Preparing a welcoming guest room | Learn French in English

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Dialogue

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

mah koo-ZEEN v'yehn pah-SAY uhn koor say-ZHOOR shay NOO My cousin is coming to stay with us for a short visit.

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

ohn duh-VRAY RAHN-druh lah SHAHN-bruh duh-MEE plew kohn-for-TAHBL ah-VAHN sohn-nah-ree-VAY We should make the spare room more comfortable before she arrives.

Laisse-moi débarrasser le bureau pour qu'elle ait de la place pour son ordinateur portable.

less-MWAH day-bah-rah-SAY luh bew-ROH poor kell ay duh lah PLAHSS poor sohn-nor-dee-nah-TOOR por-TAHBL Let me clear the desk so she has space for her laptop.

Laisse les instructions pour Internet à un endroit où elle pourra les trouver facilement.

less lay-z-ehn-strook-SYOHN poor ehn-tair-NET ah uhn-nahn-DRWAH oo ell poo-RAH lay TROO-VAY fah-SEEL-mahn Leave the internet instructions where she can find them easily.

Est-ce qu'on met des serviettes supplémentaires dans la chambre, ou est-ce qu'on lui montre le placard ?

ess kohn MAY day sair-VYET sew-play-mahn-TAIR dahn lah SHAHN-bruh, oo ess kohn lew-EE MOHN-truh luh plah-KAHR Should we put extra towels in the room, or show her the cupboard?

Mets-les dans la chambre. Cela donne plus d'intimité aux invités.

MAY lay dahn lah SHAHN-bruh. suh-LAH dohn plew dehn-tee-mee-TAY oh-zehn-vee-TAY Put them in the room. It gives guests more privacy.

Je veux être un hôte détendu, pas quelqu'un qui explique chaque détail.

zhuh VUH EH-truh uhn OHT day-tahn-DEW, pah kel-KUHN kee ex-PLEEK shak day-TAHY I want to be a relaxed host, not someone who explains every detail.

Une courte note suffit, surtout pour les clés, les lumières et le petit-déjeuner.

ewn KOORT noht sew-FEE, sewr-TOO poor lay CLAY, lay lew-MYEHR ay luh puh-TEE day-zhuh-NAY A short note is enough, especially for keys, lights, and breakfast.

Préparer la chambre à l'avance nous éviterait de nous dépêcher plus tard.

pray-pah-RAY lah SHAHN-bruh ah lah-VAHNSS noo-zay-vee-TRAY duh noo day-pay-SHAY plew TAHR Preparing it ahead of time would keep us from rushing later.

Cela lui permettra de se sentir la bienvenue sans rendre la visite trop formelle.

suh-LAH lew-EE pair-may-TRAH duh suh sahn-TEER lah byehn-vuh-NEW sahn RAHN-druh lah vee-ZEET troh for-MELL That will make her feel welcome without making the visit too formal.

Word by Word

Ma “Ma” means “my” in “Ma cousine” and identifies the cousin as belonging to the speaker. It is used directly before the noun it determines, as in “Ma cousine”.

cousine “Cousine” means “female cousin” in “Ma cousine”. It names the family member who is coming to stay, and it is used after the possessive form “Ma”.

vient “Vient” means “is coming” in “vient passer un court séjour”. It is followed here by an infinitive to express what the person is coming to do; the reusable pattern is venir + infinitive.

passer “Passer” means “spend” in “passer un court séjour”, referring to spending a stay somewhere. It appears as an infinitive after “vient” and takes the stay as its object.

un “Un” means “a” in “un court séjour”. It introduces the singular noun “séjour” and comes before the adjective “court”.

court “Court” means “short” in “un court séjour”, describing the limited length of the stay. It is placed before the noun in this expression.

séjour “Séjour” means “stay” in “un court séjour”. It refers to the cousin’s visit at the speakers’ home and is used with a duration or description such as “court”.

chez “Chez” means “at the home of” in “chez nous”. It is used before a person or pronoun to indicate whose home or usual place is meant.

nous “Nous” means “us” in “chez nous”, which means “at our home”. After “chez”, this pronoun identifies the people whose home is meant.

