Understanding tablet warranty coverage | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shop, a customer asks staff what a tablet warranty covers before deciding whether the purchase is sensible..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Understanding tablet warranty coverage to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Avant d’acheter cette tablette, je veux comprendre la garantie.

ah-VAHN dah-shuh-TAY set tah-BLET, zhuh vuh kohm-PRAHN-druh lah gah-rahn-TEE. Before I buy this tablet, I want to understand the warranty.
B

La garantie couvre les problèmes techniques liés à une utilisation normale.

lah gah-rahn-TEE KOOVR lay proh-BLEM tek-NEEK lee-AY ah OON oo-tee-lee-zah-SYON nor-MAHL. The warranty covers technical problems from normal use.
A

La couverture inclut-elle les dommages accidentels, comme un écran fissuré ?

lah koo-ver-TUR ahn-KLOO-tel lay doh-MAHZH ak-see-dahn-TEL, kohm uh(n) ay-KRAHN fee-soo-RAY? Does the coverage include accidental damage, like a cracked screen?
B

Les dommages accidentels sont pris en charge par un plan de protection séparé.

lay doh-MAHZH ak-see-dahn-TEL sohn pree zahn SHARZH par uh(n) plahn duh proh-tek-SYON say-pah-RAY. Accidental damage is handled by a separate protection plan.
A

Si la batterie tombe en panne, est-ce que je dois apporter la tablette ici ou contacter le fabricant ?

see lah bah-tuh-REE tohmb ahn PAHN, ess-kuh zhuh dwah ah-por-TAY lah tah-BLET ee-SEE oo kohn-tak-TAY luh fah-bree-KAHN? If the battery fails, would I bring the tablet here or contact the manufacturer?
B

Vous pouvez faire la demande de prise en charge ici, et nous vous expliquerons ce qui se passe ensuite.

voo poo-VAY fair lah duh-MAHND duh preez ahn SHARZH ee-SEE, ay noo voo zek-splee-KROHN suh kee suh pass ahn-SWEET. You can start the claim here, and we will explain what happens next.
A

Comment saurais-je s’il vaut mieux la faire réparer ou la remplacer ?

koh-MAHN soh-RAYZH zhuh seel voh MYUH lah fair ray-pah-RAY oo lah rahm-plah-SAY? How would I know whether repair or replacement is better?
B

Nous vérifions d’abord le problème, puis nous expliquons les options disponibles.

noo vay-ree-FYON dah-BOR luh proh-BLEM, pwee noo zek-splee-KOHN lay op-SYON dee-spoh-NEEBL. We check the problem first, then explain the available options.
A

Cela m’aide à décider si cette tablette est un choix raisonnable.

suh-LAH med ah day-see-DAY see set tah-BLET ay tuh(n) shwah ray-zoh-NAHBL. That helps me decide whether this tablet is a sensible choice.
B

Les détails de la garantie comptent davantage quand vous prévoyez de l’utiliser tous les jours.

lay day-TAHY duh lah gah-rahn-TEE kohnt dah-vahn-TAHZH kahn voo pray-vwah-YAY duh lee-tee-lee-ZAY too lay ZHOOR. Warranty details matter more when you plan to use it every day.

