Checking an Email Before Sending | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: Before sending a professional follow-up email, one coworker checks the tone, next step, context, and recipient list with another..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking an Email Before Sending to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Pourriez-vous vérifier le ton de cet e-mail avant que je l'envoie ?

poo-ree-AY voo vay-ree-fee-AY luh toh(n) duh set ee-MEL ah-VAHN kuh zhuh lahn-VWAH? Could you check the tone of this email before I send it?
B

Il est professionnel, mais le début semble un peu sec.

eel ay pro-fay-syoh-NEL, may luh day-BEW seem uh luh SEK. It is professional, but the opening feels a little sharp.
A

Je veux leur rappeler la demande sans paraître impatient.

zhuh vuh luhr rah-puh-LAY lah duh-MAHND sah(n) pah-RET(R) ahn-pah-SYAHN. I want to remind them about the request without sounding impatient.
B

Essayez une introduction plus douce qui indique que vous revenez vers eux.

eh-say-YAY ewn ahn-troh-dewk-SYOHN plewss dooss kee ahn-DEEK kuh voo ruh-vuh-NAY vair uh. Try a softer opening that says you are following up.
A

Cela semble mieux. Ma demande est-elle assez claire ?

suh-LAH sahmbl myuh. mah duh-MAHND ay-TEL ah-SAY klair? That sounds better. Is my request clear enough?
B

Expliquez la prochaine étape dans le même paragraphe.

ex-plee-KAY lah proh-SHEN ay-TAHP dah(n) luh MEM pah-rah-GRAHF. Explain the next step in the same paragraph.
A

J'ai aussi ajouté du contexte supplémentaire vers la fin.

zhay oh-SEE ah-zhoo-TAY dew kon-TEKST sew-pleh-mon-TAIR vair lah FAN. I also added extra context near the end.
B

Le contexte est utile. Vérifiez la liste des destinataires avant de l'envoyer.

luh kon-TEKST ay oo-TEEL. vay-ree-fee-AY lah LEEST day day-stee-nah-TAIR ah-VAHN duh lahn-vwah-YAY. The context is helpful. Check the recipient list before you send it.
A

C'était facile de passer à côté. La mauvaise personne a été incluse par erreur.

say-TEH fah-SEEL duh pah-SAY ah koh-TAY. lah moh-VEZ pair-SOHN ah ay-TAY ahn-KLOOZ par air-REUR. That was easy to miss. The wrong person was included by mistake.
B

Retirez cette personne de la liste.

ruh-tee-RAY set pair-SOHN duh lah LEEST. Remove that person from the list.
B

Alors, l'e-mail est prêt à être envoyé.

ah-LOR, lay-MEL ay PRAY ah AY-truh ahn-vwah-YAY. Then the email is ready to send.

