Fixing a Stuck Print Job | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a library, a patron asks for help with a stuck print job and waits while staff check the printer safely..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a Stuck Print Job to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mon document est bloqué dans la file d'attente de l'imprimante et rien ne sort.

mohn doh-koo-MAHN eh bloh-KAY dahn lah feel dah-TONT duh lahm-pree-MAHNT ay ree-EHN nuh sohr My document is stuck in the printer queue, and nothing is coming out.
B

Vérifions l'écran avant de relancer le travail d'impression.

vay-ree-FYOHN lay-KRAHN ah-VAHN duh ruh-lahn-SAY luh trah-VAI dahm-PREH-syohn Let's check the screen before sending the job again.
A

J'ai choisi l'impression recto verso, mais l'écran affiche une erreur.

zhay shwah-ZEE ahm-PREH-syohn REK-toh VAIR-soh meh lay-KRAHN ah-FEESH ewn eh-RUHR I chose double-sided printing, but the display shows an error.
B

Il y a peut-être un bourrage papier, alors ne touchez pas aux commandes pour le moment.

eel ee ah puh-TETR uhn boo-RAHZH pah-PYAY ah-LOHR nuh too-SHAY pah oh koh-MAHND poor luh moh-MAHN There may be a paper jam, so leave the controls alone for now.
A

Je ne veux pas le relancer et ajouter un autre travail à la file d'attente.

zhuh nuh vuh pah luh ruh-lahn-SAY ay ah-zhoo-TAY uhn OH-truh trah-VAI ah lah feel dah-TONT I do not want to resend it and add another job to the queue.
B

Je peux annuler le travail qui a échoué avant que vous essayiez à nouveau.

zhuh puh ah-new-LAY luh trah-VAI kee ah ay-SHWAY ah-VAHN kuh voo zeh-SAY-YAY ah noo-VOH I can cancel the failed job before you try again.
A

Pourriez-vous vérifier l'imprimante avant que j'envoie autre chose ?

poo-ree-AY-VOO vay-ree-FYAY lahm-pree-MAHNT ah-VAHN kuh zhahn-VWAH OH-truh shohz Could you check the printer before I send anything else?
B

Je vais regarder, mais n'ouvrez pas la machine vous-même, s'il vous plaît.

zhuh veh ruh-gar-DAY meh noo-VRAY pah lah mah-SHEEN voo-MEM seel voo PLEH I'll take a look, but please do not open the machine yourself.
A

J'attendrai ici pendant que vous la vérifiez.

zhah-tahn-DRAY ee-SEE pahn-DAHN kuh voo lah vay-ree-FYAY I'll wait here while you check it.
B

Cela nous aidera à résoudre le problème sans ajouter d'autres travaux d'impression.

suh-LAH noo-zeh-day-RAH ah ray-ZOO-DRUH luh proh-BLEM sahn ah-zhoo-TAY DOH-truh trah-VOH dahm-PREH-syohn That will help us clear the problem without adding more print jobs.

