Checking a restaurant order | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: At a restaurant, two adults check their order details before asking the server to confirm everything..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Checking a restaurant order to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Je veux vérifier la commande avant que le repas arrive.

zhuh vuh vay-ree-FYAY lah kuh-MAHND ah-VAHN kuh luh ruh-PAH ah-REEV I want to check the order before the food comes.
B

C'est plus facile de corriger les erreurs avant qu'ils commencent à cuisiner.

say PLOO fah-SEEL duh koh-ree-ZHAY lay ZEH-ruhr ah-VAHN keel koh-MAHNS ah kwee-zee-NAY It's easier to fix mistakes before they start cooking.
A

J'ai demandé une soupe sans oignons.

zhay duh-mahn-DAY oon SOOP sahn-zoh-NYON I asked for soup without onions.
B

Et j'ai demandé une salade sans sauce.

ay zhay duh-mahn-DAY oon sah-LAHD sahn SOHS And I asked for salad with no dressing.
A

Le dessert devrait être servi après le repas.

luh day-SAIR duh-VRAY EH-tr sair-VEE ah-PRAY luh ruh-PAH The dessert should come after the meal.
B

Je vais demander au serveur de tout confirmer.

zhuh vay duh-mahn-DAY oh sair-VUR duh TOO kohn-feer-MAY I'll ask the server to confirm everything.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “Je veux vérifier la commande.” It is used before the verb to say who wants to do something. A reusable pattern is “Je veux + infinitive” when stating what you want to do.
veux “veux” expresses “want” in “Je veux vérifier la commande.” Here it says that the speaker wants to check the order. Use “veux” before an infinitive to say what you want to do, as in the new example “Je veux demander de l’aide.”
vérifier “vérifier” means “to check” in “Je veux vérifier la commande.” It names the action the speaker wants to do and follows “veux.” A common pattern is “vouloir + vérifier + an object” when checking information or an order.
la “la” is the feminine singular form of “the” before “commande” in “la commande.” It identifies one specific order in this restaurant context. Use “la” directly before a feminine singular noun when referring to a particular thing.
commande “commande” means “order” in “la commande.” Here it refers to the food order the customers want to check. A useful pattern is “vérifier la commande” when checking whether a restaurant order is correct.
avant “avant” means “before” in “avant que le repas arrive.” It places the checking earlier than the meal’s arrival. Use “avant” with a noun or “avant que” before a clause to describe when something happens.
que In “avant que le repas arrive,” “que” introduces the clause describing the event that must happen later. Together, “avant que” means “before” followed by a clause; “que” itself links “avant” to “le repas arrive.” A reusable pattern is “avant que + clause” for timing.
le “le” is the masculine singular form of “the” before “repas” in “le repas.” It refers to the specific meal that is expected to arrive. Use “le” before a masculine singular noun when referring to a particular thing.
repas “repas” means “meal” in “le repas arrive.” Here it is the meal that has not yet arrived when the order is checked. A useful pattern is “le repas arrive” when talking about a meal coming to the table.
arrive “arrive” describes the meal coming or arriving in “le repas arrive.” It is the event placed after the checking by “avant que.” A common pattern is “[something] arrive” when saying that a person, item, or meal comes.
C'est “C'est” means “it is” in “C'est plus facile de corriger les erreurs.” Here it introduces an assessment that correcting mistakes is easier at this point. A reusable pattern is “C'est + adjective + de + infinitive” for evaluating an action.
plus “plus” means “more” in “plus facile,” making the meaning “easier.” It shows a comparison in the statement about correcting mistakes. Use “plus + adjective” when describing something as more of a quality.
facile “facile” means “easy” in “C'est plus facile de corriger les erreurs.” With “plus,” it describes correcting mistakes as easier. A useful pattern is “facile de + infinitive” when saying that an action is easy to do.
de In “C'est plus facile de corriger les erreurs,” “de” comes before the infinitive “corriger” after “facile.” It links the evaluation “easier” to the action being evaluated. Use “facile de + infinitive” to describe an action that is easy.
corriger “corriger” means “to fix” or “to correct” in “de corriger les erreurs.” It names the action of dealing with mistakes in the order. A common pattern is “corriger + les erreurs” when correcting mistakes.
les “les” is the plural form of “the” before “erreurs” in “les erreurs.” It refers to the mistakes under discussion rather than to one mistake. Use “les” before a plural noun when referring to specific items.
erreurs “erreurs” means “mistakes” in “les erreurs.” Here it refers to possible mistakes in the restaurant order. A useful pattern is “corriger les erreurs” when fixing mistakes in an order, document, or plan.
qu'ils “qu'ils” means “that they” in “avant qu'ils commencent à cuisiner.” It introduces the clause whose subject is “ils,” referring here to the people preparing the food. Use “avant qu'ils + verb” when describing something that should happen before they do an action.
commencent “commencent” means “start” in “qu'ils commencent à cuisiner.” It describes the beginning of the cooking action. This is the dialogue form of “commencer” used with “ils”; a reusable pattern is “commencer à + infinitive.”
à In “commencent à cuisiner,” “à” links “commencent” to the infinitive “cuisiner.” Together, “commencer à + infinitive” means to start doing something. Use this pattern to name the action that begins.