Word by Word

Pourriez Pourriez means “could” in the polite request “Pourriez-vous vérifier le ton de cet e-mail avant que je l'envoie ?”. It is a form of pouvoir and is used here to make a courteous request.
vous Vous means “you” in “Pourriez-vous vérifier...” and refers to the person being addressed. It is also used in “vous revenez vers eux”; placing it before the verb identifies the person who acts.
vérifier Vérifier means “to check” in “Pourriez-vous vérifier le ton...”. It follows Pourriez-vous and takes the thing being checked, such as “vérifier le ton” or “Vérifiez la liste”.
le Le means “the” in “le ton” and introduces the noun being discussed. The same article appears with “Le contexte” at the start of another sentence.
ton Ton means “tone” in “le ton de cet e-mail”, referring to the style or impression created by the email. The reusable expression here is “le ton de...” followed by the thing whose tone is being considered.
de De means “of” in “le ton de cet e-mail”, linking the tone to the email. This same pattern identifies what something relates to: “le ton de...”
cet Cet means “this” in “cet e-mail”, pointing to the particular email under discussion. It comes directly before the noun in this expression.
e-mail E-mail means “email” in “cet e-mail”. Here it is the document whose tone is checked and that the speaker plans to send.
avant Avant means “before” in “avant que je l'envoie”, placing the checking earlier than the sending. It introduces a time relationship with the following clause.
que Que links “avant” to the clause “je l'envoie” in “avant que je l'envoie”. It introduces what must happen after the checking and before the sending.
je Je means “I” in “je l'envoie” and “Je veux leur rappeler...”, referring to the speaker. It normally appears before the verb when the speaker states what they do or want.
l'envoie L'envoie means “send it” in “avant que je l'envoie”; l' refers to the email and envoie is a form of envoyer. The expression “je l'envoie” keeps the object pronoun before the verb.
Il Il means “it” in “Il est professionnel”, referring here to the email. It is the subject placed before est in a statement describing the email.
est Est means “is” in “Il est professionnel”, describing the email. It is a form of être and connects the subject to the description professionnel.
professionnel Professionnel means “professional” in “Il est professionnel”, describing the email’s overall style. It is used after est to give an evaluation of the email.
mais Mais means “but” in “Il est professionnel, mais le début semble un peu sec”. It introduces a contrast between the professional quality and the sharp impression of the opening.
début Début means “opening” or “beginning” in “le début”, referring to the opening part of the email. The expression “le début” identifies the part that is being evaluated.
semble Semble means “seems” or “feels” in “le début semble un peu sec”, presenting an impression rather than a direct physical description. It is a form of sembler and is followed here by a description.
un Un is part of the quantity expression “un peu”, which means “a little” in “un peu sec”. Its contribution is understood together with peu, not as the whole meaning by itself.
peu Peu contributes the idea of a small amount in “un peu sec”, meaning “a little sharp” or “a little curt”. The reusable expression in this dialogue is “un peu” before the description.
sec Sec means “sharp” or “curt” in “le début semble un peu sec”, describing the opening’s tone rather than something physically dry. It follows semble as the evaluation of the opening.
veux Veux means “want” in “Je veux leur rappeler la demande...”. It is a form of vouloir and is followed here by the infinitives rappeler and paraître in the speaker’s explanation.
leur Leur means “to them” in “leur rappeler la demande”, identifying the people who should be reminded. It is placed before rappeler in this construction.
rappeler Rappeler means “to remind” in “leur rappeler la demande”. It is an infinitive after veux and is followed by the thing being reminded, “la demande”.
la La means “the” in “la demande” and introduces the specific request being discussed. The same article appears in “la liste des destinataires”.
demande Demande means “request” in “la demande”, referring to the matter the recipients should be reminded about. The expression “rappeler la demande” shows the request as the object of rappeler.
sans Sans means “without” in “sans paraître impatient”, describing what the speaker wants to avoid while reminding them. It is followed here by the infinitive paraître.
paraître Paraître means “to seem” or “to appear” in “sans paraître impatient”. It is an infinitive after sans and takes the description impatient.
impatient Impatient means “impatient” in “paraître impatient”, describing the impression the speaker wants to avoid giving. The expression “paraître impatient” connects this adjective with the way someone may appear.
