Choosing clothes for changing weather | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: Before going out in changing weather, two adults choose layers, a warm jacket, and shoes with good grip..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing clothes for changing weather to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Le temps change tout le temps cette semaine.

luh TAHN shahnzh too luh TAHN set suh-MEN The weather keeps changing this week.
B

Mets plusieurs couches pour pouvoir t'adapter pendant la journée.

MEH ploo-ZYUR koosh poor poo-VWAR tah-dap-TAY pahn-DAHN lah zhoor-NAY Wear layers so you can adjust during the day.
A

Est-ce que je dois aussi prendre une veste chaude ?

ess-kuh zhuh dwah oh-SEE PRAHN-druh oon VEST SHOHd Should I bring a warm jacket too?
B

Prends-en une pour le matin.

PRAHN-zahn oon poor luh mah-TAHN Bring one for the morning.
B

Alors, garde-la avec toi plus tard s'il fait plus chaud.

ah-LOR gahrd-lah ah-VEK twah ploo TAR seel fay ploo SHOH Then carry it later if it gets warmer.
A

J'ai aussi besoin de chaussures dans lesquelles je peux marcher facilement.

zhay oh-SEE buh-ZWAN duh shoh-SOOR dahn lay-KELL zhuh puh mahr-SHAY fay-see-luh-MAHN I also need shoes that are easy to walk in.
B

Choisis une paire légère avec une semelle qui accroche bien si les chemins sont mouillés.

shwah-ZEE oon PAIR leh-ZHAIR ah-VEK oon suh-MELL kee ah-KROSH BYAN see lay shuh-MAN soo-MYAY Choose a light pair with a solid grip in case the paths are wet.
A

Ça devrait aller s'il fait plus chaud dans l'après-midi.

sah duh-VRAY ah-LAY seel fay ploo SHOH dahn lah-PRAY-mee-DEE That should work if the afternoon warms up.
B

Alors, tu pourras prendre la veste avec toi sans la trouver trop lourde.

ah-LOR tew poo-RAH PRAHN-druh lah VEST ah-VEK twah sahn lah troo-VAY troh LOORD Then you can carry the jacket without feeling weighed down.

