Inviting a friend to a design event | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: Before a design event, one friend invites another and checks sign-up details, meeting place, and timing..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Inviting a friend to a design event to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Il y a un événement de design cette semaine.

eel yah uhn ay-vayhn-mahn duh dee-ZEEN set suh-MEN There's a design event this week.
A

Je pensais que tu aimerais peut-être y aller.

zhuh pahn-SAY kuh too ehm-uh-RAY puh-TET ee ah-LAY I thought you might want to go.
B

Peut-être. Quel genre d'événement est-ce ?

puh-TET. kel zhahn-ruh day-vayhn-mahn ess? I might. What kind of event is it?
A

Il y a quelques brèves présentations et une petite exposition.

eel yah kelk brev pray-zahn-tah-SYON ay oon puh-TEET ex-poh-zee-SYON It has a few short talks and a small exhibition.
A

Donc, ça devrait être facile d'y passer.

dohnk, sah duh-VRAY etr fah-SEEL dee pah-SAY So it should be easy to drop in.
B

Est-ce que les visiteurs doivent s'inscrire à l'avance ?

ess kuh lay vee-zee-TUR dwahv sahn-SKREER ah lah-VAHNS? Do visitors need to sign up beforehand?
A

Je vais vérifier la page de l'événement et t'envoyer les détails.

zhuh vay vay-ree-fee-AY lah pahzh duh lay-vayhn-mahn ay tahn-vwah-YAY lay day-TY I'll check the event page and send you the details.
B

Tu pourrais aussi vérifier où nous devons nous retrouver ?

too poo-RAY oh-SEE vay-ree-fee-AY oo noo duh-VON noo ruh-troo-VAY? Could you also find out where we should meet?
A

Si l'inscription est simple, retrouvons-nous près de l'entrée avant la première présentation.

see lahn-skreep-SYON ay SAM-pluh, ruh-troo-VON noo pray duh lahn-TRAY ah-VAHN lah pruh-MYER pray-zahn-tah-SYON If sign-up is simple, let's meet by the entrance before the first talk.
B

Ça me va. Envoie-moi le plan dès que tu l'as.

sah muh vah. ahn-VWAH-mwah luh plahn day kuh too lah That works for me. Send the plan once you have it.
A

Ce soir, je confirmerai les règles d'inscription et je proposerai une heure pour nous retrouver.

suh SWAHR, zhuh kohn-feer-muh-RAY lay regl dahn-skreep-SYON ay zhuh proh-poh-zuh-RAY oon uhr poor noo ruh-troo-VAY Tonight, I will confirm the sign-up rules and suggest a meeting time.
B

Alors, je pourrai garder cette soirée libre.

ah-LOR, zhuh poo-RAY gar-DAY set swah-RAY leeb Then I can keep that evening free.

