Politely clarifying a workspace table reservation | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a shared workspace, one person explains a table reservation and another agrees to move to a better place for a call..

EN → FR / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Politely clarifying a workspace table reservation to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

J'ai réservé cette table parce que j'ai besoin d'un coin plus calme.

zhay ray-zair-VAY set TAH-bluh pair-SKUH zhay buh-ZWAN duh(n) KWA(N) ploo KALM. I reserved this table because I need a quieter corner.
B

Je n'avais pas compris que les réservations concernaient chaque table ici.

zhuh nah-VAY pah kohm-PREE kuh lay ray-zair-vah-SYON koh(n)-sair-NAY shahk TAH-bluh ee-SEE. I hadn't realized reservations applied to individual tables here.
A

Ils ont mis ce système en place après que plusieurs personnes se sont plaintes du manque d'espace.

eelz ohn MEE suh sees-TEM ahn PLASS ah-PRAY kuh ploo-ZYUR pair-SON suh soh(n) PLENT duh MAN-kuh das-PASS. They started the system after several people complained about crowding.
B

Dans ce cas, je ferais mieux de changer de place avant que tu t'installes.

DAHN suh KAH, zhuh fuh-RAY MYUH duh shahn-ZHAY duh PLASS ah-VAHN kuh too tahn-STAHL. In that case, I should move before you settle in.
A

Tu pourrais rester si tu peux limiter la durée de ton appel et parler à voix basse.

too poo-RAY res-TAY see too puh lee-mee-TAY lah dyoo-RAY duh tohn ah-PELL ay par-LAY ah VWAH BASS. You could stay if you can keep your call brief and speak quietly.
B

Il risque de durer plus longtemps que prévu, alors il me semble plus juste que je change de place.

eel REESK duh dyoo-RAY ploo lohn-TAHN kuh pray-VYOO, ah-LOHR eel muh SAHMBL ploo ZHUST kuh zhuh shahnzh duh PLASS. It might run longer than expected, so moving seems fairer.
A

Je t'en remercie, parce que j'ai besoin d'enregistrer une présentation.

zhuh tah(n) ruh-mair-SEE, pair-SKUH zhay buh-ZWAN dahn-ruh-zhee-STRAY oon pray-zahn-tah-SYON. I appreciate that, because I need to record a presentation.
B

Je vais choisir l'espace détente, où je gênerai moins les autres en parlant.

zhuh vay shwah-ZEER less-PASS day-TAHNT, oo zhuh zhayn-RAY MWA(N) lay ZOH-truhz ahn par-LAHN. I'll choose the lounge area, where speaking is less disruptive.