Essayez Essayez means “try” in the polite advice “Essayez une introduction plus douce...”. It is a form of essayer used here to give a formal or plural instruction.
une Une means “a” in “une introduction”, introducing one opening of the email. It comes directly before the noun it determines.
introduction Introduction means “introduction” or “opening” in “une introduction plus douce”, referring to the beginning of the email. It is the thing that the speaker is advised to make gentler.
plus Plus means “more” in “plus douce”, forming the comparison “softer” with douce. The reusable pattern here is plus followed by a descriptive word.
douce Douce means “softer” or “gentler” in “une introduction plus douce”, describing the proposed opening. It is the form of doux used with introduction in this expression.
qui Qui means “that” or “which” in “une introduction plus douce qui indique...”, linking the introduction to information about what it does. It is followed here by the verb indique.
indique Indique means “indicates” or “says” in “qui indique que vous revenez vers eux”, describing the message conveyed by the introduction. It is a form of indiquer and is followed by que and the information conveyed.
revenez Revenez means “are following up” or “are coming back” in “vous revenez vers eux”. It is a form of revenir and, in this email context, presents the act of getting back in touch.
vers Vers means “toward” in “revenez vers eux”, indicating the people toward whom the speaker is returning. The expression “revenir vers eux” describes getting back to them.
eux Eux means “them” in “vers eux”, referring to the people receiving the follow-up. It follows vers in this expression.
Cela Cela means “that” in “Cela semble mieux”, referring to the revised opening or suggestion just discussed. It is used as the subject of the evaluation semble mieux.
mieux Mieux means “better” in “Cela semble mieux”, showing that the revised version gives a better impression. It follows semble to evaluate the result.
Ma Ma means “my” in “Ma demande est-elle assez claire ?”, identifying the request as belonging to the speaker. It comes before the noun demande.
elle Elle means “it” in “Ma demande est-elle assez claire ?”, referring back to the feminine noun demande. After est, it repeats the subject in this formal question structure.
assez Assez means “enough” in “assez claire”, asking whether the request is sufficiently clear. It comes before the descriptive word claire in this expression.
claire Claire means “clear” in “Ma demande est-elle assez claire ?”, describing the request. It is the form of clair used with demande in this question.
Expliquez Expliquez means “explain” in “Expliquez la prochaine étape...”. It is a form of expliquer used here as polite or plural advice.
prochaine Prochaine means “next” in “la prochaine étape”, identifying the step that follows. It is the form of prochain used with étape in this expression.
étape Étape means “step” in “la prochaine étape”, referring to the next action the email recipient should understand. The expression “la prochaine étape” names that action.
dans Dans means “in” in “dans le même paragraphe”, locating the explanation within the same paragraph. It is followed by the place or section containing the information.
même Même means “same” in “le même paragraphe”, showing that the paragraph should not change. It comes before the noun it describes.
paragraphe Paragraphe means “paragraph” in “le même paragraphe”, identifying where the next step should be explained. The expression “dans le même paragraphe” gives the location.
J'ai J'ai means “I have” as the subject-and-auxiliary part of “J'ai aussi ajouté du contexte supplémentaire...”. It is a form of avoir and is used here before ajouté to describe something the speaker added.
aussi Aussi means “also” in “J'ai aussi ajouté du contexte...”, adding this action to the other changes being discussed. It appears between J'ai and ajouté in this sentence.
ajouté Ajouté means “added” in “J'ai aussi ajouté du contexte supplémentaire...”. It is a form of ajouter and takes “du contexte supplémentaire” as what was added.
du Du introduces an unspecified amount of something in “du contexte supplémentaire”, meaning “some extra context”. Here it belongs with contexte rather than meaning “of the” on its own.
contexte Contexte means “context” in “du contexte supplémentaire”, referring to helpful background information in the email. The expression “ajouter du contexte” describes putting that information into the message.
supplémentaire Supplémentaire means “extra” or “additional” in “du contexte supplémentaire”, describing context added beyond the existing message. It follows the noun contexte in this expression.
fin Fin means “end” in “vers la fin”, referring to the later part of the email. The expression “vers la fin” locates something near the ending.
utile Utile means “helpful” or “useful” in “Le contexte est utile”, evaluating the added context positively. It follows est to describe the context.
Vérifiez Vérifiez means “check” in “Vérifiez la liste des destinataires...”. It is a form of vérifier used here as a polite or plural instruction.
