Making a plan after being locked out | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In daily life, two adults make a plan after someone is locked out and decide when to contact the landlord or a locksmith..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Making a plan after being locked out to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Je suis bloqué dehors et ma clé de secours est dans l'appartement.

zhuh SWEE bloh-KAY duh-OR ay ma KLAY duh suh-KOOR eh dahn la-par-tuh-MAHN I am locked out, and my spare key is inside the apartment.
B

Essaie d'abord d'appeler le propriétaire.

eh-SAY duh-BOR da-PLAY luh proh-pree-ay-TAIR Try the landlord first.
B

Ensuite, appelle un serrurier si tu n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement.

ahn-SWEET ah-PELL uhn sair-yoo-RYAY see too nah-REEV pah ah ob-tuh-NEER duh LED rah-PEED-muhn Then call a locksmith if you cannot get help soon.
A

J'ai laissé un message, mais le propriétaire ne m'a pas encore répondu.

zhay lay-SAY uhn meh-SAHZH may luh proh-pree-ay-TAIR nuh ma pah ahn-KOR ray-pohn-DOO I left a message, but the landlord has not replied yet.
B

Attends encore un peu, sauf si tu dois rentrer tout de suite.

ah-TAHN ahn-KOR uhn PUH sohf see too DWAH rahn-TRAY too duh SWEET Wait a little longer unless you need to get in right away.
A

Je devrai peut-être prouver que j'habite ici si quelqu'un vient m'aider.

zhuh duh-VRAY puh-TETR proo-VAY kuh zha-BEET ee-SEE see kel-KUN vyen may-DAY I may need to prove I live here if someone comes to help.
B

Garde ta pièce d'identité à portée de main et attends dans un endroit chaud.

GARD ta PYESS dee-dahn-tee-TAY ah por-TUH duh MAN ay ah-TAHN dahnz uhn ahn-DRWAH SHOW Keep your identification ready and wait in a warm place.
A

Je ne veux pas appeler un serrurier sauf si c'est nécessaire.

zhuh nuh vuh pah ah-PLAY uhn sair-yoo-RYAY sohf see say neh-sess-AIR I do not want to call a locksmith unless it is necessary.
B

Si le propriétaire ne répond toujours pas, appelle un serrurier et explique la situation.

see luh proh-pree-ay-TAIR nuh ray-POHN too-ZHOOR pah ah-PELL uhn sair-yoo-RYAY ay eks-PLEEK la see-too-ah-SYOHN If the landlord still does not reply, call one and explain the situation.
A

Je peux m'asseoir dans le hall et laisser mon téléphone allumé.

zhuh PUH mah-SWAR dahn luh AL ay lay-SAY mohn tay-lay-FON ah-loo-MAY I can sit in the lobby and keep my phone on.
B

Tu peux y rester au chaud pendant que tu laisses encore un peu de temps au propriétaire.

too PUH ee res-TAY oh SHOW pahn-DAHN kuh too LESS ahn-KOR uhn PUH duh TAHN oh proh-pree-ay-TAIR You can stay warm there while you give the landlord a little more time.