Word by Word

Avant Avant means before here and introduces the action that happens first in Avant d’acheter cette tablette. It is commonly used before de plus an infinitive to express a sequence, such as before doing something. You can use it when explaining what must happen before a purchase or another decision.
d’acheter d’acheter means to buy in Avant d’acheter cette tablette. The form acheter is the infinitive, and d’ is de shortened before a vowel. The pattern avant de plus an infinitive is useful when describing an action that must happen first.
cette cette means this and identifies the particular tablet in cette tablette. It is used directly before the noun it specifies and matches tablette. You can use it when pointing out or choosing one specific item.
tablette tablette means tablet in cette tablette and refers to the device being considered for purchase. It is the noun after the determiner cette. You can use it when discussing the device, its condition, or its warranty.
je je means I and is the subject of je veux comprendre la garantie. It identifies the person who wants to understand the warranty. It commonly appears before a conjugated verb when the speaker describes their own action or intention.
veux veux means want in je veux comprendre la garantie. It is the first-person form of vouloir and is followed here by the infinitive comprendre. You can use je veux plus an infinitive to express a present wish or intention.
comprendre comprendre means to understand in je veux comprendre la garantie. It is an infinitive following veux and names the action the speaker wants to carry out. It can be used after a verb expressing a wish, need, or intention.
la la means the and introduces the specific warranty in la garantie. It is placed directly before the noun it determines. You can use it before a known or already identified feminine singular noun.
garantie garantie means warranty in la garantie. Here it refers to the warranty whose conditions the customer wants to understand. It is used with details about what a product or service covers.
couvre couvre means covers in La garantie couvre les problèmes techniques. It is the third-person singular form of couvrir, with la garantie as its subject. The pattern couvrir plus a problem or service is useful when asking what a warranty or policy includes.
les les means the and introduces the specific problems in les problèmes techniques. It is used before a plural noun. You can use it when referring to several known items or categories.
problèmes problèmes means problems in les problèmes techniques. Here it refers to technical faults covered by the warranty. It commonly appears with an adjective or phrase that specifies the type of problem.
techniques techniques means technical and describes the problems in les problèmes techniques. It matches the plural noun problèmes. You can use it to specify that a problem concerns the technical functioning of a device.
liés liés means related in les problèmes techniques liés à une utilisation normale. It connects the technical problems with normal use and matches problèmes. The pattern lié à identifies what something is connected with or associated with.
à à links liés with the thing the problems are associated with in liés à une utilisation normale. Here it can be understood as associated with. It commonly follows lié to introduce the relevant cause, activity, or subject.
une une means a and introduces utilisation in une utilisation normale. It is used before a feminine singular noun. You can use it when mentioning one non-specific activity or thing.
utilisation utilisation means use or usage in une utilisation normale. It describes the way the tablet is used, specifically ordinary use in this warranty context. It commonly appears with an adjective that qualifies the type of use.
normale normale means normal and describes utilisation in une utilisation normale. It matches the feminine singular noun utilisation. You can use it to describe ordinary use that follows expected conditions.
couverture couverture means coverage in La couverture inclut-elle les dommages accidentels. Here it refers to what the warranty covers. It is useful when discussing the scope of insurance, protection, or a warranty.
inclut inclut means includes in La couverture inclut-elle les dommages accidentels. It is the third-person singular form of inclure, with la couverture as the subject. The pattern inclure an item is useful when checking whether something forms part of a service or policy.
elle elle means it here and refers back to la couverture in La couverture inclut-elle. It appears after the verb because this is an inverted yes-or-no question. You can use it to refer back to a feminine singular noun when asking what that thing includes.
dommages dommages means damage in les dommages accidentels. Here it refers to physical harm that happens by accident. It is used with accidentels to specify the type of damage being discussed.
accidentels accidentels means accidental and describes dommages in les dommages accidentels. It matches the plural noun dommages. You can use it to distinguish unintended damage from problems caused by normal use.