Word by Word

J'ai In 'J'ai réservé', this form means 'I have' as part of the completed reservation, while in 'j'ai besoin' it means 'I have' in the expression for needing something. Reuse the patterns 'J'ai réservé cette table' and 'j'ai besoin d'un coin'.
réservé In 'J'ai réservé cette table', 'réservé' means 'reserved', referring to the completed act of booking the table. It is used with 'J'ai' in the pattern 'J'ai réservé + object'.
cette In 'cette table', 'cette' identifies one specific table as 'this'. It is used directly before the noun in 'cette table' when pointing out the table being discussed.
table Here 'table' means the workspace table that was reserved. It can be used after a determiner, as in 'cette table', to identify a particular table.
parce que The whole expression 'parce que' introduces the reason for the preceding statement: the table was reserved because a quieter corner is needed. 'parce' and 'que' work together here, so use 'parce que' before a reason clause such as 'parce que j'ai besoin d'un coin plus calme'.
besoin In 'j'ai besoin d'un coin', 'besoin' expresses a need. The reliable pattern is 'avoir besoin de + noun or infinitive', as in 'j'ai besoin d'un coin'.
d'un In 'd'un coin', 'd'un' links the expression 'j'ai besoin' to 'a corner': needing one corner. It combines 'de' with 'un' before a masculine singular noun, as in 'avoir besoin d'un coin'.
coin Here 'coin' means a corner or relatively secluded area of the workspace. It appears after 'd'un' in 'd'un coin plus calme' to name the place that is needed.
plus In 'plus calme', 'plus' marks a higher degree, meaning 'quieter' or 'more quiet'. Use it before an adjective when comparing the degree of a quality, as in 'un coin plus calme'.
calme In 'un coin plus calme', 'calme' describes the corner as quiet. Together with 'plus', it expresses that this corner is quieter than another possible place.
Je Here 'Je' is the subject 'I' in 'Je n'avais pas compris'. It is placed before the verb and can introduce the speaker's own understanding or reaction.
n'avais In 'Je n'avais pas compris', 'n'avais' helps express that the speaker had not understood something before this point. It appears with 'pas' around 'compris' in the negative pattern 'je n'avais pas compris que...'.
pas In 'n'avais pas compris', 'pas' completes the negation and makes the meaning 'had not understood'. It is placed after the conjugated form 'n'avais' and before 'compris' in this construction.
compris In 'Je n'avais pas compris', 'compris' means 'understood' or, in this context, 'realized'. It refers to recognizing how the reservation system worked and follows 'n'avais pas'.
que In 'compris que les réservations concernaient chaque table', 'que' introduces the content that had not been understood. It connects 'compris' to a complete clause, unlike the comparative use in 'plus longtemps que prévu'.
les In 'les réservations', 'les' is the definite plural article meaning 'the'. It comes before the plural noun to refer to the reservations as a group.
réservations Here 'réservations' means the bookings that determine who may use a table. It is used as the subject of 'les réservations concernaient chaque table'.
concernaient In 'les réservations concernaient chaque table', 'concernaient' means 'applied to' or 'concerned'. It links the reservations to the individual tables affected by the system.
chaque In 'chaque table', 'chaque' means 'each' and focuses on the tables one by one. It comes directly before the noun, as in 'chaque table ici'.
ici Here 'ici' means 'here', referring to this shared workspace. It can be placed at the end of a clause, as in 'les réservations concernaient chaque table ici'.
Ils In 'Ils ont mis ce système en place', 'Ils' means 'they' and refers to the people who introduced the system. It appears before the auxiliary 'ont' as the subject of the past action.
ont In 'Ils ont mis', 'ont' is the auxiliary used with 'mis' to express the completed action of putting the system in place. It follows the plural subject 'Ils'.
mis In 'ont mis ce système en place', 'mis' means 'put' or 'set up'. The complete pattern 'mettre quelque chose en place' is used for establishing a system or arrangement.
ce In 'ce système', 'ce' identifies the specific system being discussed as 'this'. It comes directly before the masculine singular noun 'système'.
système Here 'système' means the reservation arrangement introduced in the workspace. It is the object in 'ont mis ce système en place'.
en In the expression 'mettre ce système en place', 'en' is part of the construction meaning to put or establish something in place. It should be learned together with 'place' in this expression.
place In 'mettre ce système en place', 'place' completes the expression for putting or establishing a system. The full construction 'mettre ce système en place' means to set up this system.
après In 'après que plusieurs personnes se sont plaintes', 'après' means 'after' and places the system's introduction later than the complaints. It is followed here by 'que' and a complete clause.
plusieurs In 'plusieurs personnes', 'plusieurs' means 'several' and indicates more than one person without giving an exact number. It comes before the plural noun 'personnes'.
personnes Here 'personnes' means the people who complained about the lack of space. It is used after 'plusieurs' in the subject phrase 'plusieurs personnes'.
se In 'se sont plaintes', 'se' is part of the verb expression used when the people complained. It appears before 'sont' in this past construction and must stay with 'sont plaintes'.
sont In 'se sont plaintes', 'sont' is the auxiliary used with 'plaintes' for the completed complaint. It follows the subject 'plusieurs personnes' through the reflexive form 'se'.
plaintes In 'plusieurs personnes se sont plaintes', 'plaintes' expresses that the people complained. The full expression 'se sont plaintes du manque d'espace' states what caused their complaint.
du In 'du manque d'espace', 'du' links the verb expression for complaining to the thing complained about, meaning 'about the lack of space'. It is used before the noun phrase 'manque d'espace'.
manque Here 'manque' means a lack or shortage, specifically the shortage of available space. It appears in the noun phrase 'le manque d'espace' after 'se sont plaintes du'.
d'espace In 'le manque d'espace', 'd'espace' specifies what is lacking: space. The pattern 'un manque de + noun' identifies the thing that is insufficient.
Dans At the start of 'Dans ce cas', 'Dans' means 'in' and frames the situation being considered. The complete expression 'Dans ce cas' means 'in that case'.