cuisiner “cuisiner” means “to cook” in “commencent à cuisiner.” It is the action that the restaurant staff are about to start. A common pattern is “commencer à cuisiner” when talking about beginning to cook.
J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” in “J'ai demandé une soupe sans oignons.” With “demandé,” it forms the past expression “I asked for.” Use “J'ai + past form” to describe something the speaker has already done, such as asking for an item.
demandé “demandé” means “asked for” in “J'ai demandé une soupe sans oignons.” It describes the earlier request for a soup without onions. This is the dialogue form of “demander”; a useful pattern is “demander + an item” when requesting something.
une “une” means “a” before “soupe” in “une soupe.” It introduces one soup requested by the speaker. Use “une” before a feminine singular noun when referring to one non-specific item.
soupe “soupe” means “soup” in “une soupe sans oignons.” Here it is the dish the speaker requested. A useful restaurant pattern is “demander une soupe” when ordering a soup.
sans “sans” means “without” in “sans oignons” and “sans sauce.” It specifies that the requested dish should not include the named ingredient. Use “sans + noun” to order food without an ingredient.
oignons “oignons” means “onions” in “sans oignons.” It names the ingredient excluded from the soup. A useful pattern is “une soupe sans oignons” when requesting soup without onions.
Et “Et” means “and” at the beginning of “Et j'ai demandé une salade sans sauce.” It connects this speaker’s request with the previous request. Use “Et” to add another related statement or item.
salade “salade” means “salad” in “une salade sans sauce.” Here it is the dish the second speaker requested. A useful restaurant pattern is “demander une salade” when ordering a salad.
sauce “sauce” means “dressing” or “sauce” in “sans sauce.” In this restaurant context, it is the dressing that should not be added to the salad. Use “une salade sans sauce” when requesting a salad without dressing or sauce.
dessert “dessert” means “dessert” in “Le dessert devrait être servi.” It refers to the sweet course expected after the meal. A useful restaurant pattern is “le dessert après le repas” when discussing the order of courses.
devrait “devrait” expresses “should” in “Le dessert devrait être servi après le repas.” It presents the expected or appropriate arrangement for serving the dessert. A reusable pattern is “[subject] devrait + infinitive” when stating what is expected to happen.
être “être” means “to be” in “devrait être servi.” It follows “devrait” and helps describe what should happen to the dessert. A useful pattern is “devrait être + past form” when describing an expected result or action.
servi “servi” means “served” in “être servi après le repas.” It describes the dessert being brought to the table. Use “être servi” when talking about a dish being served in a restaurant.
après “après” means “after” in “après le repas.” It places the serving of the dessert later than the meal. Use “après + noun” to say that one event or item comes later than another.
vais “vais” expresses “am going to” in “Je vais demander au serveur.” It shows the speaker’s planned next action. This is the dialogue form of “aller” used with “Je”; a common pattern is “Je vais + infinitive” for an intention or near-future action.
demander “demander” means “to ask” in “Je vais demander au serveur de tout confirmer.” It names the action the speaker plans to take with the server. A useful pattern is “demander à quelqu'un de + infinitive” when asking someone to do something.
au “au” means “to the” before “serveur” in “demander au serveur.” It is the combined form used for “à” plus “le.” Use “demander au serveur” when directing a request to the server.
serveur “serveur” means “server” in “au serveur.” It refers to the restaurant employee who will be asked to confirm the order. A useful pattern is “demander au serveur de + infinitive” when asking the server to do something.
tout “tout” means “everything” in “de tout confirmer.” It is the object of “confirmer” and refers to all the order details being checked. Use “tout + verb” when saying that an action concerns everything, as in “tout confirmer.”
confirmer “confirmer” means “to confirm” in “de tout confirmer.” It is the action the speaker asks the server to perform for all the order details. A useful pattern is “demander à quelqu'un de confirmer” when asking someone to verify that information is correct.

Grammar Points

avant que + subjonctif

avant que le repas arrive

ah-VAHN kuh luh ruh-PAH ah-REEV

before the meal arrives

After « avant que », French generally uses the subjunctive; here, « arrive » has the same form as the indicative.

sans + nom

sans oignons

sahn-zoh-NYON

without onions

« Sans » is followed directly by a noun and expresses the absence of something.

French Vocabulary

arrive verb
ah-REEV comes, arrives
avant que conj
ah-VAHN kuh before
commande noun
koh-MAHND order
commencent verb
koh-MAHNS start, begin
corriger verb
koh-ree-ZHAY to fix, to correct
cuisiner verb
kwee-zee-NAY to cook
demandé verb
duh-mahn-DAY asked for
erreurs noun
air-UHR mistakes, errors
plus facile adj
PLOO fah-SEEL easier
repas noun
ruh-PAH meal
soupe noun
SOOP soup
vérifier verb
vay-ree-FYAY to check

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I asked for soup without onions.

Show AnswerJ'ai demandé une soupe sans oignons.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

mistakes, errors

Show Answererreurs

comes, arrives

Show Answerarrive

to check

Show Answervérifier

start, begin

Show Answercommencent