Checking the apartment before leaving | Learn French in English

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Use Checking the apartment before leaving to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

ah-VAHN duh par-TEER, noo duh-vree-OHN vay-ree-FYAY lah-par-tuh-MAHN. Before we leave, we should check the apartment.

J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière.

zhay day-ZHAH ay-TAN lah kwee-zee-NYAIR. I already turned off the stove.

Est-ce que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées ?

ess-kuh toot lay fuh-NETR sohn fair-MAY? Are all the windows closed?

La fenêtre de la chambre est encore ouverte.

lah fuh-NETR duh lah SHAHN-br eh ahn-KOR oo-VAIR-t. The bedroom window is still open.

Je vais la fermer et verrouiller la porte du balcon.

zhuh veh lah fair-MAY ay vair-oo-YAY lah PORT dew bal-KOHN. I'll close it and lock the balcony door.

Les lumières du couloir sont encore allumées.

lay lyoo-MYAIR duh koo-LWAR sohn(t) ahn-KOR ah-loo-MAY. The hallway lights are still on.

Alors, je vais les éteindre.

ah-LOR, zhuh veh lay-ZAY-TAN-dr. So I'll turn them off.

Ça devrait être tout.

sah duh-VRAY ETR TOO. That should be everything.

Allons-y avant qu'il ne soit trop tard.

ah-LON-zee ah-VAHN keel nuh SWAH troh TAR. Let's go before it gets too late.

Word by Word

Avant In “Avant de partir”, “Avant” means “before” and places the checking action before leaving. It commonly introduces a time reference, as in “Avant de partir” for “before leaving”.

de In “Avant de partir”, “de” connects “Avant” to the infinitive “partir”, so the whole expression means “before leaving”. This pattern is reusable with another infinitive after “Avant de”.

partir In “Avant de partir”, “partir” means “to leave”. It names the action that has not happened yet and follows “de” in this time expression. You can reuse “avant de partir” when discussing what must happen before leaving.

nous In “nous devrions vérifier”, “nous” refers to the people speaking together: “we”. It is the subject of the checking action. Use “nous” when including yourself and at least one other person in the subject.

devrions In “nous devrions vérifier”, “devrions” expresses that checking the apartment would be advisable: “we should check”. It is followed here by the action “vérifier”. Use “nous devrions” to suggest an action for a group including yourself.

vérifier In “vérifier l'appartement”, “vérifier” means “to check” or “to make sure about”. The object being checked follows it directly: “vérifier l'appartement”. You can reuse this pattern with another thing that needs checking.

l'appartement In “vérifier l'appartement”, “l'appartement” means “the apartment”, the place being checked before departure. The article “l'” appears before the vowel sound at the start of “appartement”. Use “vérifier l'appartement” when checking the apartment as a whole.

J'ai In “J'ai déjà éteint”, “J'ai” means “I have” and introduces a completed action. It is followed here by “déjà éteint” to say that the stove has already been turned off. Use “J'ai” with a completed action when reporting what you have done.

déjà In “J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière”, “déjà” means “already”, showing that the action was completed before this moment. It is placed before “éteint” here. You can use “déjà” to emphasize that something has happened sooner than now.

éteint In “J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière”, “éteint” means “turned off” and describes the completed action applied to the stove. It appears after “J'ai” in this report. Use it with an appliance or light that someone has turned off.

la In “la cuisinière”, “la” is the singular definite article meaning “the” before this noun. It identifies the particular stove being discussed. Use “la” before a singular feminine noun such as “la cuisinière”.

cuisinière In “la cuisinière”, “cuisinière” means “stove”. It is the object that has already been turned off in the dialogue. You can use it when checking kitchen equipment before leaving.