On “On” means “we” in “On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable”, referring to both speakers. It commonly serves as the subject before a verb, here before “devrait”.

devrait “Devrait” expresses “should” in “On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable”. It is followed by the infinitive “rendre” to state the suggested action; the citation form is devoir.

rendre “Rendre” means “make” in “rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable”. The construction takes an object and an adjective to describe the result: making the room more comfortable.

la “La” means “the” before “chambre” in “la chambre d'amis”. It is the definite article used with this singular feminine noun.

chambre “Chambre” means “room” in “la chambre d'amis”. Together with “d'amis”, it identifies the spare or guest room being prepared.

d'amis “D'amis” contributes “guest” in “la chambre d'amis”, literally describing a room for friends or guests. It follows “chambre” to form the expression for a guest room.

plus “Plus” means “more” in “plus confortable”. It marks the comparison and comes before the adjective it modifies.

confortable “Confortable” means “comfortable” in “plus confortable”, describing the desired condition of the guest room. Here it follows “plus” to express “more comfortable”.

avant “Avant” means “before” in “avant son arrivée”. It introduces the event that should happen earlier, here preparing the room before her arrival.

son “Son” means “her” in “son arrivée”, referring to the cousin’s arrival. It is placed directly before the noun it determines.

arrivée “Arrivée” means “arrival” in “avant son arrivée”. It names the event used as the time reference for preparing the room.

Laisse-moi “Laisse-moi” means “let me” in “Laisse-moi débarrasser le bureau”. It gives permission or offers to do something, followed here by the infinitive “débarrasser”.

débarrasser “Débarrasser” means “clear” in “débarrasser le bureau”, meaning to remove things from the desk. It is the infinitive after “Laisse-moi” and is followed by the object being cleared.

le “Le” means “the” before “bureau” in “le bureau”. It is the definite article used with this singular masculine noun.

bureau “Bureau” means “desk” in “débarrasser le bureau”. It is the object that the speaker offers to clear.

pour “Pour” introduces the purpose in “pour qu'elle ait de la place”, meaning “so that she has space”. Here it is followed by “que” and a clause explaining the intended result.

qu'elle “Qu'elle” means “that she” in “pour qu'elle ait de la place”. It introduces the purpose clause and combines “que” with the subject pronoun “elle”.

ait “Ait” means “has” in “qu'elle ait de la place”. It expresses the result intended by “pour que”; the citation form is avoir.

de “De” is part of “de la place”, meaning “space” or “room” available. This pattern is used with “avoir” to express having space for something.

place “Place” means “space” in “avoir de la place pour son ordinateur portable”. It refers to room available for the laptop, and the reusable pattern is avoir de la place pour + noun.

ordinateur “Ordinateur” means “computer” in “ordinateur portable”. Together with “portable”, it refers specifically to a laptop.

portable “Portable” contributes “laptop” in “ordinateur portable”. It describes the type of computer and follows the noun in this expression.

Laisse “Laisse” means “leave” in “Laisse les instructions pour Internet”. It is an instruction to leave something in a particular place and is followed directly by the object “les instructions”.

les “Les” means “the” before “instructions” in “les instructions”, and “them” in “les trouver”. Its meaning depends on whether it comes before a noun or before a verb as an object pronoun.

instructions “Instructions” means “instructions” in “les instructions pour Internet”. It refers to the information the guest should be able to find easily.

Internet “Internet” refers to the Internet in “les instructions pour Internet”. Here it specifies what the instructions concern.

à “À” means “at” in “à un endroit”, introducing the location where the instructions should be left. It is commonly used before a place or location.

endroit “Endroit” means “place” or “location” in “un endroit où elle pourra les trouver facilement”. It identifies where the instructions should be left.

où “Où” means “where” in “un endroit où elle pourra les trouver facilement”. It links the location to the clause describing what can happen there.

elle “Elle” means “she” in “où elle pourra les trouver facilement”. It is the subject of the clause describing the cousin’s ability to find the instructions.

pourra “Pourra” means “will be able to” in “elle pourra les trouver”. It is followed by the infinitive “trouver”; the citation form is pouvoir.

trouver “Trouver” means “find” in “les trouver facilement”. It is the infinitive after “pourra” and takes “les” as the thing to be found.

facilement “Facilement” means “easily” in “les trouver facilement”. It modifies “trouver” and describes how the instructions can be found.

