Borrowing and caring for a non-stick pan | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, one adult borrows a non-stick pan and asks how to use, wash, and return it carefully..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing and caring for a non-stick pan to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Est-ce que je peux emprunter ta poêle antiadhésive pour préparer quelque chose ?

ess kuh zhuh puh ahn-pruhn-TAY tah PWAHL ahn-tyah-day-ZEEV poor pray-pah-RAY kel-kuh SHOZ? Can I borrow your non-stick pan for something I am cooking?
B

Oui, mais n'utilise pas d'ustensiles en métal avec cette poêle, s'il te plaît.

wee, meh nee-tee-LEEZ pah dews-tahn-SEEL ahn may-TAHL ah-VEK set PWAHL, seel tuh PLEH. You can, but please do not use metal utensils on it.
A

J'utiliserai une cuillère en bois pour ne pas rayer la surface.

zhoo-tee-lee-zuh-RAY oon kwee-YEHR ahn BWAH poor nuh pah ray-YAY lah sewr-FAHS. I will use a wooden spoon so I do not scratch the surface.
B

Régle aussi le feu sur moyen, car une température élevée peut endommager le revêtement.

REH-gluh oh-SEE luh FUH sewr mwah-YEN, kar oon tahm-pay-rah-TOOR ay-luh-VAY puh ahn-doh-mah-ZHAY luh ruh-vet-MAHN. Keep the heat at medium too, because high heat can damage the coating.
A

Je préfère demander maintenant plutôt que de deviner et de l'abîmer.

zhuh pray-FEHR duh-mahn-DAY mahn-tuh-NAHN plew-TOH kuh duh duh-vee-NAY ay duh lah-bee-MAY. I would rather ask now than guess and ruin it.
B

Ça m'aide. Elle devrait durer plus longtemps si on en prend soin.

sah MED. el duh-VREH doo-RAY ploo lohn-TAN see ohn ahn PRAHNDR SWAN. That helps. It should last longer if it is handled carefully.
A

Est-ce que je dois la laver à la main au lieu de la mettre au lave-vaisselle ?

ess kuh zhuh DWAH lah lah-VAY ah lah MAN oh LYUH duh lah METR oh lahv-veh-SEL? Should I wash it by hand instead of putting it in the dishwasher?
B

Lave-la doucement à la main et sèche-la avant de la rapporter.

lahv-LAH doo-suh-MAHN ah lah MAN ay SESH-LAH ah-VAHN duh lah rah-por-TAY. Wash it gently by hand and dry it before you bring it back.
A

Je la rapporterai propre quand j'aurai fini de cuisiner.

zhuh lah rah-por-tuh-RAY PROPR kahn zhoh-RAY fee-NEE duh kwee-zee-NAY. I will return it clean after I finish cooking.
B

Dis-moi comment le plat sera.

DEE-mwah koh-MAHN luh PLAH suh-RAH. Let me know how the dish turns out.

