Using the shared laundry room fairly | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shared laundry room, two adults discuss waiting for a machine, moving abandoned laundry fairly, and tracking cycle times..

EN → FR / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Using the shared laundry room fairly to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Toutes les machines à laver sont encore pleines.

toot lay ma-SHEEN ah lah-VAYR sohn ahn-KOR plen. All the washing machines are full again.
B

Regarde le planning pour voir quand le prochain cycle se termine.

ruh-GAHRD luh PLAH-neeng poor vwar kahn luh proh-SHAN seekl suh tair-MEEN. Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.
A

Une machine devrait bientôt avoir fini, mais la personne qui l'a lancée n'est pas là.

oon ma-SHEEN duh-VRAY byan-TOH ah-VWAR fee-NEE, may lah pair-SON kee lah lahn-SAY nay pah LAH. One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.
B

Laisse-lui encore quelques minutes avant de déplacer son linge.

less-LWEE ahn-KOR kelk mee-NUUT ah-VAHN duh day-plah-SAY sohn LEHNZH. Give them a few minutes before moving their laundry.
A

Combien de temps est-il raisonnable d'attendre avant de le déplacer ?

kohm-BYAN duh tahn eh-TEEL ray-zoh-NAHBL dah-TAHN-druh ah-VAHN duh luh day-plah-SAY? How long is fair before I move it?
B

Un court délai suffit si d'autres personnes attendent.

uhn koor day-LAY soo-FEE see dohtr pair-SON ah-TAHND. A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.
A

Je vais mettre un rappel pour revenir dès que mon cycle sera terminé.

zhuh vay METR uhn rah-PELL poor ruh-vuh-NEER day kuh mohn seekl suh-RAH tair-mee-NAY. I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.
B

Cela permet de demander plus facilement la même chose à tout le monde.

suh-LAH pair-MAY duh duh-mahn-DAY ploo fah-seel-MAHN lah MEM shohz ah too luh MOHND. That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.
A

Je ne peux pas me plaindre du linge abandonné si je laisse aussi le mien là-bas.

zhuh nuh puh pah muh PLAHNDR duh LEHNZH ah-bahn-doh-NAY see zhuh LESS oh-SEE luh MYAN lah-BAH. I can't complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.
B

La buanderie commune fonctionne mieux quand les gens surveillent la durée des cycles.

lah bwan-duh-REE koh-MOON fohnk-SYON MYUH kahn lay zhahn soor-VAY lah doo-RAY day SEEKL. Shared laundry goes more smoothly when people watch the cycle times.