Est-ce At the start of “Est-ce que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées ?”, “Est-ce” helps form a direct question. Together with “que”, it introduces a yes-or-no question about the windows. Use “Est-ce que” to ask a clear question in ordinary conversation.

que In “Est-ce que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées ?”, “que” completes the question pattern “Est-ce que” and introduces the statement being questioned. It does not carry the main meaning alone here. Reuse “Est-ce que” before a complete question clause.

toutes In “toutes les fenêtres”, “toutes” means “all” and refers to every window in the group. Its form matches the feminine plural noun “fenêtres”. Use “toutes les” before a feminine plural group when referring to every item.

les In “les fenêtres” and “les lumières”, “les” is the plural definite article meaning “the”. It identifies the windows and lights as known items in the apartment. Use “les” before a plural noun when referring to a specific group.

fenêtres In “toutes les fenêtres”, “fenêtres” means “windows”, the items being checked. In “la fenêtre de la chambre”, the singular form refers to one bedroom window. Use “fenêtres” when discussing more than one window.

sont In “les fenêtres sont fermées”, “sont” means “are” and links the windows with their state of being closed. It is used with the plural subject “les fenêtres”. You can reuse “sont” to describe the state of several things.

fermées In “les fenêtres sont fermées”, “fermées” means “closed” and describes the state of the windows. Its form matches the feminine plural noun “fenêtres”. Use “sont fermées” to say that several windows or other feminine plural items are closed.

fenêtre In “La fenêtre de la chambre”, “fenêtre” means “window”. It refers specifically to the bedroom window, which is still open. Use “la fenêtre de” followed by a place or room to identify a particular window.

chambre In “la fenêtre de la chambre”, “chambre” means “bedroom”. It identifies which window is being discussed. Use “de la chambre” to refer to something belonging to or located in the bedroom.

est In “La fenêtre de la chambre est encore ouverte”, “est” means “is” and links the singular window with its current state. It is followed here by “encore ouverte”. Use “est” to describe the state or condition of one thing.

encore In “est encore ouverte” and “sont encore allumées”, “encore” means “still”, showing that the state continues at this moment. It is placed before the description of the state. Use “encore” when something remains open, on, or otherwise unchanged.

ouverte In “La fenêtre de la chambre est encore ouverte”, “ouverte” means “open” and describes the bedroom window’s current state. Its form matches the feminine singular noun “fenêtre”. Use “est ouverte” when saying that a window or door is open.

Je In “Je vais la fermer”, “Je” means “I” and is the person who will close the window and lock the door. It is the subject of the planned actions. Use “Je” when stating what you are going to do.

vais In “Je vais la fermer et verrouiller”, “vais” helps express a planned near-future action with the following infinitives. The speaker announces what they intend to do next. Reuse the pattern “Je vais” followed by an action.

fermer In “Je vais la fermer”, “fermer” means “to close”. The pronoun “la” refers back to the open bedroom window. Use “fermer” with a window, door, or other item that is open.

et In “la fermer et verrouiller”, “et” means “and” and joins two actions by the same speaker. The actions are closing the window and locking the balcony door. Use “et” to connect related actions or items.

verrouiller In “verrouiller la porte du balcon”, “verrouiller” means “to lock”. The object follows it directly: “verrouiller la porte du balcon”. Use this pattern when securing a door before leaving.

porte In “la porte du balcon”, “porte” means “door”. It is the door that the speaker will lock. Use “la porte de” or “la porte du” to identify a door by the place or area it belongs to.

du In “la porte du balcon”, “du” means “of the” and connects the door with the balcony: “the balcony door”. It is the form used before the masculine singular noun “balcon” in this expression. Use “du” when identifying something as belonging to or associated with a masculine singular place or object.

balcon In “la porte du balcon”, “balcon” means “balcony”. It identifies which door is being locked. Use it after “du” in this expression to specify the balcony door.

lumières In “Les lumières du couloir”, “lumières” means “lights”. The dialogue says that these hallway lights are still on and will be turned off. Use “les lumières de” or “les lumières du” to identify lights by their location.

couloir In “Les lumières du couloir”, “couloir” means “hallway”. It identifies the location of the lights. Use “du couloir” when referring to something associated with the hallway.

allumées In “Les lumières du couloir sont encore allumées”, “allumées” means “on” or “lit”, describing the lights’ current state. Its form matches the feminine plural noun “lumières”. Use “sont allumées” to say that several lights are on.

Alors At the start of “Alors, je vais les éteindre”, “Alors” means “so” and connects the continuing lights to the speaker’s next action. It introduces a consequence or decision. Use “Alors” when moving from a situation to what will happen because of it.