comme comme means like or such as in comme un écran fissuré. It introduces a concrete example of the accidental damage under discussion. You can use it before an example that clarifies a broader category.
un un means a and introduces écran in un écran fissuré. It is used before a masculine singular noun. You can use it when presenting one non-specific example or object.
écran écran means screen in un écran fissuré. Here it refers to the tablet screen as an example of an accidentally damaged part. It can be used when discussing visible damage to a device.
fissuré fissuré means cracked in un écran fissuré. It describes the condition of the screen and matches the masculine singular noun écran. You can use it to describe a screen or another surface that has developed a crack.
sont sont means are in Les dommages accidentels sont pris en charge. It is the plural form of être and links the damage to the expression that explains how it is handled. It commonly appears before a description or a passive expression about plural subjects.
pris en charge pris en charge means are handled or covered in Les dommages accidentels sont pris en charge par un plan de protection séparé. The whole expression describes responsibility for dealing with the damage; pris contributes the idea of being taken, while en charge completes the fixed expression of taking responsibility or providing coverage. You can use it for claims, costs, or problems that an organization agrees to handle.
par par means by in sont pris en charge par un plan de protection séparé. It introduces what provides or handles the coverage in this passive construction. It commonly follows a passive expression to identify the responsible person, service, or plan.
plan plan means plan in un plan de protection séparé. Here it refers to a separate protection arrangement that handles accidental damage. It can be used for an organized service or arrangement with a defined purpose.
de de links plan with protection in plan de protection. Here it means of and identifies the purpose or type of the plan. It commonly connects a general noun with a noun that specifies it.
protection protection means protection in plan de protection. It specifies what the plan provides. You can use it when describing an arrangement intended to protect a product or user from a particular risk.
séparé séparé means separate in un plan de protection séparé. It distinguishes this protection plan from the warranty. It matches the masculine singular noun plan and is useful when showing that two services are handled independently.
Si Si means if at the beginning of Si la batterie tombe en panne. It introduces the condition under which the customer needs to know what to do. You can use it to present a possible situation and its consequence.
batterie batterie means battery in la batterie tombe en panne. It is the device component whose failure is being discussed. You can use it when asking about charging, power, or a device that no longer works.
tombe en panne tombe en panne means breaks down or fails in Si la batterie tombe en panne. The whole expression describes a device or component stopping working; tombe suggests falling, while en panne identifies the breakdown state. You can use it for batteries, machines, vehicles, or other equipment that stops functioning.
est-ce que est-ce que marks a yes-or-no question in est-ce que je dois apporter la tablette ici ou contacter le fabricant. The words est, ce, and que work together as a fixed question marker rather than being translated separately. You can place it before a statement when asking for a direct answer.
dois dois means must or have to in est-ce que je dois apporter la tablette ici. It is the first-person form of devoir and expresses the customer’s obligation or required next step. It is followed here by an infinitive, and the same pattern can be used to ask what action is required.
apporter apporter means bring in je dois apporter la tablette ici. It is an infinitive after dois and describes bringing the tablet to the shop. You can use it when an object is being brought to a person or place.
ici ici means here in apporter la tablette ici. It identifies the shop as the destination for bringing the tablet. You can use it to point to the speaker’s current location.
ou ou means or in ici ou contacter le fabricant. It presents two alternatives: bringing the tablet to the shop or contacting the manufacturer. You can use it to connect alternative actions or choices.
contacter contacter means contact in contacter le fabricant. It is an infinitive coordinated with apporter after dois. You can use it before a person, organization, or service that someone needs to reach.
le le means the and introduces fabricant in le fabricant. It identifies the specific manufacturer connected with the tablet. You can use it before a known masculine singular noun.
fabricant fabricant means manufacturer in contacter le fabricant. Here it refers to the company that made the tablet. You can use it when discussing product support, repairs, or warranty procedures.
Vous Vous means you in Vous pouvez faire la demande de prise en charge ici. It addresses the customer and is also used later as vous in nous vous expliquerons. It can address one person formally or more than one person, and it is used as the subject or object depending on its position.