Word by Word

Toutes Toutes means all in Toutes les machines à laver. It is the feminine plural form agreeing with machines. A reliable reuse pattern is Toutes les + plural feminine noun when referring to every item in a group.
les Les is the definite article meaning the before the plural noun machines in les machines à laver. It identifies the machines as a known group. Reuse les before a plural noun.
machines Machines means machines in machines à laver, referring here to the washing machines in the shared laundry room. The singular noun is machine. A useful reuse pattern is machines à laver for washing machines.
à In machine à laver, à links the noun machine to its purpose, so the expression means a machine for washing. It does not mean to in isolation here. A reusable pattern is noun + à + infinitive to describe what an object is for.
laver In machine à laver, laver is the infinitive meaning to wash and identifies the machine's purpose. The whole expression refers to a washing machine. A useful reuse pattern is machine à + infinitive.
sont Sont means are in Toutes les machines à laver sont encore pleines. It links the plural subject to the description pleines. Reuse a plural subject + sont + an adjective.
encore Encore means again here, showing that the machines are full once more. In encore pleines, it describes a repeated situation. Use it when reporting that a previous state has happened again.
pleines Pleines means full in Toutes les machines à laver sont encore pleines. The form is feminine plural because it describes machines. A reliable reuse pattern is être + pleines when several feminine things are full.
Regarde Regarde tells one person to look at or check something, here the planning. It is used as a direct instruction at the start of the sentence. A useful reuse pattern is Regarde + the thing to be checked.
le Le is the definite article meaning the before the masculine singular noun planning. It presents the schedule as a specific, known item. Reuse le before a singular masculine noun.
planning Planning means schedule in le planning, referring to the laundry-room schedule. It is the information used to find out when the next cycle ends. A useful reuse expression is regarder le planning.
pour Pour means in order to in pour voir quand le prochain cycle se termine. It introduces the purpose of checking the schedule. Reuse pour + infinitive to express what an action is intended to achieve.
voir Voir means to see or find out in pour voir quand le prochain cycle se termine. It introduces the information the speaker wants to obtain. A useful reuse pattern is pour voir + information or question clause.
quand Quand means when and introduces the time information about the next cycle. In quand le prochain cycle se termine, it starts a clause answering when something happens. Reuse quand + a clause to ask about or state a time.
prochain Prochain means next in le prochain cycle, referring to the upcoming cycle. It describes the cycle that will finish next. A useful reuse pattern is le prochain + singular masculine noun.
cycle Cycle means a washing-machine cycle in le prochain cycle. It refers to one complete programmed period of washing. Reuse cycle when discussing how long a machine takes or when it finishes.
se Se is part of se termine, the expression used to say that the cycle ends. It belongs to the verb construction rather than expressing a separate object here. A useful reuse pattern is quelque chose se termine for something coming to an end.
termine Termine means ends or finishes in le prochain cycle se termine. Together with se, it describes the cycle reaching its end. Reuse se termine with an event, period, or process that is ending.
Une Une means a or one before the feminine singular noun machine in Une machine devrait bientôt avoir fini. It introduces one particular machine without identifying it more precisely. Reuse une before a singular feminine noun.
machine Machine means machine in Une machine devrait bientôt avoir fini. Here it refers to one washing machine understood from the laundry-room context. A useful reuse pattern is une machine + a description of its state or activity.
devrait Devrait means should or is expected to in Une machine devrait bientôt avoir fini. It expresses an expectation rather than complete certainty. Reuse devrait + infinitive to describe what is expected to happen.
bientôt Bientôt means soon in devrait bientôt avoir fini. It places the expected completion in the near future. Reuse bientôt with a verb phrase when an event is approaching.
avoir In avoir fini, avoir is the auxiliary used with fini to describe completion. The whole expression means to have finished or to be done. A useful reuse pattern is devrait avoir + a past participle when describing an expected completed action.
fini Fini means finished or done in avoir fini. With avoir, it describes the machine's cycle as completed. Reuse avoir fini when saying that an activity has finished.
mais Mais means but and introduces a contrast between the expected finished machine and the absent person. It connects two opposing pieces of information. Reuse mais to contrast one situation with another.
la La is the definite article meaning the before the feminine singular noun personne in la personne qui l'a lancée. It identifies a specific person. Reuse la before a singular feminine noun.
personne Personne means person in la personne qui l'a lancée. It refers to the individual who started the machine. A useful reuse pattern is la personne qui + verb to identify someone by what they did.
qui Qui means who or that in la personne qui l'a lancée. It introduces information describing the person and refers back to personne. Reuse a noun + qui + verb to add a defining action or characteristic.
l'a In l'a lancée, l' is the object pronoun referring to the machine and a is the auxiliary meaning has. Together with lancée, the segment means has started it. A useful reuse pattern is l'a + past participle when l' refers to something already mentioned.
lancée Lancée describes the machine as started in l'a lancée. Its feminine singular form agrees with the preceding object referring to machine. Reuse l'a lancée when referring back to a feminine singular thing that someone started.