éteindre In “je vais les éteindre”, “éteindre” means “to turn off”. The pronoun “les” refers to the hallway lights. Use “éteindre” with lights, a stove, or another thing that is on.

Ça In “Ça devrait être tout”, “Ça” means “that” or “it” and refers to the situation after the apartment has been checked. It is the subject of the statement about whether anything remains. Use “Ça devrait être tout” to say that a task should now be complete.

devrait In “Ça devrait être tout”, “devrait” expresses an expectation or cautious judgment: “should be”. The speaker is saying that the completed check is expected to include everything. Use “devrait” when something is expected but not stated with complete certainty.

être In “Ça devrait être tout”, “être” means “to be” and completes the expression about what the result should be. It follows “devrait” here. Use “devrait être” to describe an expected state or result.

tout In “Ça devrait être tout”, “tout” means “everything” or “all of it”. It refers to all the checking actions that needed to be done. Use “c'est tout” or “ça devrait être tout” when indicating that nothing more is expected.

Allons-y “Allons-y” means “let’s go” and is used here to suggest leaving before it becomes too late. “Allons” contributes the invitation to go together, while “y” points toward going there or moving on. Use “Allons-y” when encouraging someone to start going.

qu'il In “avant qu'il ne soit trop tard”, “qu'il” introduces the clause meaning “that it”, referring to the situation becoming too late. The apostrophe shows the shortened form before “il”. Use “avant qu'il ne soit trop tard” to express a deadline that should not be missed.

ne In “avant qu'il ne soit trop tard”, “ne” is part of the subordinate-clause pattern after “avant que”. It does not make this expression mean that it is not too late; the whole phrase means “before it gets too late”. Use this pattern when warning about an approaching time limit.

soit In “avant qu'il ne soit trop tard”, “soit” expresses the state of being too late within the subordinate clause. It completes the phrase “soit trop tard”. Use this exact pattern when saying that an action should happen before a situation becomes too late.

trop In “trop tard”, “trop” means “too” and shows that the degree of lateness would be excessive. It modifies “tard”. Use “trop” before an adjective or adverb when something exceeds the suitable amount or time.

tard In “avant qu'il ne soit trop tard”, “tard” means “late”. Together with “trop”, it describes a time by which leaving should already have happened. Use “trop tard” when an action can no longer be done at the appropriate time.

Grammar Points

avant de + infinitif

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

ah-VAHN duh par-TEER, noo duh-vree-OHN vay-ree-FYAY lah-par-tuh-MAHN.

Before leaving, we should check the apartment.

French uses avant de followed by an infinitive when the subject remains the same.

devoir au conditionnel + infinitif

Nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

noo duh-vree-OHN vay-ree-FYAY lah-par-tuh-MAHN.

We should check the apartment.

Devrions expresses advice or a recommendation and is followed by another verb in the infinitive.

French Vocabulary

appartement noun

ah-par-tuh-MAHN apartment

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

avant de partir phrase

ah-VAHN duh par-TEER before leaving

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

chambre noun

SHAHN-br bedroom

La fenêtre de la chambre est encore ouverte.

cuisinière noun

kwee-zee-NYAIR stove

J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière.

déjà adv

day-ZHAH already

J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière.

devoir verb

duh-VWAR should; to have to devrions

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

encore adv

ahn-KOR still

La fenêtre de la chambre est encore ouverte.

éteindre verb

ay-TAN-dr to turn off; to extinguish éteint

J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière.

fenêtre noun

fuh-NETR window fenêtres

Est-ce que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées ?

fermé adj

fair-MAY closed fermées

Est-ce que toutes les fenêtres sont fermées ?

partir verb

par-TEER to leave

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

vérifier verb

veh-ree-FYAY to check

Avant de partir, nous devrions vérifier l'appartement.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I already turned off the stove.

Show Answer

J'ai déjà éteint la cuisinière.

So I'll turn them off.

Show Answer

Alors, je vais les éteindre.

That should be everything.

Show Answer

Ça devrait être tout.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to leave

Show Answer

partir

stove

Show Answer

cuisinière

should; to have to

Show Answer

devrions

window

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fenêtres