pouvez pouvez means can in Vous pouvez faire la demande de prise en charge ici. It is the second-person form of pouvoir and is followed by the infinitive faire. You can use vous pouvez plus an infinitive to give permission or explain what the listener is able to do.
faire faire means make or do in faire la demande de prise en charge. Here it forms the expression for submitting or making a request, rather than describing a physical action. You can use faire before a noun to describe carrying out an action or making a request.
demande demande means request or claim in faire la demande de prise en charge. It refers to the formal request for the warranty or protection service to handle the problem. You can use it when asking for an action, service, or decision.
prise en charge prise en charge means coverage or handling in la demande de prise en charge. The whole noun expression refers to the service taking responsibility for the claim; prise means taking, while en charge completes the fixed expression of handling or covering something. You can use it when requesting that a repair, cost, or claim be dealt with by a service.
et et means and in ici, et nous vous expliquerons ce qui se passe ensuite. It joins the customer’s available action with the staff’s following explanation. You can use it to connect two related actions or statements.
nous nous means we in nous vous expliquerons and nous vérifions. Here it refers to the shop staff speaking as a group. It commonly appears before a conjugated verb when the speakers describe what they will do or do together.
expliquerons expliquerons means will explain in nous vous expliquerons ce qui se passe ensuite. It is the first-person plural future form of expliquer and describes the staff’s later explanation. You can use nous plus this future form when promising or describing a later explanation.
ce ce means what in ce qui se passe ensuite. Together with qui, it introduces the thing that happens next, rather than referring to a specific named object. The pattern ce qui can be used to introduce an unknown fact or event that is the subject of the following verb.
qui qui helps form ce qui in ce qui se passe ensuite and introduces the event being described. Here ce qui functions as the subject of se passe. You can use ce qui when referring to what or that which performs the action in the following clause.
se se is the pronoun used with passer in se passe, the expression meaning happens. It forms the pronominal construction that describes an event taking place. You can use it as part of se passer when asking or explaining what happens.
passe passe means happens in ce qui se passe ensuite. It is the form of passer used with se to describe an event taking place. The expression se passe is useful when asking about or explaining the next stage of a process.
ensuite ensuite means next or afterward in ce qui se passe ensuite. It places the event after the current step in the warranty process. You can use it to organize instructions or describe what follows.
Comment Comment means how in Comment saurais-je s’il vaut mieux la faire réparer ou la remplacer. It asks about the way the speaker could know which choice is better. You can use it at the beginning of a question about a method, process, or way of deciding.
saurais saurais means would know in Comment saurais-je. It is the first-person conditional form of savoir and presents the knowledge as dependent on some explanation or information. You can use comment plus this form to ask how you could find something out.
s’il s’il means whether in s’il vaut mieux la faire réparer ou la remplacer. It is si combined with il and introduces the question of which option is preferable. You can use it before a clause when considering whether a situation or option has a particular result.
vaut vaut means is better in s’il vaut mieux la faire réparer ou la remplacer. It is used in the expression vaut mieux, which evaluates the two possible actions. This expression is useful when comparing alternatives and recommending the preferable one.
mieux mieux means better in vaut mieux la faire réparer ou la remplacer. Together with vaut, it expresses that one option is preferable to another. You can use vaut mieux before an infinitive or choice when giving practical advice.
réparer réparer means repair in la faire réparer. It is part of faire réparer, which means to have the tablet repaired; faire introduces the action arranged for the object, while réparer names the repair. You can use this construction when someone else will carry out the repair.
remplacer remplacer means replace in la remplacer. It is an infinitive coordinated with réparer and refers to replacing the tablet. You can use it after a direct object pronoun when describing the option of changing one item for another.
vérifions vérifions means check in Nous vérifions d’abord le problème. It is the first-person plural form of vérifier and describes the staff’s first action. You can use nous vérifions before the object being examined.
d’abord d’abord means first in Nous vérifions d’abord le problème. It marks the first step in the staff’s process. You can use it to order instructions or explain what happens before later actions.