Est-ce “Est-ce” is part of the question marker “Est-ce qu'on met”, which turns the sentence into a question. It introduces a yes-or-no question about the proposed action.

qu'on “Qu'on” is part of “Est-ce qu'on met”, the question structure used to ask whether “we” put the towels in the room. It combines “que” with “on” before the verb.

met “Met” means “puts” in “Est-ce qu'on met des serviettes supplémentaires dans la chambre?”. In the question, it asks whether the speakers should put something somewhere; the citation form is mettre.

des “Des” means “some” in “des serviettes supplémentaires”. It introduces the plural noun “serviettes” without specifying an exact number.

serviettes “Serviettes” means “towels” in “des serviettes supplémentaires”. These are the extra towels being placed in the guest room.

supplémentaires “Supplémentaires” means “extra” or “additional” in “des serviettes supplémentaires”. It describes the towels and follows the noun here.

dans “Dans” means “in” in “dans la chambre”. It introduces the place where the towels should be put.

ou “Ou” means “or” in the question contrasting “met des serviettes supplémentaires dans la chambre” with “lui montre le placard”. It links the two alternatives.

lui “Lui” means “to her” in “on lui montre le placard”. It identifies the person receiving the demonstration and is placed before the verb.

montre “Montre” means “shows” in “on lui montre le placard”. The construction is montrer something à someone, with “lui” representing the person shown it; the citation form is montrer.

placard “Placard” means “cupboard” in “lui montre le placard”. It is the object that could be shown to the guest.

Mets-les “Mets-les” means “put them” in “Mets-les dans la chambre”. It combines the imperative of mettre with the object pronoun “les”, which refers to the towels; the pronoun is attached with a hyphen.

Cela “Cela” means “that” or “it” in “Cela donne plus d'intimité aux invités”. It refers to putting the towels in the room and is the subject of the following statement.

donne “Donne” means “gives” or “provides” in “Cela donne plus d'intimité aux invités”. It describes the benefit provided to the guests; the citation form is donner.

d'intimité “D'intimité” means “privacy” in “plus d'intimité”. Together with “plus”, it describes the greater privacy provided by leaving the towels in the room.

aux “Aux” means “to the” in “aux invités”. It is the contracted form of “à” plus “les” and introduces the people who receive the benefit.

invités “Invités” means “guests” in “aux invités”. They are the people who receive more privacy from the arrangement.

Je “Je” means “I” in “Je veux être un hôte détendu”. It is the subject expressing the speaker’s personal intention.

veux “Veux” means “want” in “Je veux être un hôte détendu”. It is followed by the infinitive “être” to state what the speaker wants to be; the citation form is vouloir.

être “Être” means “be” in “veux être un hôte détendu”. It is the infinitive after “veux” and links the speaker to the description “un hôte détendu”.

hôte “Hôte” means “host” in “un hôte détendu”. It identifies the person welcoming the cousin and is modified here by “détendu”.

détendu “Détendu” means “relaxed” in “un hôte détendu”. It describes the host’s manner and appears after the noun it modifies.

pas “Pas” expresses “not” in “pas quelqu'un qui explique chaque détail”. It rejects the alternative of being someone who explains every detail, following the positive statement introduced by “Je veux être”.

quelqu'un “Quelqu'un” means “someone” in “pas quelqu'un qui explique chaque détail”. It introduces the type of person the speaker does not want to be and is followed by “qui” plus a verb.

qui “Qui” means “who” or “that” in “quelqu'un qui explique chaque détail”. It introduces a relative clause and acts as the subject of “explique”.

explique “Explique” means “explains” in “qui explique chaque détail”. It describes what the unwanted type of person does and takes “chaque détail” as its object.

chaque “Chaque” means “each” or “every” in “chaque détail”. It refers to the details one by one and is followed by a singular noun.

détail “Détail” means “detail” in “chaque détail”. It refers to every individual piece of information the speaker does not want to explain.