Word by Word

Il In “Il y a un événement de design”, “Il” is part of the expression meaning “there is”. Here it does not mean “he”. The pattern “Il y a …” introduces something that exists or is present.
y In “Il y a un événement de design”, “y” is part of the expression meaning “there is”, rather than referring to a separate location. The fixed pattern “Il y a …” is used to say that something exists or is available.
a In “Il y a un événement de design”, “a” helps form the expression meaning “there is”. Although “a” can mean “has” in other contexts, here the complete pattern is “Il y a …”. Use “Il y a …” to introduce a person, thing, or event.
un In “un événement”, “un” means “a” and introduces one unspecified masculine noun. It comes directly before the noun. Use the same article pattern with a singular masculine noun.
événement “événement” means “event” in “un événement de design”. It names the event being announced. A common pattern is “un événement de …” to identify its subject or type.
de In “un événement de design”, “de” links the event to its subject: an event about design. It comes before the topic or field. The pattern “un événement de …” can identify an event’s theme.
design “design” refers to design in “un événement de design”. It identifies the subject of the event. It follows “de” in the pattern “un événement de design”.
cette In “cette semaine”, “cette” means “this” and points to the feminine noun “semaine”. It comes before the noun. Use “cette + noun” to refer to a particular feminine thing or period.
semaine “semaine” means “week” in “cette semaine”, referring to the current week. It follows the demonstrative determiner “cette”. The expression “cette semaine” is used when arranging or discussing something during the current week.
Je “Je” means “I” in “Je pensais que tu aimerais peut-être y aller”. It identifies the person expressing the thought. It normally comes before the verb, as in “Je pensais …”.
pensais In “Je pensais que tu aimerais peut-être y aller”, “pensais” expresses the thought “I thought”. It introduces the idea that follows “que”. The pattern “Je pensais que …” is useful for introducing a previous thought or expectation.
que In “Je pensais que tu aimerais peut-être y aller”, “que” introduces the content of the thought. It links “Je pensais” to the following clause. The reusable pattern is “Je pensais que …” followed by what someone thought.
tu “tu” means “you” when speaking to one person informally, as in “tu aimerais peut-être y aller”. It is the person being invited. It comes before the verb in this clause.
aimerais In “tu aimerais peut-être y aller”, “aimerais” expresses that the person might like or would like to go. It is used here as a gentle way to suggest an invitation. The pattern “tu aimerais …” can ask or suggest whether someone would like to do something.
peut-être “peut-être” means “maybe” or “perhaps” in “tu aimerais peut-être y aller”. It makes the invitation less definite and leaves room for the other person’s choice. It can be placed before an infinitive phrase, as in “peut-être y aller”.
aller In “y aller”, “aller” means “to go”, referring to going to the design event. It follows another verb in the phrase “aimerais peut-être y aller”. Use “aller” after a verb when describing the action someone may want to do.
Quel In “Quel genre d'événement est-ce ?”, “Quel” means “what” and asks for the type of event. It comes before the masculine noun “genre”. The pattern “Quel genre de … ?” asks what kind of thing something is.
genre In “Quel genre d'événement est-ce ?”, “genre” means “kind” or “type”. It asks about the category of the event rather than its name. Use “Quel genre de … ?” to ask what type of thing someone means.
d'événement In “Quel genre d'événement est-ce ?”, “d'événement” means “of event” after “Quel genre”. The form combines “de” with “événement” before a vowel. The complete pattern “Quel genre d'événement … ?” asks what type of event it is.
Est-ce In “Est-ce que les visiteurs doivent s'inscrire à l'avance ?”, “Est-ce” is part of the question marker “Est-ce que”. It signals a direct question. The pattern “Est-ce que … ?” can turn a statement structure into a yes-or-no question.
quelques In “quelques brèves présentations”, “quelques” means “a few” and indicates a small number of presentations. It comes before the plural noun phrase. Use “quelques + plural noun” for an unspecified small number.
brèves In “quelques brèves présentations”, “brèves” means “short” or “brief” and describes the presentations. Its form agrees with the plural feminine noun “présentations”. It comes before the noun here.
présentations “présentations” means “presentations” or “talks” in “quelques brèves présentations”. It refers to the short talks at the event. The pattern “une présentation” can name one talk, while “quelques … présentations” names a few.
et “et” means “and” in “quelques brèves présentations et une petite exposition”. It joins the talks with the exhibition. Use “et” to connect two nouns, actions, or ideas.
une In “une petite exposition”, “une” means “a” and introduces one unspecified feminine noun. It comes before “petite exposition”. Use “une + noun” with a singular feminine noun.
petite In “une petite exposition”, “petite” means “small” and describes the exhibition. Its form matches the feminine noun “exposition”. It comes before the noun in this phrase.
exposition “exposition” means “exhibition” in “une petite exposition”. It refers to the displayed work at the event. A common pattern is “une exposition” with an adjective before it when describing its size or character.
Donc “Donc” means “so” or “therefore” in “Donc, ça devrait être facile d'y passer”. It connects the information about the event to a conclusion. Use it to introduce a result or conclusion.