puis puis means then in puis nous expliquons les options disponibles. It introduces the step that follows checking the problem. You can use it to connect consecutive actions in an explanation or procedure.
expliquons expliquons means explain in nous expliquons les options disponibles. It is the first-person plural present form of expliquer and describes what the staff do after checking the problem. You can use nous expliquons when stating that a group is giving information now or as part of its normal procedure.
options options means options in les options disponibles. Here it refers to the possible solutions, such as repair or replacement. It commonly appears with an adjective or phrase that describes which choices are available.
disponibles disponibles means available in les options disponibles. It describes the options that can actually be offered and matches the plural noun options. You can use it when identifying choices that are currently open to someone.
Cela Cela means that or this in Cela m’aide à décider. It refers to the information and explanation provided in the preceding exchange. You can use it as a subject when referring back to an idea, action, or situation without naming it again.
m’aide m’aide means helps me in Cela m’aide à décider. The m’ is me shortened before the vowel in aide, and aide is the form of aider used with Cela. The pattern aider quelqu’un à plus an infinitive is useful when saying that something supports a person in doing an action.
décider décider means decide in m’aide à décider. It is an infinitive after aider à and names the decision the information helps the customer make. You can use it when choosing between options or reaching a conclusion.
est est means is in cette tablette est un choix raisonnable. It links the tablet with the description or evaluation that follows. It is useful for identifying something or stating how it is being evaluated.
choix choix means choice in un choix raisonnable. Here it describes the tablet as an option being considered for purchase. You can use it when evaluating whether one option is suitable or sensible.
raisonnable raisonnable means sensible or reasonable in un choix raisonnable. It evaluates the choice as practical or justifiable and matches choix. You can use it when giving a measured judgment about a decision, price, or option.
détails détails means details in Les détails de la garantie. Here it refers to the specific information and conditions of the warranty. It commonly appears with de to identify what the details concern.
comptent comptent means matter in Les détails de la garantie comptent davantage. It is the plural form of compter, with les détails as its subject. You can use it when explaining that something is important or has an effect on a decision.
davantage davantage means more in comptent davantage. It indicates that the warranty details matter to a greater degree in the situation described. You can use it after a verb when comparing importance or extent.
quand quand means when in quand vous prévoyez de l’utiliser tous les jours. It introduces the situation or time in which the warranty details become more important. You can use it to connect a main statement with a relevant time or circumstance.
prévoyez prévoyez means plan or intend in vous prévoyez de l’utiliser tous les jours. It is the second-person form of prévoir and is followed here by de plus an infinitive. You can use prévoir de plus an infinitive when describing a planned or intended action.
l’utiliser l’utiliser means use it in de l’utiliser tous les jours. The l’ refers to the tablet and is placed before the infinitive utiliser because the pronoun comes before the verb. You can use this pattern when referring to an object that someone plans or wants to use.
tous tous means every in tous les jours. Together with les jours, it forms the expression every day. You can use it before a plural time expression to describe something that happens regularly each day.
jours jours means days in tous les jours. With tous, the full expression means every day and describes daily tablet use. You can use it in time expressions that specify how often an action occurs.

Grammar Points

faire + infinitif

La batterie tombe en panne : il faut la faire réparer.

lah bah-tuh-REE tohmb ahn PAHN: eel foh lah fair ray-pah-RAY.

The battery breaks down: it needs to be repaired.

faire réparer means to arrange for someone else to repair something, not to repair it yourself.

French Vocabulary

acheter verb
ah-shuh-TAY to buy d’acheter
comprendre verb
kohm-PRAHN-druh to understand
couverture noun
koo-ver-TUR coverage
couvrir verb
koo-VREER to cover couvre
dommage noun
doh-MAHZH damage dommages
garantie noun
gah-rahn-TEE warranty
inclure verb
ahn-KLOOR to include inclut
normal adj
nor-MAHL normal normale
problème noun
proh-BLEM problem problèmes
tablette noun
tah-BLET tablet
technique adj
tek-NEEK technical techniques
utilisation noun
oo-tee-lee-zah-SYON use

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

tablet

Show Answertablette

warranty

Show Answergarantie

problem

Show Answerproblèmes

use

Show Answerutilisation