n'est N'est means is not as part of the negative expression n'est pas là. It combines the negation marker ne with est. Reuse n'est pas before a description or place to say that someone or something is not there or is not in a stated condition.
pas Pas completes the negation with ne in n'est pas là. In this sentence, it makes the statement mean that the person is not there. Reuse pas with ne around the conjugated verb in a negative sentence.
là Là means there or present in n'est pas là. The expression says that the person is not in the laundry room or otherwise not present. Reuse être là or ne pas être là when talking about someone's presence.
Laisse Laisse tells one person to leave or allow something, here to give the person a few more minutes. In Laisse-lui encore quelques minutes, it is a direct instruction. A useful reuse pattern is Laisse-lui + a duration or opportunity.
lui Lui means to him or her in Laisse-lui encore quelques minutes. It identifies the person who should be given more time. Reuse an instruction + lui when the action is directed toward one person.
quelques Quelques means a few in quelques minutes. It indicates a small, unspecified number. Reuse quelques before a plural noun when referring to a small quantity.
minutes Minutes means minutes and expresses the short amount of time being allowed. In quelques minutes, it specifies the duration of the grace period. Reuse minutes after a quantity when stating a waiting time.
avant Avant means before in avant de déplacer son linge. It places the moving action after a prior period of waiting. Reuse avant de + infinitive to say that one action happens before another.
déplacer Déplacer means to move in avant de déplacer son linge. It is the action that should wait until the grace period has passed. A useful reuse pattern is déplacer + an object, such as son linge.
son Son means his, her, or its before the masculine singular noun linge in son linge. The form agrees with the possessed noun, not with the owner's gender. Reuse son + singular masculine noun to show possession.
linge Linge means laundry in son linge. Here it refers to the clothes left in the washing machine. A useful reuse pattern is déplacer son linge when talking about moving someone's laundry.
Combien Combien means how much or how long in Combien de temps. With temps, it asks about the length of a period. Reuse combien de + noun when asking about a quantity.
de In Combien de temps, de links combien to the noun whose amount is being asked about. The whole expression asks how long. Reuse combien de before a noun when asking how much or how many.
temps Temps means time in Combien de temps. It refers specifically to the duration one should wait. Reuse combien de temps to ask about the length of an action or period.
est Est means is in est-il raisonnable d'attendre. It appears before il because the sentence uses question inversion. Reuse est-il + adjective when asking whether something is a certain way.
il Il means it in est-il raisonnable d'attendre, where it introduces an impersonal judgment about waiting. It does not refer to a male person here. A useful reuse pattern is il est + adjective + de + infinitive.
raisonnable Raisonnable means reasonable or fair in est-il raisonnable d'attendre. The question asks whether the waiting period is acceptable. Reuse il est raisonnable de + infinitive when evaluating an action as fair or sensible.
d'attendre D'attendre means to wait in est-il raisonnable d'attendre. The form combines de with the infinitive attendre and supplies the action being judged. Reuse il est raisonnable d'attendre when asking whether waiting is fair or sensible.
Un Un means a or one before the masculine singular noun délai in Un court délai suffit. It introduces one short period of time. Reuse un before a singular masculine noun.
court Court means short in un court délai. It describes the duration of the grace period. A useful reuse pattern is un court + masculine singular noun.
délai Délai means a delay or grace period in un court délai. Here it is the amount of time allowed before moving the laundry. Reuse délai when discussing an agreed or available period before an action.
suffit Suffit means is enough in Un court délai suffit. It says that the short grace period meets the need. Reuse a quantity + suffit to state that an amount is adequate.
si Si means if and introduces the condition that other people are waiting. It connects the sufficient grace period to the situation that justifies it. Reuse si + clause to state a condition.
d'autres D'autres means other in d'autres personnes. The form combines de with autres and refers to people besides the person already mentioned. Reuse d'autres + plural noun when distinguishing additional people or things.
personnes Personnes means people or persons in d'autres personnes. It refers to the other laundry-room users who are waiting. A useful reuse pattern is d'autres personnes + verb.
attendent Attendent means are waiting in d'autres personnes attendent. It describes what the other people are doing while they need a machine. Reuse personnes attendent when stating that people are waiting.
Je Je means I and is the subject of the speaker's plan in Je vais mettre un rappel. It identifies the person who will set the reminder. Reuse Je before a verb when speaking about your own action.
vais Vais means am going to in Je vais mettre un rappel. With the infinitive mettre, it forms a near-future plan. Reuse je vais + infinitive to state what you intend to do.
mettre Mettre means to put or set in Je vais mettre un rappel. Here it describes setting a reminder for the end of the cycle. A useful reuse pattern is mettre + an object, such as a reminder.
rappel Rappel means reminder in mettre un rappel. It is something arranged to help the speaker return on time. Reuse mettre un rappel when setting a notification or reminder.
revenir Revenir means to come back or return in pour revenir. It describes returning to the laundry room after the cycle ends. Reuse pour revenir to express the purpose of an action.
dès que Dès que means as soon as in dès que mon cycle sera terminé. Dès contributes the idea of an immediate point, and que introduces the following clause; together they connect one action to the immediate completion of another. Reuse dès que + a clause for an action that happens immediately after a condition is met.