Word by Word

Mon “Mon” means “my” in “Mon document” and identifies the document as belonging to the speaker. It is placed before the noun it describes, as in “Mon document est bloqué”.
document “document” means the document or file that is being printed here. It is the noun described by “Mon” and “est bloqué”; the word can commonly refer to a file or text prepared for printing.
est “est” means “is” and links “Mon document” to the state “bloqué”. Its citation form is être; here it introduces the document’s current condition.
bloqué “bloqué” describes the document as stuck or unable to proceed in the printer queue. Its citation form is bloquer; in “est bloqué”, it describes the document’s condition.
dans “dans” means “in” and places the document inside “la file d'attente de l'imprimante”. It commonly introduces the place or container where something is located.
la In “la file”, “la” means “the” before the feminine noun “file”; in “la vérifiez”, it means “it” and refers to the printer. Its exact meaning therefore depends on whether it comes before a noun or before a verb.
file “file” means a queue or line in “la file d'attente de l'imprimante”. The full expression is used for print jobs waiting to be processed.
d'attente “d'attente” contributes the idea of waiting in “la file d'attente”. The phrase “file d'attente” is a reusable expression for a queue of items waiting for service or processing.
de In “file d'attente” and “travail d'impression”, “de” links one noun to the noun that specifies it. It shows what kind of queue or job is meant: a waiting queue and a printing job.
l'imprimante “l'imprimante” means “the printer” in “la file d'attente de l'imprimante”. The form uses l' before the vowel sound at the beginning of imprimante.
et “et” means “and” and joins the statement about the document with the statement that nothing comes out. It is used to connect two related pieces of information.
rien “rien” means “nothing” in “rien ne sort”. Together with “ne”, it expresses that no printed item is coming out; “rien” identifies the absent thing.
ne “ne” helps form the negative expression “rien ne sort”. It also appears with “pas” in “ne touchez pas”, so its role is to mark negation together with the other negative element.
sort “sort” means “comes out” in “rien ne sort”. Its citation form is sortir; here the form describes the printed result leaving the printer.
Vérifions “Vérifions” means “let’s check” and proposes that the speakers inspect the screen together. Its citation form is vérifier; the form is used to suggest a shared action.
l'écran “l'écran” means “the screen” that the speakers will inspect. The form uses l' before the vowel at the beginning of écran.
avant The first “avant” means “before” in “avant de relancer le travail d'impression”. With “de” and an infinitive, it places the checking earlier than resending the print job.
relancer “relancer” means to restart or resend the print job in “relancer le travail d'impression”. Its citation form is already relancer; “avant de relancer” is a reusable pattern for an action that happens before trying something again.
le In “le travail”, “le” means “the”; in “le relancer”, it means “it” and refers to the print job. The form can therefore be an article before a noun or an object pronoun before an infinitive.
travail “travail” means the job or task in “le travail d'impression”. In this lesson it refers to a print job, and “travail” is placed before “d'impression” to identify its type.
d'impression “d'impression” means “of printing” and specifies the kind of “travail” being discussed. The expression “travail d'impression” is a reusable way to name a print job.
J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” and introduces the speaker’s selected printing option in “J'ai choisi”. Its citation form is avoir; here it works with the following form to present the speaker’s choice.
choisi “choisi” means “chosen” or “selected” in “J'ai choisi l'impression recto verso”. Its citation form is choisir; it identifies the printing option selected by the speaker.
l'impression “l'impression” means “the printing” or the printing option in “l'impression recto verso”. The form uses l' before the vowel at the beginning of impression.
recto “recto” means the front side of a page in “l'impression recto verso”. Together with “verso”, it identifies printing on both sides of the paper.
verso “verso” means the back side of a page in “l'impression recto verso”. It forms a two-sided printing expression together with “recto”.
mais “mais” means “but” and introduces a problem that contrasts with the speaker’s chosen setting. It commonly connects an expected result with an opposing fact.
affiche “affiche” means “displays” or “shows” in “l'écran affiche une erreur”. Its citation form is afficher; the screen is the thing that displays the error.
