Planning a Group Dinner | Learn French in English

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Use Planning a Group Dinner to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Nous devons choisir un restaurant pour notre groupe samedi.

noo duh-VON shwah-ZEER uhn res-toh-RAHN poor NO-truh groop sahm-DEE. We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.

Alors, nous devrions vérifier les préférences alimentaires de chacun avant de réserver.

ah-LOR, noo duh-vree-ON vay-ree-FYAY lay pray-fay-RAHNS ah-lee-mahn-TAIR duh shah-KUHN ah-VAHN duh ray-zair-VAY. Then we should check everyone's food preferences before making a reservation.

Certaines personnes veulent des sushis, mais d'autres préfèrent un repas chaud.

sair-TEN pair-SONN vuhl day soo-SHEE, may DOH-truh pray-FAIR uhn ruh-PAH SHOH. Some people want sushi, but others prefer a hot meal.

Un endroit avec un menu varié serait plus flexible.

uhn ahn-DRWAH ah-VEK uhn muh-NOO vah-ree-AY suh-RAY plew flek-SEEBL. A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.

J'ai trouvé un restaurant décontracté avec des options végétariennes et de grandes tables.

zhay troo-VAY uhn res-toh-RAHN day-kohn-trak-TAY ah-VEK day zop-SYON vay-zhay-tah-ree-ENN ay duh GRAHND TAH-bluh. I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.

Cela semble être un choix plus sûr pour un groupe aux préférences variées.

suh-LAH sahmbl EH-truh(n) shwah plew SOOR poor uhn groop oh pray-fay-RAHNS vah-ree-AY. That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.

Est-ce que je dois demander au groupe avant de réserver, ou le choisir maintenant ?

ess-kuh zhuh DWAH duh-mahn-DAY oh groop ah-VAHN duh ray-zair-VAY, oo luh shwah-ZEER mahnt-NAHN? Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?

Propose-leur deux options et demande-leur de répondre rapidement.

proh-POHZ-luhr duh op-SYON ay duh-MAHND-luhr duh ray-POHND rah-peed-MAHN. Give them two options and ask for a quick response.

Je vais envoyer un petit sondage pour que nous puissions décider ce soir.

zhuh vay ahn-vwah-YAY uhn puh-TEE sohn-DAHZH poor kuh noo pwee-see-ON day-see-DAY suh SWAHR. I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.

Cela devrait faire avancer l'organisation sans demander leur avis à trop de personnes.

suh-LAH duh-VRAY FAIR ah-vahn-SAY lor-gah-nee-zah-SYON sah(n) duh-mahn-DAY luhr ah-VEE ah TROH duh pair-SONN. That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for opinions.

Word by Word

Nous “Nous” means “we” in “Nous devons choisir” and “nous puissions décider”. It is used as the subject for a group including the speaker, as in “Nous devons vérifier les détails” in a new example.

devons “devons” expresses that the group needs to choose a restaurant in “Nous devons choisir”. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Nous devons répondre” in a new example.

choisir “choisir” means “to choose” in “choisir un restaurant”. After a form such as “devons”, the action is expressed with this infinitive: “Nous devons choisir une date” is a new example.

un “un” introduces one unspecified restaurant in “un restaurant”. It is used before a singular masculine noun, as in “un menu” in a new example.

restaurant “restaurant” means “restaurant” in “un restaurant”. It can be used after a determiner, as in “réserver un restaurant” in a new example.

pour “pour” marks the group that the restaurant is intended for in “pour notre groupe”. It commonly introduces a person or group benefiting from something, as in “un cadeau pour le groupe” in a new example.

notre “notre” means “our” in “notre groupe”. It comes directly before a singular noun, as in “notre restaurant” in a new example.

groupe “groupe” means “group” in “notre groupe”. It names the people whose dinner is being planned and can follow a possessive such as “notre”.

samedi “samedi” means “Saturday” and identifies when the group will meet in “samedi”. Days can be placed at the end of a sentence, as in “Nous dînons samedi” in a new example.