mon Mon means my before the masculine singular noun cycle in mon cycle sera terminé. It identifies the cycle belonging to the speaker. Reuse mon + singular masculine noun to show possession.
sera Sera means will be in mon cycle sera terminé. It places the completion of the cycle in the future. Reuse a subject + sera + description when describing a future state.
terminé Terminé means finished or completed in mon cycle sera terminé. It describes the cycle as complete in the future expression sera terminé. Its masculine singular form agrees with cycle. Reuse sera terminé when referring to something that will be completed.
Cela Cela means that or it and refers to the speaker's reminder plan in Cela permet de demander plus facilement la même chose à tout le monde. It points back to the preceding idea rather than to a person. A useful reuse pattern is Cela permet de + infinitive.
permet Permet means allows or makes possible in Cela permet de demander plus facilement la même chose à tout le monde. It explains that the reminder makes a fair request easier to make. Reuse Cela permet de + infinitive to describe what an action or arrangement enables.
demander Demander means to ask or request in permet de demander. Here it refers to asking everyone else to follow the same standard. A useful reuse pattern is demander + an object or request.
plus Plus means more in plus facilement. It makes the adverb comparative, showing that asking becomes easier. Reuse plus before an adverb to express a greater degree.
facilement Facilement means easily in plus facilement. Together, plus facilement means more easily. Reuse a verb + plus facilement when describing an action that becomes easier.
même Même means same in la même chose. It shows that the request made to everyone else should be identical to the earlier standard. Its feminine singular form agrees with chose. Reuse le or la même + noun.
chose Chose means thing in la même chose. The expression refers to the same request or standard without repeating it. A useful reuse pattern is la même chose when referring back to an identical idea or action.
tout le monde Tout le monde means everyone in à tout le monde. Tout contributes the idea of the whole group, while le monde refers to the group of people; together they form the expression for everyone. Reuse à tout le monde when directing something to everyone.
ne Ne is the first part of the negation in Je ne peux pas me plaindre. It signals that the following statement will be made negative together with pas. Reuse ne before the conjugated verb in a negative sentence.
peux Peux means can or am able to in Je ne peux pas me plaindre. It expresses the speaker's ability or possibility, which is then negated. Reuse je peux + infinitive to say what you can do.
me Me is the reflexive pronoun used with plaindre in me plaindre. It makes the verb construction refer back to the speaker. A useful reuse pattern is je peux me + infinitive when the action is expressed with a reflexive verb.
plaindre Plaindre means to complain in me plaindre du linge abandonné. With me, it forms the expression for the speaker complaining about something. Reuse me plaindre de + noun when saying that you complain about an issue.
du Du is the contraction of de and le in se plaindre du linge abandonné. It introduces what the speaker is complaining about, namely the abandoned laundry. Reuse se plaindre de + noun; du is used before a singular masculine noun.
abandonné Abandonné means abandoned in le linge abandonné. It describes laundry that has been left behind. Its masculine singular form agrees with linge. Reuse a noun + abandonné when describing something left without its owner.
aussi Aussi means also or too in si je laisse aussi le mien là-bas. It adds that the speaker leaves their own laundry there as well. Reuse aussi near the verb or at the end of a clause to add a similar action.
mien Mien means mine in le mien, referring back to linge without repeating the noun. It appears with le because it replaces the masculine singular noun linge. Reuse le mien when referring to a masculine singular item that belongs to the speaker.
là-bas Là-bas means over there in laisser aussi le mien là-bas. Là indicates a place and bas adds the sense of a more distant location; together they point to a place away from the speaker. Reuse laisser quelque chose là-bas when saying that something is left in that distant place.
buanderie Buanderie means laundry room in La buanderie commune fonctionne mieux. It names the shared room where the machines are located. A useful reuse expression is la buanderie commune.
commune Commune means shared or common in La buanderie commune. Its feminine singular form agrees with buanderie. Reuse a feminine singular noun + commune to describe something used by several people.
fonctionne Fonctionne means works or functions in La buanderie commune fonctionne mieux. It describes how the shared laundry arrangement operates. A useful reuse pattern is quelque chose fonctionne mieux quand + clause.
mieux Mieux means better or more smoothly in fonctionne mieux. It compares the way the shared laundry room operates with a less effective situation. Reuse fonctionne mieux when describing an arrangement that operates more effectively.
gens Gens means people in les gens surveillent la durée des cycles. It refers to the users of the shared laundry room. A useful reuse pattern is les gens + verb when describing what people generally do.
surveillent Surveillent means watch or monitor in les gens surveillent la durée des cycles. It describes people keeping track of how long the cycles last. Reuse surveiller + a noun when monitoring a process or period.
durée Durée means duration or length of time in la durée des cycles. It refers to how long the washing cycles last. A useful reuse pattern is la durée de or la durée des + noun when specifying the length of something.
des Des is the contraction of de and les in la durée des cycles. It links durée to the plural noun cycles and means of the cycles. Reuse des before a plural noun when expressing this relationship.
cycles Cycles means cycles in la durée des cycles, referring to the washing-machine cycles. The word is plural because the speaker is discussing cycle times generally. Reuse la durée des cycles when talking about how long several machine cycles take.