Word by Word

Je Je means I here and identifies the speaker as the person who is locked out. It is used before a verb, as in Je suis bloqué dehors. You use it when speaking about yourself.
suis Suis means am in Je suis bloqué dehors and presents the speaker’s current situation. It is the first-person form of être in this expression. Use it before a description or state that applies to you.
bloqué Bloqué describes being unable to get inside, so Je suis bloqué dehors means I am locked out. With suis, it describes the speaker’s current state. You can reuse this pattern to describe being unable to enter a place.
dehors Dehors means outside in Je suis bloqué dehors, emphasizing that the speaker is on the outside of the apartment. It commonly follows a verb or expression describing someone’s location. Use it when someone is outside rather than inside.
et Et means and and connects the two facts in Je suis bloqué dehors et ma clé de secours est dans l'appartement. It joins words, phrases, or complete ideas. Use it to add another related piece of information.
ma Ma means my before clé and shows that the key belongs to the speaker. It is placed directly before the noun phrase ma clé de secours. Use it to identify something belonging to you before a feminine noun.
clé Clé means key in ma clé de secours, the key that could open the apartment. Here it is the main noun in the phrase clé de secours. Use it when talking about a key for a door or lock.
de De links clé to secours in clé de secours and helps specify the key’s backup or emergency function. It forms a noun phrase rather than simply expressing a physical location. Use de to connect a noun with another noun that gives more information about it.
secours Secours contributes the meaning of backup or emergency in clé de secours. Together, clé de secours refers to the spare key. This expression is useful when distinguishing an emergency or backup item from the regular one.
est Est means is in ma clé de secours est dans l'appartement and links the key to its location. It is a form of être used with the singular noun clé. Use it to state where a singular thing is.
dans Dans means in and places the key inside l'appartement in est dans l'appartement. It is followed here by a noun phrase naming the container or place. Use it when something is located inside a place.
l'appartement L'appartement means the apartment, the place where the spare key is located. The form combines the article l' with appartement because the noun begins with a vowel sound. Use it to refer to a specific apartment.
Essaie Essaie means try in the instruction Essaie d'abord d'appeler le propriétaire. It tells the other person to attempt the action that follows. Use it before de plus an infinitive when suggesting an action to try.
d'abord D'abord means first and places calling the landlord at the beginning of the plan. It commonly appears before or after the action it orders. Use it to mark the first step in a sequence.
d'appeler D'appeler means to call in Essaie d'abord d'appeler le propriétaire. The form follows Essaie and introduces the action being attempted. Use essayer de plus an infinitive to say that someone should try doing something.
le Le means the before propriétaire and refers to a specific landlord known in the situation. It comes directly before the noun. Use it when the listener can identify the person or thing being mentioned.
propriétaire Propriétaire means landlord in le propriétaire and identifies the person responsible for the apartment. It is the person to contact first and again later in the dialogue. Use it when referring to the owner or manager of the home.
Ensuite Ensuite means then or next and introduces the next step after contacting the landlord. It signals progression in the plan. Use it to connect actions in the order they should happen.
appelle Appelle means call in Ensuite, appelle un serrurier and gives a direct instruction. It is followed by the person or service to contact. Use it when telling someone to make a phone call or contact someone.
un Un means a in un serrurier and introduces one locksmith who has not been specified before. It comes directly before the noun. Use it when referring to one non-specific person or thing.
serrurier Serrurier means locksmith, the professional who can help open the apartment. In the dialogue, it follows appelle or appeler as the person to contact. Use it when discussing help with a lock or a locked door.
si Si means if and introduces a condition in si tu n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement. It shows that calling the locksmith depends on whether help can be obtained soon. Use si to state a condition before the action that follows from it.
tu Tu means you and addresses the other person directly in tu n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement. It is used for the person receiving the advice. Use it when speaking informally to one person.
n'arrives N'arrives contributes to the meaning cannot manage to in n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement. Together with pas and à obtenir, the full construction expresses difficulty or inability to succeed in getting help. Use arriver à plus an infinitive to describe managing to do something, with ne and pas for the negative form.
pas Pas completes the negative expression n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement, making it mean cannot manage to get help quickly. It works with ne, which appears here as n' before arrives. Use ne ... pas around the verb to negate the statement.
à À links arrives to the infinitive obtenir in n'arrives pas à obtenir de l'aide rapidement. In this construction, it introduces the action someone manages or does not manage to do. Use arriver à plus an infinitive for succeeding in doing something.
obtenir Obtenir means get or obtain in obtenir de l'aide, referring to receiving help. It is an infinitive after à in n'arrives pas à obtenir. Use it with a thing or service that someone succeeds in getting.
l'aide L'aide means help in obtenir de l'aide and names what the speaker is trying to receive. The form combines l' with aide because aide begins with a vowel sound. Use obtenir de l'aide when saying that someone gets assistance.
rapidement Rapidement means quickly in obtenir de l'aide rapidement and describes how soon the help is obtained. It modifies the action rather than naming another object. Use it to indicate that an action happens at a fast pace.
J'ai J'ai means I have in J'ai laissé un message and forms the beginning of the statement about leaving a message. It is the first-person form of avoir used with the following verb form laissé. Use it to report a completed action in this construction.
laissé Laissé means left in J'ai laissé un message, referring to leaving a message for the landlord. With J'ai, it reports the completed action. Use J'ai laissé followed by the thing left, such as un message.
message Message means message in J'ai laissé un message and identifies what was left for the landlord. It follows laissé as the thing that was left. Use it when referring to a written or spoken message.
mais Mais means but and contrasts leaving a message with the landlord not replying yet. It connects two opposing or unexpected facts. Use it to introduce the second fact in a contrast.
ne Ne is part of the negative expression ne m'a pas encore répondu and helps say that the landlord has not replied yet. It appears before the auxiliary form m'a in this sentence. Use ne together with pas to make a verb phrase negative.
m'a M'a contributes has ... me in ne m'a pas encore répondu: the landlord has not replied to me. It combines the object pronoun m' with the auxiliary form a. Use this pattern when an action is directed toward you, as in someone replying to you.
encore Encore means yet in ne m'a pas encore répondu and shows that the reply has not happened up to now. With ne ... pas, it marks an expected action that has not occurred. Use it when waiting for something that may still happen.
répondu Répondu means replied in ne m'a pas encore répondu and refers to the landlord answering the message. With m'a, it describes the completed action that has not happened yet. Use it after répondre when naming the person who receives the reply with a suitable pronoun.
Attends Attends means wait in Attends encore un peu and gives a direct instruction to remain patient. It is followed by information about how much longer to wait. Use it when asking someone to pause or remain in place.
peu Peu means a little in encore un peu and refers to a small amount of additional time. The phrase encore un peu means a little longer here. Use un peu with a noun or action to express a small amount.
sauf Sauf means unless in sauf si tu dois rentrer tout de suite and introduces an exception to the advice to wait. The exception is that the person needs to get back inside immediately. Use sauf si before a condition that changes the main instruction.
dois Dois means need to in tu dois rentrer tout de suite and expresses an obligation or necessity. Here, it is followed by the infinitive rentrer. Use devoir plus an infinitive to say that someone needs to do something.
rentrer Rentrer means get back inside in tu dois rentrer tout de suite. It is the action required if the person needs to enter the apartment immediately. Use it with a place or context when someone returns inside or goes back home.