Alors “Alors” means “then” or “so” here, linking the previous need to choose with the next suggestion in “Alors, nous devrions vérifier”. It is commonly used at the beginning of a response to introduce a consequence or proposal.

devrions “devrions” presents checking the preferences as something the group should do in “nous devrions vérifier”. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Nous devrions choisir maintenant” in a new example.

vérifier “vérifier” means “to check” in “vérifier les préférences alimentaires”. It can be followed directly by the information being checked, as in “vérifier le menu” in a new example.

les “les” introduces the plural noun phrase “les préférences alimentaires”, referring to the preferences as a group. It is used before a plural noun, as in “les options” in a new example.

préférences “préférences” means “preferences” in “les préférences alimentaires”. It refers here to the food choices people have, and it can be followed by a description such as “alimentaires”.

alimentaires “alimentaires” describes “préférences” as related to food in “les préférences alimentaires”. It is placed after the noun it describes here, as in “des habitudes alimentaires” in a new example.

de “de” links “avant” to the action “réserver” in “avant de réserver”, meaning “before booking”. Before an infinitive, “avant de” introduces an action that has not yet happened.

chacun “chacun” means “each person” in “les préférences alimentaires de chacun”. The pattern “de chacun” identifies what belongs to or concerns every person in a group.

avant “avant” means “before” in “avant de réserver”. The pattern “avant de” is followed by an infinitive, as in “avant de décider” in a new example.

réserver “réserver” means “to book” or “to reserve” in “avant de réserver”. It is used after “avant de” to name the action that should wait, as in “avant de réserver une table” in a new example.

Certaines “Certaines” means “some” in “Certaines personnes veulent des sushis”. It identifies part of a feminine plural group and is placed before “personnes” here.

personnes “personnes” means “people” in “Certaines personnes”. It refers to members of the group and can be modified by a word such as “certaines”.

veulent “veulent” means “want” in “Certaines personnes veulent des sushis”. It is followed here by the thing wanted, “des sushis”, as in “Ils veulent un repas chaud” in a new example.

des “des” introduces “sushis” as an unspecified plural quantity in “des sushis”. It is used before a plural noun when the exact number is not specified, as in “des options” in a new example.

sushis “sushis” means “sushi” in “des sushis”. It names the food some people want and follows the plural article “des”.

mais “mais” means “but” and contrasts the people who want sushi with those who prefer a hot meal in “mais d'autres préfèrent”. It commonly links two contrasting ideas in the same sentence.

d'autres “d'autres” means “others” in “mais d'autres préfèrent un repas chaud”, referring to other people in contrast with “Certaines personnes”. It is useful for introducing a second group without repeating the noun.

préfèrent “préfèrent” means “prefer” in “d'autres préfèrent un repas chaud”. It is followed by the preferred choice, as in “Ils préfèrent une table calme” in a new example.

repas “repas” means “meal” in “un repas chaud”. It names the food occasion being preferred and follows the singular article “un”.

chaud “chaud” describes the meal as hot in “un repas chaud”. It is placed after “repas” here and agrees with that noun in this expression.

endroit “endroit” means “place” in “Un endroit avec un menu varié”. It introduces the restaurant as a possible place and can be followed by “avec” to describe what it offers.

avec “avec” means “with” in “avec un menu varié” and “avec des options végétariennes”. It introduces something accompanying or available at the place, as in “un restaurant avec une terrasse” in a new example.

menu “menu” means “menu” in “un menu varié”. It names the restaurant’s available dishes and can be described by an adjective such as “varié”.

varié “varié” describes the menu as offering different kinds of choices in “un menu varié”. It follows the noun “menu” here, as in “un choix varié” in a new example.

serait “serait” presents the place with a varied menu as a possible or hypothetical choice in “serait plus flexible”. It is followed by a description of what that place would be like, as in “Ce restaurant serait pratique” in a new example.

plus “plus” marks a comparison in “plus flexible”, meaning “more flexible”. It is placed before the adjective being compared, as in “plus simple” in a new example.

flexible “flexible” describes the restaurant as better able to suit different preferences in “serait plus flexible”. It can follow a form of “être”, as in “Cette option est flexible” in a new example.