Grammar Points

dès que + proposition

Dès que le cycle se termine, je reviens.

day kuh luh SEEKL suh tair-MEEN, zhuh ruh-VYAN.

As soon as the cycle ends, I’ll come back.

“Dès que” introduces an event that happens immediately before the main action.

se terminer

Le cycle se termine bientôt.

luh SEEKL suh tair-MEEN byan-TOH.

The cycle ends soon.

“Se terminer” means “to end”; French uses the reflexive form where English does not use “itself.”

French Vocabulary

bientôt adv
byan-TOH soon

devrait bientôt avoir fini

cycle noun
SEEKL cycle; wash cycle

le prochain cycle

encore adv
ahn-KOR again; still

sont encore pleines

machine à laver noun
ma-SHEEN ah lah-VAYR washing machine machines à laver

les machines à laver

planning noun
PLAH-neeng schedule

le planning

plein adj
PLEN full pleines

sont encore pleines

prochain adj
proh-SHAN next

le prochain cycle

quand adv
kahn when

voir quand le prochain cycle se termine

regarder verb
ruh-gahr-DAY to check; to look at Regarde

Regarde le planning

se terminer verb
suh tair-mee-NAY to finish; to end se termine

le cycle se termine

tout det
TOOT all Toutes

Toutes les machines à laver

voir verb
vwar to see

pour voir quand

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

next

Show Answerprochain

again; still

Show Answerencore

to see

Show Answervoir

when

Show Answerquand