ça In “ça devrait être facile d'y passer”, “ça” means “that” or “it” and refers to attending the event. It is the thing being evaluated as easy. The pattern “ça devrait être …” expresses an expectation about something.
devrait In “ça devrait être facile d'y passer”, “devrait” expresses “should” or an expectation that something will probably be so. It is followed here by “être facile”. The pattern “ça devrait être + adjective” gives a prediction or cautious assessment.
être In “ça devrait être facile”, “être” means “to be” and links the subject to the description “facile”. It follows “devrait”. Use “devoir” followed by “être” when saying what something should or is expected to be.
facile In “être facile d'y passer”, “facile” means “easy”. It describes attending the event briefly or casually. The pattern “être facile de + infinitive” describes an action that is easy to do.
d'y In “facile d'y passer”, “d'y” introduces the action of going there, with “y” referring to the event location. Together, “d'y passer” means “to drop in there” or “to pass by there”. The pattern “facile d'y + infinitive” describes an easy action at a place already understood.
passer In “d'y passer”, “passer” means “to drop in” or “to pass by”, suggesting a brief visit to the event. It follows “d'y”. Use “passer” in a phrase such as “passer quelque part” when talking about stopping by a place.
les In “les visiteurs”, “les” means “the” and introduces the plural group of visitors. It comes directly before the plural noun. Use “les” when referring to specific people or things in the plural.
visiteurs “visiteurs” means “visitors” in “les visiteurs doivent s'inscrire”. It refers to the people attending the event. The pattern “les visiteurs doivent …” describes a requirement for attendees.
doivent In “les visiteurs doivent s'inscrire à l'avance”, “doivent” expresses that the visitors need to or must register. It is followed by the infinitive “s'inscrire”. Use “devoir + infinitive” to state a requirement.
s'inscrire In “doivent s'inscrire à l'avance”, “s'inscrire” means “to sign up” or “to register”. It describes the visitors registering themselves for the event. The pattern “s'inscrire à l'avance” means to register beforehand.
à In “à l'avance”, “à” is part of the expression meaning “in advance”. It is not translated separately in the complete phrase. Use the fixed expression “à l'avance” when something happens beforehand.
l'avance In “à l'avance”, “l'avance” completes the expression meaning “in advance” or “beforehand”. The article is shortened before the vowel in “avance”. The full pattern “s'inscrire à l'avance” is useful for saying that registration must happen beforehand.
vais In “Je vais vérifier la page de l'événement”, “vais” helps express what I am going to do next. It is followed by the infinitive “vérifier”. The pattern “Je vais + infinitive” is used for a planned or imminent action.
vérifier In “Je vais vérifier la page de l'événement”, “vérifier” means “to check” or “to verify”. It describes looking at the event page for reliable information. Use “vérifier + noun” for the thing you check.
la In “la page de l'événement”, “la” means “the” and introduces the feminine noun “page”. It comes directly before the noun. Use “la + noun” with a singular feminine noun.
page “page” means “page” in “la page de l'événement”. Here it refers to the event’s information page. The pattern “la page de …” identifies the page belonging to or concerning something.
l'événement In “la page de l'événement”, “l'événement” means “the event”. The form uses “l'” before the vowel at the start of “événement”. The pattern “la page de l'événement” identifies the page containing information about the event.
t'envoyer In “t'envoyer les détails”, “t'envoyer” means “to send you”, with “t'” referring to the friend receiving the details. It follows “vais” in “Je vais …”. The pattern “envoyer quelque chose à quelqu'un” expresses sending something to someone.
détails “détails” means “details” in “t'envoyer les détails”. It refers to the practical event information that will be sent. The pattern “envoyer les détails” is useful when sharing information about arrangements.
pourrais In “Tu pourrais aussi vérifier où nous devons nous retrouver ?”, “pourrais” makes a polite request: “could you”. It is followed by the infinitive “vérifier”. Use “Tu pourrais + infinitive ?” to ask a friend to do something politely.
aussi “aussi” means “also” in “Tu pourrais aussi vérifier …”. It adds another request to the earlier offer to check the event page. It commonly comes after the conjugated verb in this kind of sentence.
où In “où nous devons nous retrouver”, “où” means “where” and introduces the place to be found. It links the question to the following clause. Use “où + clause” when asking about a location.
nous In “où nous devons nous retrouver”, “nous” means “we” and identifies the people who need to meet. It appears before “devons”. In “nous retrouver”, the same form refers to meeting one another.
devons In “nous devons nous retrouver”, “devons” expresses that we have to or should meet. It is followed by the infinitive phrase “nous retrouver”. The pattern “nous devons + infinitive” states an obligation or arrangement for “we”.
retrouver In “nous devons nous retrouver”, “retrouver” means “to meet” or “to meet up” when used with “nous”. The complete phrase refers to the friends meeting one another. Use “se retrouver” when arranging to meet at a place or time.
Si “Si” means “if” in “Si l'inscription est simple”. It introduces the condition for the suggested meeting plan. The pattern “Si + clause” presents a condition before its result or proposal.
l'inscription In “Si l'inscription est simple”, “l'inscription” means “the registration” or “sign-up”. The form uses “l'” before the vowel at the start of “inscription”. The pattern “l'inscription est …” describes the registration process.