J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” and begins the past expression “J'ai trouvé”, meaning “I found”. It combines the subject “je” with “ai” and is used with “trouvé” to report a discovery.

trouvé “trouvé” means “found” in “J'ai trouvé un restaurant”. It is used with “J'ai” to say that the speaker has found something, as in “J'ai trouvé une solution” in a new example.

décontracté “décontracté” describes the restaurant as casual or relaxed in “un restaurant décontracté”. It follows the noun here and can describe an informal atmosphere.

options “options” means “options” in “des options végétariennes”. It names the different choices available and can be followed by a description of those choices.

végétariennes “végétariennes” describes the options as vegetarian in “des options végétariennes”. It follows “options” here and matches that feminine plural noun.

et “et” means “and” and joins “des options végétariennes” with “de grandes tables”. It connects items that belong to the same description or list.

grandes “grandes” describes the tables as large in “de grandes tables”. It is placed before the feminine plural noun “tables” in this phrase.

tables “tables” means “tables” in “de grandes tables”. It names the furniture that makes the restaurant suitable for a group and is modified here by “grandes”.

Cela “Cela” means “that” or “it” and refers to the restaurant just mentioned in “Cela semble être un choix plus sûr”. It can be used at the beginning of a sentence to comment on a previously mentioned option.

semble “semble” means “seems” in “Cela semble être un choix plus sûr”, expressing an impression rather than certainty. It is followed here by “être” and a description of the option.

être “être” means “to be” in “semble être un choix plus sûr”. It follows “semble” in this construction to describe how the option appears.

choix “choix” means “choice” in “un choix plus sûr”. It identifies the restaurant as one possible decision and follows the article “un”.

sûr “sûr” describes the choice as safer or more reliable in “un choix plus sûr”. It follows “plus” to form the comparison “more safe” in this context.

aux “aux” means “to the” in “aux préférences variées”. It is the contracted form of “à” with “les” and introduces the plural phrase describing the group.

variées “variées” describes the preferences as varied in “un groupe aux préférences variées”. It follows “préférences” and matches that feminine plural noun.

Est “Est” is the “is” part of the question structure “Est-ce que”, which introduces “Should I ask the group...?”. It appears at the beginning of this yes-or-no question.

ce “ce” is part of the fixed question structure “Est-ce que”, not a standalone meaning of “this” in the question. Together, “Est-ce que” introduces a direct question, as in “Est-ce que tu viens ?” in a new example.

que “que” completes the question structure “Est-ce que” in “Est-ce que je dois demander”. Together, the three words introduce the question that follows.

je “je” means “I” in “je dois demander” and “Je vais envoyer”. It is the subject of the speaker’s action and normally comes before the verb.

dois “dois” expresses what the speaker should or must do in “je dois demander”. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Je dois répondre” in a new example.

demander “demander” means “to ask” in “demander au groupe”. It can be followed by “à” plus the person or group being asked, as in “demander au responsable” in a new example.

au “au” means “to the” in “demander au groupe”. It is the contracted form of “à” with “le” and introduces the group being asked.

ou “ou” means “or” and presents the alternative “le choisir maintenant” in the question. It links two possible actions.

le “le” stands for the restaurant in “le choisir maintenant”, so the speaker is asking whether to choose it now. As an object pronoun, it is placed before the infinitive “choisir” here.

maintenant “maintenant” means “now” in “le choisir maintenant”. It identifies the present moment and can be placed at the end of a sentence, as in “Nous pouvons décider maintenant” in a new example.