Word by Word

Le In 'Le temps', 'Le' is the definite article meaning 'the' before 'temps'. It identifies the weather being discussed; the same article appears before a noun in expressions such as 'le matin'.
temps In 'Le temps change', 'temps' means 'weather', not a period of time. The expression 'le temps' is a common way to talk about the weather.
change In 'Le temps change', 'change' says that the weather changes. It is the verb form used with the subject 'Le temps'; a useful pattern is subject + 'change'.
tout In 'tout le temps', 'tout' contributes the idea of 'all' or 'every'. Together, the exact expression 'tout le temps' means 'all the time' and describes something happening repeatedly.
cette In 'cette semaine', 'cette' points to the current week and means 'this'. It comes directly before 'semaine' in this time expression.
semaine In 'cette semaine', 'semaine' means 'week'. The full expression is used to say when something happens: 'this week'.
Mets In 'Mets plusieurs couches', 'Mets' gives the listener the instruction to put on or wear something. The pattern 'Mets' + clothing item gives a direct instruction about what to wear.
plusieurs In 'plusieurs couches', 'plusieurs' means 'several', indicating more than one layer. It directly describes the plural noun 'couches'; 'plusieurs' + plural noun gives an unspecified number greater than one.
couches In 'plusieurs couches', 'couches' means layers of clothing. The phrase 'plusieurs couches' is used for wearing more than one layer.
pour In 'pour pouvoir t'adapter', 'pour' introduces the purpose: wearing layers is done so that adjustment is possible. The pattern 'pour' + infinitive expresses purpose.
pouvoir In 'pour pouvoir t'adapter', 'pouvoir' means 'to be able to'. The pattern 'pour pouvoir' + infinitive describes having the ability to do something for a purpose.
t'adapter In 'pouvoir t'adapter', 't'adapter' means to adjust or adapt yourself to changing conditions. The 't'' refers to the person addressed, and the form follows 'pouvoir'.
pendant In 'pendant la journée', 'pendant' means 'during' and sets the time period. It is followed here by 'la journée'; 'pendant' + time period is a common way to say when something continues.
la In 'la journée', 'la' means 'the' and comes before 'journée'. Together, 'la journée' refers to the day or daytime.
journée In 'pendant la journée', 'journée' refers to the course of the day or daytime. The full expression is used for something happening during the day.
Est In 'Est-ce que je dois', 'Est' is part of the fixed question structure 'Est-ce que'. Together, the expression turns the following statement into a yes-or-no question; 'Est' is not being used here as a separate 'is'.
ce In 'Est-ce que je dois', 'ce' is part of the question structure 'Est-ce que'. Together with 'Est' and 'que', it introduces the question rather than meaning 'this' separately here.
que In 'Est-ce que je dois', 'que' completes the question structure 'Est-ce que'. The whole expression introduces a yes-or-no question before 'je dois'.
je In 'je dois aussi prendre', 'je' means 'I' and marks the speaker as the person asking what is necessary. It comes before the verb form 'dois'.
dois In 'je dois aussi prendre', 'dois' expresses that bringing the jacket is necessary or expected, giving 'must' or 'should'. The pattern 'je dois' + infinitive says what the speaker needs or ought to do.
aussi In 'dois aussi prendre', 'aussi' means 'also' or 'too', adding the jacket to other things being considered. It appears near the verb phrase it adds to.
prendre In 'prendre une veste', 'prendre' means to take or bring an item along. It follows 'dois' in the pattern 'devoir' + infinitive, and the following object names what is brought.
une In 'prendre une veste', 'une' is the article meaning 'a' before 'veste'. In 'Prends-en une', the same form means 'one' and identifies one jacket.
veste In 'une veste chaude', 'veste' means 'jacket'. It is modified by 'chaude'; in 'Prends-en une' and 'garde-la', the later pronouns refer back to this jacket.
chaude In 'veste chaude', 'chaude' describes the jacket as warm. It follows 'veste' in this phrase and gives the clothing item its temperature description.
Prends In 'Prends-en une', 'Prends' tells the listener to take or bring one jacket. The pronoun 'en' follows this command form in the exact expression.
en In 'Prends-en une', 'en' refers back to the jacket as something to take, while 'une' specifies one jacket. Together, the exact phrase means 'Take one'; 'en' can replace a previously mentioned item in this kind of command.
matin In 'pour le matin', 'matin' means 'morning'. The phrase says that the jacket is for the morning; 'le matin' is a common time expression.
Alors In 'Alors, garde-la', 'Alors' means 'then' and links this advice to the morning plan. It can introduce a consequence or next step in a conversation.
garde In 'garde-la avec toi', 'garde' tells the listener to keep or carry the jacket with them. The pattern 'garde' + object + 'avec toi' gives the instruction to keep something with you.
avec In 'avec toi', 'avec' means 'with' and introduces the person accompanying the item. 'Avec' + person is a common pattern for saying 'with someone'.
toi In 'avec toi', 'toi' means 'you' as the person with whom the jacket stays. After 'avec', 'toi' is the form used for the person referred to; 'avec toi' means 'with you'.
plus In 'plus chaud', 'plus' adds 'more' to 'chaud', making it 'warmer'. It appears before the adjective in this comparison.
tard In 'plus tard', 'tard' means 'later'. The phrase tells when to keep the jacket, after the morning; 'plus tard' refers to a later time.
s'il In 's'il fait plus chaud', 's'il' means 'if it' and combines 'si' with 'il'. It introduces the condition about warmer weather and comes before the following verb.
fait In 's'il fait plus chaud', 'fait' is part of the weather expression 'faire plus chaud', which means that it gets warmer. This expression is used to talk about temperature.
chaud In 'fait plus chaud', 'chaud' describes the temperature as warm, and 'plus' makes it 'warmer'. The exact phrase 's'il fait plus chaud' sets the condition for the advice.
J'ai In 'J'ai aussi besoin de', 'J'ai' means 'I have' and begins the expression for needing something. The exact pattern 'J'ai besoin de' means 'I need' and is followed by the needed item.
besoin In 'J'ai besoin de chaussures', 'besoin' expresses need. Together with 'J'ai' and 'de', the exact expression 'J'ai besoin de' means 'I need'; the needed item comes after 'de'.
de In 'besoin de chaussures', 'de' links 'besoin' to the thing needed. The reusable pattern 'besoin de' + noun identifies what someone needs.
chaussures In 'besoin de chaussures', 'chaussures' means 'shoes'. It is the item needed and is later described by 'dans lesquelles je peux marcher facilement'.
dans In 'dans lesquelles je peux marcher', 'dans' means 'in' and introduces the shoes as the context in which walking is easy. It is followed here by 'lesquelles' in the phrase 'dans lesquelles'.
lesquelles In 'dans lesquelles je peux marcher', 'lesquelles' means 'which' and refers back to the shoes. Together with 'dans', the phrase 'dans lesquelles' means 'in which' and introduces a description of the shoes.
peux In 'je peux marcher', 'peux' means 'can' or 'am able to'. It is followed by the infinitive 'marcher'; 'je peux' + infinitive states what the speaker can do.
marcher In 'peux marcher', 'marcher' means 'to walk'. It follows 'peux' without a separate preposition, in the pattern expressing what someone can do.
facilement In 'marcher facilement', 'facilement' means 'easily' and describes how the person can walk. It comes after 'marcher'; verb + 'facilement' describes the ease of an action.
Choisis In 'Choisis une paire légère', 'Choisis' tells the listener to choose a pair. It is a direct instruction followed by the thing selected.
paire In 'une paire', 'paire' means 'pair'. Here it refers to one pair of shoes; 'une paire' is used to name two matching items taken together.
légère In 'une paire légère', 'légère' describes the pair as light in weight. It follows 'paire' and identifies the desired type of pair.
semelle In 'une semelle qui accroche bien', 'semelle' means 'sole', the bottom part of a shoe. It is the subject of 'qui accroche bien', so the phrase describes a sole with good grip.
qui In 'une semelle qui accroche bien', 'qui' introduces the description of 'semelle'. It links the noun to the verb 'accroche'; the pattern noun + 'qui' + verb adds information about that noun.
accroche In 'qui accroche bien', 'accroche' says that the sole grips well. It describes practical traction in the dialogue and forms the clause attached to 'semelle'.
bien In 'accroche bien', 'bien' means 'well' and indicates that the sole grips effectively. It follows 'accroche'; verb + 'bien' describes how an action is done.
si In 'si les chemins sont mouillés', 'si' means 'if' and introduces the condition about wet paths. The pattern 'si' + clause presents a possible situation.
les In 'les chemins', 'les' means 'the' before the plural noun 'chemins'. It refers to the paths relevant to the walk; 'les' + plural noun is a common article pattern.
chemins In 'les chemins sont mouillés', 'chemins' means 'paths'. It is the thing that may be wet, and the full clause describes conditions on the route.
sont In 'les chemins sont mouillés', 'sont' says that the paths are wet. It links the subject 'les chemins' to the description 'mouillés'.
mouillés In 'chemins sont mouillés', 'mouillés' describes the paths as wet. It follows 'sont' in the pattern subject + 'sont' + description.
Ça In 'Ça devrait aller', 'Ça' refers to the proposed clothing and shoe choice. Together with 'devrait aller', it means that the plan should work; 'Ça' can point to a situation or plan already under discussion.
devrait In 'Ça devrait aller', 'devrait' presents the result as likely or expected but not certain, giving 'should'. It combines with 'aller' in the expression 'ça devrait aller', used to reassure someone that a plan will probably be fine.
aller In 'Ça devrait aller', 'aller' does not describe physical movement. Together with 'devrait', the exact expression means 'that should work' or 'that should be fine'.
l'après-midi In 'dans l'après-midi', 'l'après-midi' means 'afternoon'. The exact time expression 'dans l'après-midi' is used to say that something happens in the afternoon.
tu In 'tu pourras prendre', 'tu' means 'you' and identifies the person who will be able to carry the jacket. It comes before 'pourras' in this sentence.
pourras In 'tu pourras prendre la veste', 'pourras' says that you will be able to take or carry the jacket. It is followed by the infinitive 'prendre'; 'tu pourras' + infinitive describes a future possibility or ability.
sans In 'sans la trouver trop lourde', 'sans' means 'without' and introduces what is avoided. It is followed by the infinitive 'trouver'; 'sans' + infinitive expresses doing something without a further result.
trouver In 'sans la trouver trop lourde', 'trouver' means 'find' or 'consider'. With 'la' and 'trop lourde', the full phrase means finding the jacket too heavy; 'sans' + 'trouver' makes this the result being avoided.
trop In 'la trouver trop lourde', 'trop' means 'too' and marks an excessive degree of heaviness. It comes before 'lourde'; 'trop' + adjective is a reusable pattern for 'too + adjective'.
lourde In 'la trouver trop lourde', 'lourde' describes the jacket as heavy. Together with 'trop', it means 'too heavy' in this evaluation.