Word by Word

Est-ce que Est-ce que is the question formula used to ask whether I can borrow the pan. Est-ce contributes the question frame, and que links it to the following clause. Use Est-ce que before a statement to form a yes-or-no question.
je je means I in je peux emprunter. Je is capitalized as Je at the beginning of a sentence, as in Je la rapporterai. It is used before the verb when the speaker is the subject.
peux peux means can in je peux emprunter. It is a form of pouvoir used with an infinitive, here emprunter. Use je peux + infinitive to ask or state whether you can do something.
emprunter emprunter means to borrow, here referring to taking the pan temporarily for cooking. It is an infinitive after peux. Use emprunter with the item being borrowed.
ta ta means your when speaking to one person informally, as in ta poêle. It is placed before the feminine singular noun it describes. Here it identifies the pan as belonging to the person addressed.
poêle poêle means pan in ta poêle antiadhésive. It names the cooking item being borrowed, used, washed, and returned. A useful pattern is poêle + a description such as antiadhésive.
antiadhésive antiadhésive means non-stick and describes the poêle. It is the feminine form used with poêle; the masculine dictionary form is antiadhésif. Use it after or before a feminine noun when describing a non-stick item.
pour pour introduces the purpose of borrowing the pan in pour préparer quelque chose. Here it means in order to. Use pour + infinitive to explain the purpose of an action.
préparer préparer means to prepare, here describing the food the speaker intends to make. It is an infinitive after pour and takes quelque chose as its object. Use préparer + an object for preparing food or another thing.
quelque chose quelque chose means something, referring to an unspecified thing the speaker will prepare. The expression combines quelque, some or a certain amount, with chose, thing. Use quelque chose after a verb when the exact thing is not specified.
Oui Oui means yes and confirms that borrowing the pan is allowed. Here it is a short answer before the restriction introduced by mais. Use Oui as a standalone confirmation.
mais mais means but and introduces a restriction after permission has been given. In Oui, mais..., it connects the approval with the instruction not to use metal utensils. Use mais to contrast two parts of a statement.
n'utilise n'utilise means do not use in the negative instruction n'utilise pas. It is the command form of utiliser, with ne shortened to n' before the vowel. Use n'utilise pas to tell one informal person not to use something.
pas pas completes the negation in n'utilise pas and ne pas. Here it changes the instruction from use to do not use. Use pas together with ne or its shortened form n' for this negative pattern.
d'ustensiles d'ustensiles refers to utensils in the instruction about what not to use with the pan. The form d' comes from de before the vowel at the beginning of ustensiles. It names cooking tools in the plural.
en en links a utensil to its material in en métal, meaning made of metal. Here it does not mean a location; it identifies what the utensils are made from. Use en + material to describe an object made from that material.
métal métal means metal in en métal. It identifies the material of the utensils that should not be used with the pan. Use métal after en to describe something made of metal.
avec avec means with in avec cette poêle. Here it specifies the pan with which the utensils would be used. Use avec + noun to identify an accompanying person, object, or tool.
cette cette means this and points to the feminine singular poêle in cette poêle. It is placed directly before the noun. Use cette + feminine singular noun to identify a specific nearby or understood thing.
s'il te plaît s'il te plaît means please and softens the instruction. The expression contains s'il, te, and plaît: it literally presents the request as something that pleases you. Use s'il te plaît when making a request to one person informally.
J'utiliserai J'utiliserai means I will use, referring to the wooden spoon the speaker intends to use. It is a future form of utiliser, with J' standing for je before a vowel. Use J'utiliserai + object to state a future choice or action.
une une means a or one before the feminine singular noun cuillère. Here it introduces one wooden spoon. Use une before a feminine singular noun when referring to an unspecified item.
cuillère cuillère means spoon in une cuillère en bois. It names the utensil chosen instead of a metal one. Use cuillère with a material description such as en bois.
bois bois means wood in en bois. It identifies the material of the spoon. Use en bois after a noun to describe something made of wood.
ne ne is part of the negative expression ne pas in pour ne pas rayer. Together, ne pas means not to before the infinitive rayer. Use ne pas + infinitive to express an action that should not happen.
rayer rayer means to scratch, here referring to scratching the pan's surface. It is an infinitive after ne pas. Use rayer + an object such as a surface when describing damage caused by scraping.
la la has two roles in the dialogue. In la surface it means the before a feminine noun; in la laver, la mettre, and la rapporterai it means it and refers to the pan. As an object pronoun, it comes before an infinitive or conjugated verb.
surface surface means surface in la surface. Here it refers to the outer surface of the pan that could be scratched. Use surface with a definite article when referring to a specific object's surface.
Régle Régle is used as a direct instruction meaning set or adjust the heat. It corresponds to the verb régler and is followed here by le feu. Use the pattern Régle + object + sur + setting for this kind of instruction.
aussi aussi means also or too and adds the heat instruction to the earlier care instructions. In Régle aussi..., it appears after the command verb. Use aussi to add another related action or fact.
le le means the in le feu. It is the masculine singular definite article before feu. Use le before a specific masculine singular noun.
feu feu means heat or flame here, referring to the cooking heat in le feu. The instruction is to set it to medium. Use feu in cooking contexts when referring to the heat of a burner.
sur sur means on or at in Régle ... sur moyen, where it introduces the selected heat setting. Here it connects the heat to the level medium. Use sur + a setting when describing the level at which something is adjusted.
moyen moyen means medium and names the recommended heat setting. Here it completes the instruction to adjust le feu. Use moyen to identify a middle level or setting.
car car means because and introduces the reason for keeping the heat medium. It connects the instruction with the explanation that high heat can damage the coating. Use car + clause to give a reason.
température température means temperature in une température élevée. It identifies the level of heat that may damage the coating. Use température with an adjective to describe how high or low the heat is.
élevée élevée means high in une température élevée. It is the feminine form used with température; the masculine dictionary form is élevé. Use élevée after a feminine noun when describing a high level or amount.
peut peut means can or may in une température élevée peut endommager le revêtement. It is a form of pouvoir used with the infinitive endommager. Use peut + infinitive to express possibility or ability.
endommager endommager means to damage, here describing what high temperature can do to the coating. It is an infinitive after peut and takes le revêtement as its object. Use endommager + object to describe causing damage.
revêtement revêtement means coating, referring to the protective layer of the pan. It is the object of endommager. Use revêtement when describing a layer applied to or covering a surface.
préfère préfère means prefer in Je préfère demander maintenant. It is a form of préférer with Je as the subject. Use je préfère + infinitive to state which action you choose.
demander demander means to ask, here referring to asking for instructions instead of guessing. It is an infinitive after préfère. Use demander when seeking information or guidance.