tout de suite Tout de suite is a fixed expression meaning right away in tu dois rentrer tout de suite. In the expression, tout contributes the idea of the whole or complete moment, de links the expression, and suite contributes the sense of sequence. Use tout de suite to request or describe immediate action.
devrai Devrai means will have to in Je devrai peut-être prouver que j'habite ici, while peut-être makes the complete idea may need to. It introduces a possible future necessity and is followed by the infinitive prouver. Use devoir plus an infinitive to state what may become necessary.
peut-être Peut-être means perhaps or maybe and makes the need to prove residence uncertain in Je devrai peut-être prouver que j'habite ici. It commonly appears near the verb or at the beginning of a sentence. Use it when presenting a possibility rather than a certainty.
prouver Prouver means prove in prouver que j'habite ici and refers to showing that the speaker lives there. It follows devrai as the action that may become necessary. Use prouver que plus a statement when giving evidence for a claim.
que Que means that and introduces the statement j'habite ici after prouver. It connects the act of proving with the fact to be proved. Use prouver que before the information someone needs to establish.
j'habite J'habite means I live in j'habite ici and states the speaker’s residence. It combines the subject pronoun j' with the verb form habite. Use it before a place when saying where you live.
ici Ici means here and identifies the place where the speaker lives in j'habite ici. It refers to the current relevant location, the apartment building or apartment. Use it when pointing to the place where the speaker is or lives.
quelqu'un Quelqu'un means someone in si quelqu'un vient m'aider and refers to an unspecified person who may come to help. It introduces a person whose identity is not yet known. Use it when saying that an unknown or unspecified person does something.
vient Vient means comes in si quelqu'un vient m'aider and describes someone arriving to help the speaker. It is followed by m'aider, which states the purpose or affected person. Use it when someone comes to a place or comes to do something.
m'aider M'aider means help me in quelqu'un vient m'aider. It combines m' for me with aider, the action the person comes to perform. Use venir plus an infinitive to describe coming in order to do something.
Garde Garde means keep in Garde ta pièce d'identité à portée de main and gives an instruction to retain or have something ready. It is followed by the item to keep. Use it when telling someone to keep an object available.
ta Ta means your before pièce and shows that the identification document belongs to the person being addressed. It appears directly before ta pièce d'identité. Use it before a feminine noun when referring to something belonging to you in an informal address.
pièce Pièce means piece or document in pièce d'identité, where it refers to an identification document. It is the main noun in the expression. Use it with d'identité when talking about an identity document.
d'identité D'identité specifies the purpose of pièce in pièce d'identité, making the full expression mean identification document. The form d' links identité to the preceding noun after elision. Use pièce d'identité when referring to an official document used to prove identity.
à portée de main À portée de main is a fixed expression meaning within reach or at hand in Garde ta pièce d'identité à portée de main. À marks the position, portée contributes the idea of reach, de links it to main, and main means hand. Use it when telling someone to keep an object close and ready to take.
endroit Endroit means place in un endroit chaud and refers to a location where the person can wait. It is modified by chaud to describe the location’s temperature. Use it when naming a particular place without specifying a more exact type.
chaud Chaud means warm in un endroit chaud and describes a place protected from the cold. It agrees with the masculine noun endroit in this phrase. Use it after a noun to describe a warm place or object.
veux Veux means want in Je ne veux pas appeler un serrurier and expresses the speaker’s wish not to make that call. With ne ... pas, it forms the negative idea do not want. Use vouloir plus an infinitive to state what you want or do not want to do.
appeler Appeler means call in ne veux pas appeler un serrurier and names the action the speaker does not want to take. It follows veux as an infinitive. Use vouloir plus appeler when expressing a wish to call someone.
c'est C'est means it is in sauf si c'est nécessaire and identifies the situation as necessary. It combines ce with est in a common statement pattern. Use c'est plus an adjective to describe or evaluate a situation.
nécessaire Nécessaire means necessary in si c'est nécessaire and states the condition under which calling the locksmith is acceptable. It describes the situation introduced by c'est. Use c'est nécessaire when an action is required.
répond Répond contributes the meaning replies in Si le propriétaire ne répond toujours pas. Together with ne ... pas, it says that the landlord still does not reply. Use répondre when describing someone answering a message or request.
toujours Toujours means still in ne répond toujours pas and emphasizes that the lack of a reply continues. Its meaning here comes from the negative context, not from the other common meaning always. Use it with a negative verb phrase to say that a situation continues not to happen.
explique Explique means explain in appelle un serrurier et explique la situation and gives a direct instruction. It is followed by the information to be explained, here la situation. Use it when telling someone to make a situation clear to another person.
la La means the before situation and refers to the specific situation of being locked out. It comes directly before the noun. Use it when the listener can identify the situation being discussed.
situation Situation means situation in explique la situation and refers to the circumstances surrounding the lockout. It is the information to explain to the locksmith. Use it when summarizing the circumstances of a problem.
peux Peux means can in Je peux m'asseoir dans le hall and expresses what the speaker is able or permitted to do. It is followed by the infinitive m'asseoir. Use pouvoir plus an infinitive to say that someone can do something.
m'asseoir M'asseoir means sit down in Je peux m'asseoir dans le hall. It combines m' with the infinitive asseoir and names the action the speaker can take. Use pouvoir plus an infinitive to describe an available action.
hall Hall means lobby or hall in dans le hall and names the building area where the speaker can wait. It follows dans to specify the location. Use it when referring to the entrance or shared indoor area of a building.
laisser Laisser means leave or keep in laisser mon téléphone allumé and describes leaving the phone switched on. It follows peux as an infinitive. Use laisser plus an object plus a state description when arranging for something to remain in a condition.
mon Mon means my before téléphone and shows that the phone belongs to the speaker. It appears directly before mon téléphone. Use it to identify something belonging to you before this noun.
téléphone Téléphone means phone in laisser mon téléphone allumé and identifies the device that will remain switched on. It is the object of laisser. Use it when referring to a phone in a situation involving contact or availability.
allumé Allumé means switched on in laisser mon téléphone allumé and describes the phone’s resulting state. It follows téléphone after laisser and tells us what condition the phone should remain in. Use it to describe a device that is turned on.
y Y means there in Tu peux y rester au chaud and refers back to the hall mentioned earlier. It replaces the previously mentioned place rather than repeating it. Use y with a verb when referring back to a place already established.
rester Rester means stay in Tu peux y rester au chaud and describes remaining in the lobby. It follows peux as an infinitive and is combined with y to indicate the place. Use rester when someone continues to be in a location.
au Au means in the or at the in au chaud, where it forms part of the expression for staying warm. It is the contracted form of à and le. Use au when à comes before a masculine singular noun phrase introduced by le.
pendant Pendant means while in pendant que tu laisses encore un peu de temps au propriétaire and introduces the period during which the person stays warm. Here it is followed by que and a complete clause. Use pendant que to connect two actions happening during the same period.
laisses Laisses means give or leave in tu laisses encore un peu de temps au propriétaire and describes allowing the landlord more time to reply. It is followed by the amount of time and the person receiving that time. Use laisser du or un peu de temps à quelqu'un when allowing someone additional time.
temps Temps means time in encore un peu de temps and refers to an additional period given to the landlord. It follows an amount expression such as un peu de. Use donner or laisser du temps à quelqu'un when allowing that person more time.