liste Liste means “list” in “la liste des destinataires”, referring to the people included as recipients. The expression identifies the list that must be checked before sending.
des Des means “of the” in “la liste des destinataires”, linking the list to the recipients. The reusable expression here is “la liste des...” followed by the people or items on the list.
destinataires Destinataires means “recipients” in “la liste des destinataires”, referring to the people who would receive the email. It identifies whose names should be checked.
l'envoyer L'envoyer means “send it” in “avant de l'envoyer”; l' refers to the email and envoyer is the infinitive meaning “send”. The complete expression “avant de l'envoyer” means before sending it.
C'était C'était means “it was” in “C'était facile de passer à côté”, introducing the speaker’s evaluation of the oversight. It is a form of être used before the description facile.
facile Facile means “easy” in “C'était facile de passer à côté”, explaining why the mistake could be overlooked. The expression “C'était facile de...” evaluates how easy an action was.
passer à côté Passer à côté means “to miss” or “to overlook” in “C'était facile de passer à côté”. In this expression, passer contributes the idea of passing, à marks the relation to, and côté means side; together they form the meaning of failing to notice something.
mauvaise Mauvaise means “wrong” in “La mauvaise personne”, identifying the person who should not have been included. It is the form of mauvais used with personne in this expression.
personne Personne means “person” in “La mauvaise personne”, referring to the individual included in error. The complete noun phrase identifies which individual should be removed.
a A means “has” in “a été incluse par erreur”, where it comes before été. It is a form of avoir and works with the following verb forms to describe what happened to the person.
été Été is the form of être used after a in “a été incluse”, helping express that the person was included. Together with incluse, it describes the person’s inclusion.
incluse Incluse means “included” in “La mauvaise personne a été incluse par erreur”. It is the form of inclure used here to describe what happened to the person.
par Par means “by” in the expression “par erreur”, linking the event to the mistake that caused it. In this dialogue, it is part of the fixed phrase meaning “by mistake”.
erreur Erreur means “mistake” or “error” in “par erreur”, explaining that the wrong person was included unintentionally. The expression “par erreur” describes an accidental action.
Retirez Retirez means “remove” in “Retirez cette personne de la liste”. It is a form of retirer used here as a polite or plural instruction and keeps the object before the source location.
cette Cette means “that” or “this” in “cette personne”, pointing to the person just identified. It comes directly before personne.
Alors Alors means “then” in “Alors, l'e-mail est prêt à être envoyé”, marking the result after the person is removed. It introduces the conclusion that follows from the completed correction.
l'e-mail L'e-mail means “the email” in “l'e-mail est prêt à être envoyé”, referring to the message being prepared. The l' is the shortened article before e-mail.
prêt Prêt means “ready” in “l'e-mail est prêt à être envoyé”, stating that the email can now undergo the next action. The reusable expression is “être prêt à...” followed by the action.
à À links prêt to the following action in “prêt à être envoyé”, giving the meaning “ready to be sent”. The pattern here is “prêt à” followed by an infinitive construction.
être Être means “to be” in “à être envoyé”, where it forms the passive infinitive with envoyé. Together, “être envoyé” means “to be sent”.
envoyé Envoyé means “sent” in “être envoyé”, describing what will happen to the email. It is a form of envoyer and follows être in this passive expression.

Grammar Points

avant que + subjonctif

avant que je l'envoie

ah-VAHN kuh zhuh lahn-VWAH

before I send it

After « avant que », French normally uses the subjunctive to describe an action that has not happened yet.

sans + infinitif

sans envoyer

sah(n) ahn-vwah-YAY

without sending

Use « sans » followed by an infinitive to express an action that is not done.

French Vocabulary

avant que conj
ah-VAHN kuh before
début noun
day-BEW beginning; opening
demande noun
duh-MAHND request
e-mail noun
ee-MEL email
envoyer verb
ahn-vwah-YAY to send l'envoie
professionnel adj
pro-fay-syoh-NEL professional
rappeler verb
rah-puh-LAY to remind
sans prep
sah(n) without
sec adj
SEK sharp; curt
sembler verb
sah(n)-BLAY to seem semble
ton noun
toh(n) tone
vérifier verb
vay-ree-fee-AY to check

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Remove that person from the list.

Show AnswerRetirez cette personne de la liste.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to seem

Show Answersemble

to check

Show Answervérifier

beginning; opening

Show Answerdébut

request

Show Answerdemande