une “une” means “a” before “erreur” in “une erreur”. It introduces one unspecified error shown on the display.
erreur “erreur” means “error” in “une erreur”. It names the problem shown by the printer’s screen, and it commonly follows “une” when referring to an unspecified error.
Il “Il” does not refer to a person in “Il y a peut-être un bourrage papier”. It is part of the impersonal expression “Il y a”, which presents the possible existence of something.
y “y” is part of “Il y a”, the expression used here to say that a paper jam may exist. Its contribution is not a separate physical location in this sentence; the whole expression introduces something that may be present.
a “a” completes “Il y a”, which means that something exists or is present. Its citation form is avoir; here the expression introduces “un bourrage papier” as a possibility.
peut-être “peut-être” means “perhaps” or “maybe” and makes the paper jam a possibility rather than a certainty. It modifies the statement “Il y a un bourrage papier”.
un “un” means “a” before “bourrage” in “un bourrage papier”. It introduces one possible paper jam without identifying a specific one.
bourrage “bourrage” means a jam or blockage in “un bourrage papier”. Together with “papier”, it names the printer problem that may be preventing the job from proceeding.
papier “papier” means “paper” and specifies the type of “bourrage” in “bourrage papier”. The two words form a compact expression for a paper jam.
alors “alors” means “so” and connects the possible paper jam to the instruction not to touch the controls. It introduces the practical consequence of the preceding situation.
touchez “touchez” means “touch” in the negative instruction “ne touchez pas aux commandes”. Its citation form is toucher; here it tells the addressee not to handle the controls.
pas “pas” is the negative element paired with “ne” in “ne touchez pas”. Together they turn the instruction into “do not touch the controls”.
aux “aux” means “to or at the” in “touchez pas aux commandes”. It is the contracted form of à and les, and it links the verb to the plural object “commandes”.
commandes “commandes” means the printer’s controls in “aux commandes”. The word identifies the buttons or control elements that the speaker is told not to touch.
pour In “pour le moment”, “pour” contributes the meaning “for”. The full expression means “for now” and limits the instruction to the present period.
moment “moment” means “moment” or “time” in “pour le moment”. Together with “pour”, it forms the reusable expression “pour le moment”, meaning “for now”.
Je “Je” means “I” and marks the speaker as the subject of “Je ne veux pas” and “Je peux”. It normally appears before the verb that describes the speaker’s intention or ability.
veux “veux” means “want” in “Je ne veux pas le relancer”. Its citation form is vouloir; with “ne...pas”, it expresses that the speaker does not want to resend the job.
ajouter “ajouter” means “add” in “ajouter un autre travail à la file d'attente”. Its citation form is already ajouter; the object is “un autre travail”, and the destination is introduced by “à”.
autre “autre” means “another” in “un autre travail”. It distinguishes this possible print job from the one already in the queue.
à In “ajouter un autre travail à la file d'attente”, “à” marks the queue to which the additional job would be added. It is used here to show the destination of the addition.
peux “peux” means “can” or “am able to” in “Je peux annuler”. Its citation form is pouvoir; it introduces an action the speaker is able to perform.
annuler “annuler” means “cancel” in “Je peux annuler le travail”. Its citation form is already annuler; it is followed by the job that will be cancelled.
qui “qui” means “that” or “which” in “le travail qui a échoué”. It links the noun “travail” to the information that the job failed.
échoué “échoué” means “failed” in “le travail qui a échoué”. Its citation form is échouer; here it describes the unsuccessful print job.
que “que” connects “avant” to the clause “vous essayiez à nouveau”. In this sentence, it introduces the action that has not yet happened when the cancellation takes place.
vous “vous” refers to the other person or people being addressed in “vous essayiez”, “Pourriez-vous”, and “vous-même”. It also helps make the requests and instructions address the listener directly.
essayiez “essayiez” means “try” in “avant que vous essayiez à nouveau”. Its citation form is essayer; it describes the listener’s next attempt.
nouveau In “à nouveau”, “nouveau” contributes the meaning “again”, not simply “new”. The expression describes repeating the attempt to send the print job.