Grammar Points

L'impératif à la 2e personne du singulier

Essaie d'abord.

eh-SAY duh-BOR

Try first.

À l'impératif, le sujet n'est pas exprimé et le verbe prend une forme spéciale : Essaie !

venir + pronom complément + infinitif

vient m'aider

vyen may-DAY

comes to help me

Le pronom complément se place entre le verbe venir et l'infinitif : vient m'aider.

French Vocabulary

appartement noun
ah-par-tuh-MAHN apartment
appeler verb
ah-PLAY to call
bloqué dehors phrase
bloh-KAY duh-OR locked out

Je suis bloqué dehors.

clé de secours phrase
KLAY duh suh-KOOR spare key
d'abord adv
duh-BOR first
ensuite adv
ahn-SWEET then
essayer verb
eh-say-YAY to try Essaie
laisser un message phrase
lay-SAY uhn meh-SAHZH to leave a message laissé un message
obtenir de l'aide phrase
ob-tuh-NEER duh LED to get help
propriétaire noun
proh-pree-ay-TAIR landlord
rapidement adv
rah-PEED-muhn quickly
serrurier noun
sair-yoo-RYAY locksmith

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Try the landlord first.

Show AnswerEssaie d'abord d'appeler le propriétaire.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to try

Show AnswerEssaie

landlord

Show Answerpropriétaire

locksmith

Show Answerserrurier

to call

Show Answerappeler