of the advice. Use it to make a suggestion sound direct and uncomplicated.
au sec In "Reste au sec", "au sec" as a whole means "dry and protected from the rain". "Au" contributes the relation to that state, while "sec" supplies the meaning "dry"; together they do not mean merely "dry" as an isolated adjective. Use "Reste au sec" when advising someone outside in wet weather.
rentrant In "en rentrant chez toi", "rentrant" means "returning" or "going home". With "en", it describes what the person is doing while staying dry. Use this pattern when giving advice connected with an action happening on the way somewhere.
chez In "chez toi", "chez" means "at or to someone's home". It is followed here by the pronoun identifying whose home is meant. Use "chez" when talking about being at or going to a person's home.
toi In "chez toi", "toi" means "you" and identifies the person's home. The complete expression means "at your home" or "on your way home", depending on the surrounding verb. Use it after "chez" when referring directly to the other person's home.

Grammar Points

avoir besoin de + nom

avoir besoin d'un imperméable

ah-VWAHR buh-ZWAN duhn an-pair-may-AHBL

to need a raincoat

French uses « avoir besoin de » to express need; « de » contracts to « d' » before a vowel.

French Vocabulary

à l'abri phrase
ah lah-BREE sheltered; under cover

Viens à l'abri avant que la pluie ne te trempe.

avant que conj
ah-VAHN kuh before

avant que la pluie ne te trempe

casser verb
kah-SAY to break s'est cassé

Mon parapluie s'est cassé dans le vent fort.

de rechange phrase
duh ruh-SHAHNJ spare; extra

mon parapluie de rechange

emprunter verb
ahn-pruhn-TAY to borrow

Tu peux emprunter mon parapluie de rechange.

fort adj
FOHR strong; heavy

le vent fort

parapluie noun
pah-rah-PLOO-ee umbrella

Mon parapluie s'est cassé.

pluie noun
plwee rain

La pluie est plus forte.

sûr adj
SOOR sure

Tu es sûr de ne pas en avoir besoin ?

tremper verb
TRAHM-pay to soak; to get wet trempe

avant que la pluie ne te trempe

venir verb
vuh-NEER to come viens

Viens à l'abri.

vent noun
vahn wind

dans le vent fort

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I can bring it back tomorrow.

Show AnswerJe peux te le rendre demain.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

strong; heavy

Show Answerfort

wind

Show Answervent

to come

Show Answerviens

umbrella

Show Answerparapluie