maintenant maintenant means now and places the asking at the present moment. It emphasizes that the speaker wants the information before using the pan. Use maintenant to refer to the current time.
plutôt plutôt contributes the meaning rather in the preference pattern plutôt que de deviner. It helps present asking as the preferred action over guessing. Use plutôt que de + infinitive to choose one action instead of another.
que que has two functions in the dialogue. In Est-ce que it helps form the question formula; in plutôt que de it links the preferred action with the alternative. Its meaning depends on the construction around it.
de de introduces an infinitive in plutôt que de deviner and au lieu de la mettre. It links the alternative action to the expression before it. Use de after these comparison or replacement expressions before an infinitive.
deviner deviner means to guess, here describing an uncertain way of deciding how to care for the pan. It is the alternative to demander. Use deviner when reaching an answer without asking for the information.
et et means and and links deviner with l'abîmer. Here it joins the two actions the speaker wants to avoid. Use et to connect related words, actions, or clauses.
l'abîmer l'abîmer means to damage it or ruin it, referring to the pan. It combines the object pronoun l' with the infinitive abîmer; l' is used before the vowel at the beginning of abîmer. Use l' + infinitive when it refers to a previously mentioned masculine or feminine object.
Ça Ça means that or it in Ça m'aide, referring to the preceding explanation or advice. It is the subject of the expression meaning that helps me. Use Ça as an informal demonstrative subject for an understood situation or thing.
m'aide m'aide means helps me in Ça m'aide. The form combines m', meaning me, with aide, a form of aider. Use a similar subject + m'aide pattern when saying that something is helpful to you.
Elle Elle means it here because it refers to the feminine noun poêle. It is the subject of Elle devrait durer and is not referring to a person in this dialogue. Use Elle before a verb when a feminine noun is the subject.
devrait devrait means should or ought to in Elle devrait durer. It is a conditional form of devoir and presents the pan's longer life as an expected result rather than an absolute guarantee. It is followed here by the infinitive durer.
durer durer means to last, referring to how long the pan remains usable. It is an infinitive after devrait. Use durer with a duration expression such as plus longtemps.
plus plus means more in plus longtemps and increases the duration being described. Together with longtemps, it gives the meaning longer. Use plus before an adjective or adverb to express a greater degree.
longtemps longtemps means for a long time in durer plus longtemps. It describes duration, and plus changes this to a longer period. Use longtemps with verbs that describe how long something continues.
si si means if and introduces the condition si on en prend soin. The pan is expected to last longer under this condition. Use si before a clause that states a condition.
on on means one or we in si on en prend soin. Here it refers generally to the people handling the pan, rather than naming one specific person. Use on as a general or inclusive subject.
prend soin prend soin means takes care of in en prend soin. The expression combines prend, a form of prendre, with soin, care; en refers back to the pan. Use en prend soin when en refers to an item that is being cared for.
dois dois means must or have to in Est-ce que je dois la laver. It is a form of devoir with je as the subject and is followed by the infinitive laver. Use je dois + infinitive to ask or state whether an action is required.
laver laver means to wash, here referring to washing the pan. It is an infinitive after dois and is also the verb used in the command Lave-la. Use laver with the object being cleaned.
à à means by in à la main. In this expression it describes the method of washing, not a destination. Use à la main to say that something is done by hand.
main main means hand in à la main. Together, à la main means by hand. Use main in this expression when contrasting hand work with the use of a machine.
au lieu de au lieu de means instead of and introduces the alternative la mettre au lave-vaisselle. The expression contains au, a contraction of à + le, lieu, place, and de, which introduces the alternative action. Use au lieu de + infinitive to replace one action with another.
mettre mettre means to put or place, here referring to putting the pan in the dishwasher. It is an infinitive after au lieu de and has la as its object. Use mettre + object when describing placing something somewhere.
au au means in or to the in au lave-vaisselle. It is the contraction of à and le before the masculine noun lave-vaisselle. Use au before a masculine singular noun when the meaning requires à le.
lave-vaisselle lave-vaisselle means dishwasher, the machine the speaker is considering using. In au lave-vaisselle, it is the destination for the pan. Use lave-vaisselle for the appliance used to wash dishes.
Lave-la Lave-la means wash it and gives a direct instruction about the pan. Lave is the command form of laver, and la is the object pronoun referring to the pan; the pronoun follows the command verb with a hyphen. Use Lave-la for an informal singular command to wash a feminine object.
doucement doucement means gently and describes how the pan should be washed. It modifies the action in Lave-la doucement. Use doucement after a verb to request careful, gentle action.
sèche-la sèche-la means dry it and gives a second direct instruction about the pan. Sèche is the command form of sécher, and la is the object pronoun referring to the pan; the pronoun follows the command verb with a hyphen. Use this verb-plus-pronoun pattern for an informal singular command.
avant avant means before in avant de la rapporter. It places returning the pan after the washing and drying. Use avant de + infinitive to say that one action must happen before another.
rapporter rapporter means to bring back or return, here referring to returning the clean pan. It is an infinitive after avant de and has la as its object. Use rapporter when bringing something back to a person or place.
rapporterai rapporterai means I will return or bring back in Je la rapporterai propre. It is a future form of rapporter with Je as the subject. The object pronoun la comes before the verb and refers to the pan.
propre propre means clean in Je la rapporterai propre. It describes the condition of the pan when it is returned. Use propre after a verb of returning or leaving when describing the resulting condition of an object.
quand quand means when and introduces the time clause quand j'aurai fini de cuisiner. It specifies when the speaker will return the pan. Use quand before a clause that gives the time of an action.
j'aurai j'aurai means I will have in quand j'aurai fini. It is a future form of avoir, shortened from je before the vowel. With fini, it expresses that the cooking will have been completed by the relevant time.
fini fini means finished in j'aurai fini de cuisiner. It is the past participle of finir and combines with j'aurai to express completed cooking. Use fini de + infinitive to say that an activity has been completed.
cuisiner cuisiner means to cook in fini de cuisiner. It is the infinitive naming the activity that will be completed. Use cuisiner for preparing food by cooking.
Dis-moi Dis-moi means tell me and is an informal singular request for information. It combines the command form Dis of dire with moi, meaning me, joined by a hyphen. Use Dis-moi before the information you want someone to provide.
comment comment means how and introduces the question about the dish's result in comment le plat sera. Here it asks what condition or result the dish will have. Use comment before a clause when asking about the way or result of something.
plat plat means dish, referring to the food being cooked. It is the subject in le plat sera. Use plat for a prepared food dish or meal.
sera sera means will be or will turn out in le plat sera. It is a future form of être with le plat as its subject. Here it describes the expected result of the dish after cooking.