Pourriez-vous “Pourriez-vous” means “could you” and makes a polite request to check the printer. Its citation form is pouvoir; the pronoun follows the verb with a hyphen in this request form.
vérifier “vérifier” means “check” in “Pourriez-vous vérifier l'imprimante”. Its citation form is already vérifier; it names the action requested of the other person.
j'envoie “j'envoie” means “I send” in “avant que j'envoie autre chose”. Its citation form is envoyer; the form refers to the speaker sending another item.
chose “chose” means “thing” in “autre chose”. Together, “autre chose” refers to another item that could be sent to the printer.
vais “vais” contributes the idea of going to do something in “Je vais regarder”. Its citation form is aller; together with “regarder”, it states the speaker’s immediate intention to take a look.
regarder “regarder” means “look” in “Je vais regarder”, which naturally means “I’ll take a look”. Its citation form is already regarder; it follows “vais” to express the intended action.
n'ouvrez “n'ouvrez” means “do not open” as the first part of “n'ouvrez pas la machine”. Its citation form is ouvrir; the apostrophe joins the negative marker to the verb before its vowel sound.
machine “machine” means “machine” in “la machine”. Here it refers to the printer that the listener is asked not to open.
vous-même “vous-même” means “yourself” and emphasizes that the listener should not open the machine personally. It adds emphasis to the person performing the action.
s'il “s'il” is the opening part of the polite expression “s'il vous plaît”. It contributes the “if it” wording that, together with “vous plaît”, makes the request courteous.
plaît “plaît” completes “s'il vous plaît”, the standard polite expression used after the instruction. Its citation form is plaire; within the expression, it helps soften the request.
J'attendrai “J'attendrai” means “I will wait” in “J'attendrai ici”. Its citation form is attendre; here it states the speaker’s intention to remain waiting while the printer is checked.
ici “ici” means “here” and specifies the place where the speaker will wait. It commonly follows a verb of staying or waiting when the location is clear.
pendant “pendant” means “while” in “pendant que vous la vérifiez”. Together with “que”, it links the speaker’s waiting to the simultaneous checking action.
vérifiez “vérifiez” means “check” in “pendant que vous la vérifiez”. Its citation form is vérifier; the form describes the action the listener is carrying out while the speaker waits.
Cela “Cela” means “that” or “this” and refers back to the plan just described, including waiting while the printer is checked. It is the subject of “Cela nous aidera”.
nous “nous” means “us” in “Cela nous aidera”. It identifies the people who will benefit from resolving the problem.
aidera “aidera” means “will help” in “Cela nous aidera à résoudre le problème”. Its citation form is aider; it takes “nous” as the people helped and leads into the action that will help.
résoudre “résoudre” means “resolve” or “solve” in “aidera à résoudre le problème”. Its citation form is already résoudre; the construction “aider à résoudre” connects help with the problem-solving action.
problème “problème” means “problem” in “résoudre le problème”. It identifies the printer issue that the speakers are trying to solve.
sans “sans” means “without” in “sans ajouter d'autres travaux d'impression”. It introduces an action that will be avoided, commonly followed here by an infinitive.
d'autres “d'autres” means “other” or “additional” in “d'autres travaux d'impression”. It indicates print jobs beyond the ones already under discussion.
travaux “travaux” means “jobs” or “tasks” in “d'autres travaux d'impression”. Its citation form is travail; travaux is the plural form used for the additional print jobs.

Grammar Points

avant de + infinitif

Avant de relancer, vérifions l'écran.

ah-VAHN duh ruh-lahn-SAY, vay-ree-FYOHN lay-KRAHN

Before restarting, let's check the screen.

Use avant de followed by an infinitive when the same person performs both actions.

Pourriez-vous + infinitif ?

Pourriez-vous vérifier ?

poo-ree-AY-VOO vay-ree-FYAY

Could you check?

Pourriez-vous is a polite request form followed directly by an infinitive.

French Vocabulary

avant de prep
ah-VAHN duh before
bloqué adj
bloh-KAY stuck
choisi verb
shwah-ZEE chosen
document noun
doh-koo-MAHN document
écran noun
ay-KRAHN screen
file d'attente phrase
feel dah-TONT queue
imprimante noun
ehm-pree-MAHNT printer
relancer verb
ruh-lahn-SAY to restart; to resend
rien pron
ree-EHN nothing
sort verb
sohr comes out
travail d'impression phrase
trah-VAI dahm-PREH-syohn print job
Vérifions verb
vay-ree-FYOHN let's check

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

document

Show Answerdocument

stuck

Show Answerbloqué

let's check

Show AnswerVérifions

printer

Show Answerimprimante