est In “l'inscription est simple”, “est” means “is” and links “l'inscription” to the description “simple”. It is followed by an adjective here. Use “noun + est + adjective” to describe a thing or situation.
simple In “l'inscription est simple”, “simple” means “simple” or “easy”. It describes the registration process. The pattern “être simple” can describe a process that does not require much effort or complexity.
retrouvons-nous “retrouvons-nous” means “let’s meet” in “retrouvons-nous près de l'entrée”. It proposes a shared meeting arrangement. The pattern “retrouvons-nous + place or time” is useful when suggesting where or when to meet.
près In “près de l'entrée”, “près” means “near” or “close to”. It identifies the meeting location relative to the entrance. Use “près de + noun” to say that something is near a place or object.
l'entrée In “près de l'entrée”, “l'entrée” means “the entrance”. The form uses “l'” before the vowel at the start of “entrée”. The pattern “près de l'entrée” gives a precise meeting place.
avant In “avant la première présentation”, “avant” means “before”. It places the meeting earlier than the first talk. Use “avant + noun” to specify that one event happens before another.
première In “la première présentation”, “première” means “first” and describes the first presentation in the event’s sequence. Its form matches the feminine noun “présentation”. It comes before the noun here.
présentation In “la première présentation”, “présentation” means “presentation” or “talk”. It identifies the first talk before which the friends will meet. The pattern “avant la première présentation” places an action before that talk.
me In “Ça me va”, “me” means “to me” and identifies the person for whom the arrangement is acceptable. The complete expression “Ça me va” means “That works for me”. Use it to accept a proposed plan or arrangement.
va In “Ça me va”, “va” contributes to the expression meaning “That works for me” or “That suits me”. The complete expression, rather than “va” alone, communicates acceptance of the plan. It is useful in response to a proposed time, place, or arrangement.
Envoie-moi “Envoie-moi le plan” means “Send me the plan”. “Envoie-moi” combines the request to send with “moi”, meaning “to me”. Use this pattern when asking someone to send a specific item to you.
le In “le plan”, “le” means “the” and introduces the masculine noun “plan”. It comes directly before the noun. Use “le + noun” with a singular masculine noun.
plan “plan” means “plan” in “Envoie-moi le plan”. Here it refers to the agreed event arrangements. The pattern “envoyer le plan” is useful when sharing organized details for a meeting or outing.
dès In “dès que tu l'as”, “dès” helps form the expression “as soon as”. It introduces the moment when the plan becomes available. Use “dès que + clause” to request or describe an action immediately after another event.
l'as In “dès que tu l'as”, “l'as” means “have it”: “l'” refers to the plan and “as” is the verb form used with “tu”. The complete phrase means “as soon as you have it”. Use “tu l'as” when “it” refers to something already understood.
Ce In “Ce soir”, “Ce” means “this” and points to the current evening or tonight. It comes before the masculine noun “soir”. Use “Ce + time expression” to refer to a particular current period.
soir “soir” means “evening” in “Ce soir”, which means “tonight”. It forms a time expression with “Ce”. Use “Ce soir” when stating when an action will happen tonight.
confirmerai In “je confirmerai les règles d'inscription”, “confirmerai” means “will confirm”. It states a future action concerning the registration rules. The pattern “je + future verb” can announce what you will do later.
règles “règles” means “rules” in “les règles d'inscription”. It refers to the requirements governing sign-up. The pattern “les règles de …” identifies the rules for a process or activity.
d'inscription In “les règles d'inscription”, “d'inscription” means “of registration” or “about sign-up”. It specifies what the rules concern. The pattern “les règles d'inscription” refers to the requirements for registering.
proposerai In “je proposerai une heure pour nous retrouver”, “proposerai” means “will suggest” or “will propose”. It states a future offer of a meeting time. The pattern “proposer une heure” is useful when suggesting when to meet.
heure In “une heure pour nous retrouver”, “heure” means “time” or literally “hour”; here it means a time for meeting. It is introduced by “une”. Use “proposer une heure pour …” when suggesting a time for an activity.
pour In “une heure pour nous retrouver”, “pour” introduces the purpose of the suggested time: meeting up. It is followed by the infinitive phrase “nous retrouver”. The pattern “une heure pour + infinitive” identifies a time intended for an action.
Alors “Alors” means “then” or “in that case” in “Alors, je pourrai garder cette soirée libre”. It connects the confirmed plan with the speaker’s next action. Use it to introduce a consequence of information just given.
pourrai In “je pourrai garder cette soirée libre”, “pourrai” means “will be able to”. It expresses that the speaker will have the possibility of keeping the evening free. The pattern “je pourrai + infinitive” describes a future ability or possibility.
garder In “garder cette soirée libre”, “garder” means “to keep” the evening available. It is followed by the object “cette soirée” and the description “libre”. Use “garder + time period + adjective” when reserving that period for a purpose.
soirée In “cette soirée libre”, “soirée” means “evening” as a period of time. It is the evening the speaker plans to leave available. The pattern “garder une soirée libre” means to keep an evening unoccupied.
libre In “garder cette soirée libre”, “libre” means “free” or “available”. It describes the evening that will not be filled with another activity. Use “garder une soirée libre” when reserving time for a possible plan.