Grammar Points

L’impératif affirmatif avec un pronom : verbe-pronom

Lave-la doucement et sèche-la.

lahv-LAH doo-suh-MAHN ay SESH-LAH.

Wash it gently and dry it.

In a positive command, the object pronoun follows the verb and connects with a hyphen.

avant de + infinitif

Avant de cuisiner, lave-la à la main.

ah-VAHN duh kwee-zee-NAY, lahv-LAH ah lah MAN.

Before cooking, wash it by hand.

Use avant de followed by the infinitive when the subject of both actions is the same.

French Vocabulary

bois noun
BWAH wood

une cuillère en bois

cuillère noun
kwee-YEHR spoon

une cuillère en bois

emprunter verb
ahn-pruhn-TAY to borrow

Est-ce que je peux emprunter ta poêle antiadhésive pour préparer quelque chose ?

feu noun
FUH heat

Régle aussi le feu sur moyen

métal noun
meh-TAHL metal

des ustensiles en métal

moyen adj
mwah-YEN medium

le feu sur moyen

n'utilise verb
nee-tee-LEEZ do not use

n'utilise pas d'ustensiles en métal

poêle antiadhésive phrase
PWAHL ahn-tyah-day-ZEEV non-stick pan

ta poêle antiadhésive

préparer verb
pray-pah-RAY to prepare

pour préparer quelque chose

rayer verb
ray-YAY to scratch

pour ne pas rayer la surface

surface noun
sewr-FAHS surface

la surface

ustensiles noun
oos-tahn-SEEL utensils

d'ustensiles en métal

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let me know how the dish turns out.

Show AnswerDis-moi comment le plat sera.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

utensils

Show Answerustensiles

wood

Show Answerbois

metal

Show Answermétal

to prepare

Show Answerpréparer