Propose “Propose” means “offer” or “propose” in the instruction “Propose-leur deux options”. It is used here to tell someone to suggest choices to the group.

leur “leur” means “to them” in “Propose-leur deux options” and “demande-leur”. It is placed before the following object or infinitive in these instructions to identify the people receiving the proposal or request.

demande “demande” means “ask” in the instruction “demande-leur de répondre rapidement”. It is followed by “leur” for the people being asked and “de” plus an infinitive for the requested action.

répondre “répondre” means “to respond” in “de répondre rapidement”. It follows “de” after “demande-leur” to state what the people are asked to do.

rapidement “rapidement” means “quickly” in “répondre rapidement”. It describes how the response should be given and is placed after the infinitive here.

vais “vais” expresses an immediate future plan in “Je vais envoyer”, meaning “I am going to send”. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Je vais demander” in a new example.

envoyer “envoyer” means “to send” in “Je vais envoyer un petit sondage”. It follows “vais” to describe the planned action and can be followed by the thing being sent.

petit “petit” describes the poll as short or small in scope in “un petit sondage”. It comes before the masculine singular noun “sondage” here.

sondage “sondage” means “poll” in “un petit sondage”. It names the short vote or questionnaire the speaker plans to send to the group.

puissions “puissions” expresses ability or possibility in “pour que nous puissions décider”, meaning “so that we can decide”. It is used after “pour que” and is followed by the infinitive “décider”.

décider “décider” means “to decide” in “puissions décider ce soir”. It names the result the poll is intended to make possible, as in “pour que nous puissions décider demain” in a new example.

soir “soir” means “evening” in “ce soir”, referring to the current evening. The expression “ce soir” is a common way to specify when something will happen.

devrait “devrait” expresses an expected effect in “Cela devrait faire avancer l'organisation”, meaning that this ought to move the planning forward. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Cela devrait aider” in a new example.

faire “faire” means “to make” in the construction “faire avancer l'organisation”, meaning to make the planning move forward. It is followed by “avancer” to describe the resulting progress.

avancer “avancer” means “to move forward” in “faire avancer l'organisation”. The construction “faire avancer” means to help something progress, as in “faire avancer le projet” in a new example.

l'organisation “l'organisation” refers to the planning of the group dinner in “faire avancer l'organisation”. The article is shortened before the vowel in “organisation”, and the full expression names the plan being progressed.

sans “sans” means “without” in “sans demander leur avis”. It is followed here by an infinitive to state an action that is avoided, as in “sans attendre” in a new example.

avis “avis” means “opinion” in “demander leur avis”. It names what is requested from people and commonly follows a possessive such as “leur”.

à “à” introduces the people concerned in “à trop de personnes”. Here it links the action of asking to the group of people whose opinions might be requested.

trop “trop” means “too many” in “à trop de personnes”, indicating an excessive number of people. The pattern “trop de” is followed by a noun, as in “trop de questions” in a new example.

Grammar Points

Nous devrions choisir un restaurant.

Nous devrions choisir un restaurant.

noo duh-vree-ON shwah-ZEER uhn res-toh-RAHN.

We should choose a restaurant.

The conditional form devrions expresses a softer recommendation than devons (“must”).

Propose-leur deux options végétariennes.

Propose-leur deux options végétariennes.

proh-POHZ-luhr duh op-SYON vay-zhay-tah-ree-ENN.

Offer them two vegetarian options.

In a positive imperative, the indirect object pronoun leur follows the verb and is linked with a hyphen.

French Vocabulary

alimentaires adj

ah-lee-mahn-TAIR food-related; dietary

Les préférences alimentaires.

certaines det

sair-TEN some

Certaines personnes veulent des sushis.

chacun pron

shah-KUHN each person; everyone

Les préférences alimentaires de chacun.

choisir verb

shwah-ZEER to choose

Nous devons choisir un restaurant.

devons verb

duh-VON must; need to

Nous devons choisir un restaurant.

devrions verb

duh-vree-ON should

Nous devrions vérifier les préférences alimentaires.

groupe noun

groop group

Notre groupe samedi.

personnes noun

pair-SONN people

Certaines personnes veulent des sushis.

préférences noun

pray-fay-RAHNS preferences

Les préférences alimentaires de chacun.

réserver verb

ray-zair-VAY to book; to reserve

Avant de réserver.

restaurant noun

res-toh-RAHN restaurant

Nous devons choisir un restaurant.

vérifier verb

vay-ree-FYAY to check

Nous devrions vérifier les préférences alimentaires.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

must; need to

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devons

should

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devrions

food-related; dietary

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alimentaires

to check

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vérifier