Grammar Points

J’aimerais + infinitif

J’aimerais passer à l’exposition.

zhuh ehm-uh-RAY pah-SAY ah lay-poh-zee-SYON

I would like to drop by the exhibition.

« J’aimerais » est le conditionnel de « aimer » et sert à exprimer une envie ou une demande polie.

Dès que + futur simple

Dès que je confirmerai l’événement, je proposerai les détails.

day kuh zhuh kohn-feer-muh-RAY lay-vayhn-mahn, zhuh proh-poh-zuh-RAY lay day-TY

As soon as I confirm the event, I will suggest the details.

Après « dès que », le français emploie souvent le futur pour parler d’une action à venir.

French Vocabulary

à l'avance phrase
ah lah-VAHNS beforehand; in advance
aimer verb
ay-MAY to like; to want aimerais
cette semaine phrase
set suh-MEN this week
événement noun
ay-vayhn-mahn event

un événement de design

exposition noun
ex-poh-zee-SYON exhibition
passer verb
pah-SAY to drop in; to pass by
penser verb
pahn-SAY to think pensais
peut-être adv
puh-TET perhaps; maybe
présentation noun
pray-zahn-tah-SYON talk; presentation

quelques brèves présentations

quel genre de phrase
kel zhahn-ruh duh what kind of
s'inscrire verb
sahn-SKREER to sign up; to register
visiteur noun
vee-zee-TUR visitor visiteurs

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I might. What kind of event is it?

Show AnswerPeut-être. Quel genre d'événement est-ce ?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to think

Show Answerpensais

exhibition

Show Answerexposition

to like; to want

Show Answeraimerais

to drop in; to pass by

Show Answerpasser