Grammar Points

Accord de l’adjectif au féminin : chaud → chaude

une veste chaude

oon VEST SHOHd

a warm jacket

French adjectives agree with nouns in gender: chaud becomes chaude after the feminine noun veste.

Impératif + pronom objet : garde-la

Mets une veste et garde-la.

MEH oon VEST ay gahrd-LAH

Put on a jacket and keep it.

In a positive command, the object pronoun follows the verb and is joined with a hyphen: garde-la.

French Vocabulary

changer verb
shahn-ZHAY to change change

Le temps change tout le temps cette semaine.

chaud adj
SHOH warm; hot chaude

Est-ce que je dois aussi prendre une veste chaude ?

couche noun
KOOSH layer couches

Mets plusieurs couches pour pouvoir t'adapter pendant la journée.

devoir verb
duh-VWAR to have to; must dois

Est-ce que je dois aussi prendre une veste chaude ?

journée noun
zhoor-NAY day; daytime la journée

Mets plusieurs couches pour pouvoir t'adapter pendant la journée.

mettre verb
MEHTR to put on; to wear Mets

Mets plusieurs couches pour pouvoir t'adapter pendant la journée.

prendre verb
PRAHN-druh to bring; to take; to carry

Est-ce que je dois aussi prendre une veste chaude ?

s'adapter verb
sah-dap-TAY to adjust; to adapt t'adapter

Mets plusieurs couches pour pouvoir t'adapter pendant la journée.

semaine noun
suh-MEN week

Le temps change tout le temps cette semaine.

temps noun
TAHN weather Le temps

Le temps change tout le temps cette semaine.

tout le temps phrase
too luh TAHN all the time

Le temps change tout le temps cette semaine.

veste noun
VEST jacket

Est-ce que je dois aussi prendre une veste chaude ?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Bring one for the morning.

Show AnswerPrends-en une pour le matin.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to change

Show Answerchange

layer

Show Answercouches

to have to; must

Show Answerdois

week

Show Answersemaine