Une “Une” means “a” in “Une courte note”. It introduces the singular noun “note” and agrees with that noun’s form.

courte “Courte” means “short” in “Une courte note”. It describes the note and is placed before the noun here.

note “Note” means “note” in “Une courte note”. It refers to a brief written message containing important information for the guest.

suffit “Suffit” means “is enough” in “Une courte note suffit”. It states that the short note provides enough information for the purpose; the citation form is suffire.

surtout “Surtout” means “especially” in “surtout pour les clés, les lumières et le petit-déjeuner”. It highlights the most useful topics to include in the note.

clés “Clés” means “keys” in “les clés”. It is one of the practical subjects that the short note should mention.

lumières “Lumières” means “lights” in “les lumières”. It is another practical topic to explain to the guest.

et “Et” means “and” in “les clés, les lumières et le petit-déjeuner”. It joins the final item to the list of topics.

petit-déjeuner “Petit-déjeuner” means “breakfast” in “le petit-déjeuner”. It is one of the details that may be included in the note.

Préparer “Préparer” means “prepare” in “Préparer la chambre à l'avance”. The infinitive phrase functions as the subject of the sentence and names the action that would prevent rushing.

l'avance “L'avance” appears in the expression “à l'avance”, meaning “ahead of time”. It indicates that the room is prepared before the later moment when it is needed.

éviterait “Éviterait” means “would keep us from” in “nous éviterait de nous dépêcher plus tard”. It introduces the avoided action with “de” plus an infinitive; the citation form is éviter.

dépêcher “Dépêcher” means “hurry” in “nous dépêcher”. It appears in the reflexive expression “se dépêcher”, here referring to the speakers rushing later.

tard “Tard” means “later” in “plus tard”. It identifies the future time when the speakers might otherwise have to rush.

permettra “Permettra” means “will allow” in “Cela lui permettra de se sentir la bienvenue”. It takes “lui” for the person affected and “de” plus an infinitive for the resulting action; the citation form is permettre.

se “Se” is part of the reflexive expression “se sentir la bienvenue”, meaning “feel welcome”. Here it refers back to the cousin as the person experiencing the feeling.

sentir “Sentir” means “feel” in “se sentir la bienvenue”. It is used in the reflexive construction “se sentir” and follows “de” after “permettra”.

bienvenue “Bienvenue” means “welcome” in “se sentir la bienvenue”. The full expression describes the cousin feeling welcomed in the prepared room.

sans “Sans” means “without” in “sans rendre la visite trop formelle”. It introduces an action that is avoided, followed here by an infinitive.

visite “Visite” means “visit” in “rendre la visite trop formelle”. It refers to the cousin’s stay as a social visit.

trop “Trop” means “too” in “trop formelle”. It indicates an excessive degree and comes before the adjective it modifies.

formelle “Formelle” means “formal” in “la visite trop formelle”. It describes the visit and expresses the concern that the preparation should not make it overly formal.

Grammar Points

devrait + infinitif

Elle devrait rendre la chambre d'amis confortable.

ell duh-VRAY RAHN-druh lah SHAHN-bruh duh-MEE kohn-for-TAHBL

She should make the guest room comfortable.

« Devrait » expresses advice or expectation and is followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

French Vocabulary

arrivée noun

ah-ree-VAY arrival

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

bureau noun

bew-ROH desk

Laisse-moi débarrasser le bureau pour qu'elle ait de la place pour son ordinateur portable.

chambre d'amis phrase

SHAHN-bruh duh-MEE guest room

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

chez nous phrase

shay NOO at our place

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

confortable adj

kohn-for-TAHBL comfortable

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

court adj

KOOR short

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

cousine noun

koo-ZEEN cousin

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

débarrasser verb

day-bah-rah-SAY to clear

Laisse-moi débarrasser le bureau pour qu'elle ait de la place pour son ordinateur portable.

devrait verb

duh-VRAY should

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

passer verb

pah-SAY to spend

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

rendre verb

RAHN-druh to make

On devrait rendre la chambre d'amis plus confortable avant son arrivée.

séjour noun

say-ZHOOR stay

Ma cousine vient passer un court séjour chez nous.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to spend

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passer

cousin

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cousine

to make

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rendre

comfortable

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confortable