cas In 'Dans ce cas', 'cas' means the situation or circumstances just explained. Together with 'dans ce', it is a practical way to introduce a decision based on that information.
ferais In 'je ferais mieux de changer de place', 'ferais' contributes to the advice 'I would do better to move'. The pattern 'faire mieux de + infinitive' is used when saying what would be the better action.
mieux In 'ferais mieux de changer de place', 'mieux' means 'better' and forms a recommendation about the preferable action. Keep it in the pattern 'je ferais mieux de + infinitive'.
de In 'ferais mieux de changer', 'de' connects the recommendation 'ferais mieux' to the action that is advised. It is followed by the infinitive 'changer'.
changer In 'changer de place', 'changer' means to change places or move to another place. The complete pattern 'changer de place' is useful when moving because someone else needs the current place.
avant In 'avant que tu t'installes', 'avant' means 'before' and places the moving earlier than the other person's settling in. It is used here in the conjunction 'avant que' before a clause.
tu In 'tu t'installes', 'tu' means 'you' and identifies the person who may settle in. It comes before the verb phrase in the clause introduced by 'avant que'.
t'installes In 'avant que tu t'installes', 't'installes' means 'settle in' or take up the place. The form includes the object pronoun 't'' before the verb and is used with the subject 'tu'.
pourrais In 'Tu pourrais rester', 'pourrais' presents staying as a possible or polite option: 'you could stay'. It is followed by the infinitive 'rester' in the pattern 'tu pourrais + infinitive'.
rester In 'Tu pourrais rester', 'rester' means to stay in the current place. It follows 'pourrais' as the action being offered as an option.
si In 'si tu peux limiter la durée de ton appel', 'si' introduces the condition under which the person may stay. It connects the condition to the main suggestion 'Tu pourrais rester'.
peux In 'si tu peux limiter', 'peux' means 'can' or 'are able to'. It is followed by an infinitive, here 'limiter', to state what the other person can do.
limiter In 'limiter la durée de ton appel', 'limiter' means to keep the call within a short duration. The reusable pattern is 'limiter la durée de + noun'.
la In 'la durée', 'la' is the singular definite article meaning 'the'. It comes before the noun phrase naming the duration of the call.
durée Here 'durée' means the length or duration of the call. It is the object of 'limiter' in 'limiter la durée de ton appel'.
ton In 'ton appel', 'ton' means 'your' and identifies the call as belonging to the person being addressed. It comes directly before the noun 'appel' in the phrase 'la durée de ton appel'.
appel Here 'appel' means the phone or work call that may disturb people in the shared workspace. It appears after 'ton' in 'ton appel' and after 'de' in the larger phrase.
et In 'limiter la durée de ton appel et parler à voix basse', 'et' joins two requested actions. It connects the infinitives 'limiter' and 'parler' within the same condition.
parler In 'parler à voix basse', 'parler' means to speak. The expression 'parler à voix basse' gives the manner in which the person should speak during the call.
à In 'à voix basse', 'à' is part of the expression describing the manner of speaking. Keep it with 'voix basse' to express speaking quietly.
voix In 'à voix basse', 'voix' means 'voice'. The full expression 'à voix basse' means using a low or quiet voice.
basse In 'à voix basse', 'basse' describes the voice as low or quiet. Together, 'à voix basse' is the natural expression for speaking quietly.
Il In 'Il risque de durer', 'Il' refers to the call mentioned in the previous line. It is the subject before the expression 'risque de durer'.
risque In 'Il risque de durer plus longtemps', 'risque' expresses that the call may last longer than expected. The pattern 'risquer de + infinitive' presents a possible unwelcome result.
durer In 'risque de durer', 'durer' means to last, referring to the length of the call. It follows 'risque de' in the pattern for saying that something may continue for a certain time.
longtemps In 'durer plus longtemps', 'longtemps' refers to a long amount of time. With 'plus', it helps compare the expected duration with a longer possible duration.
prévu In 'plus longtemps que prévu', 'prévu' means expected or planned. The expression compares the possible duration with what was expected.
alors Here 'alors' means 'so' and introduces the decision that follows from the call possibly lasting longer. It links the reason to 'il me semble plus juste que je change de place'.
me In 'il me semble', 'me' means 'to me' and shows whose impression is being expressed. The pattern 'il me semble que...' presents something as seeming a certain way to the speaker.
semble In 'il me semble plus juste', 'semble' means 'seems'. Together with 'me', it introduces the speaker's judgment that moving is fairer.
juste In 'plus juste', 'juste' means fair or reasonable. The phrase 'il me semble plus juste que je change de place' presents moving as the fairer choice.
change In 'que je change de place', 'change' means move or change places. The complete expression 'changer de place' identifies the action the speaker decides to take.
t'en In 'Je t'en remercie', 't'en' combines 'to you' with 'for that', referring to the other person's willingness to move. The complete expression 'Je t'en remercie' is used to thank someone for a specific action or consideration.
remercie In 'Je t'en remercie', 'remercie' means 'thank'. It appears in the fixed pattern 'Je te remercie de...' or, as here, 'Je t'en remercie' when thanking someone for what they have just done or offered.
d'enregistrer In 'j'ai besoin d'enregistrer une présentation', 'd'enregistrer' means 'to record' and follows 'avoir besoin de'. The pattern 'avoir besoin de + infinitive' states an action that the speaker needs to do.
une In 'une présentation', 'une' means 'a' or 'an' and introduces one presentation. It comes directly before the noun in the object phrase after 'enregistrer'.
présentation Here 'présentation' means the presentation that the speaker needs to record. It is the object of 'enregistrer' in 'enregistrer une présentation'.
vais In 'Je vais choisir', 'vais' is used with the infinitive 'choisir' to express what the speaker is going to do next. The pattern 'je vais + infinitive' presents an immediate or planned action.
choisir In 'Je vais choisir l'espace détente', 'choisir' means to choose. It follows 'vais' and takes the selected place as its object.
l'espace In 'l'espace détente', 'l'espace' means 'the space' and identifies the area the speaker selects. The article is written 'l'' before the vowel sound at the start of 'espace'.
détente In 'l'espace détente', 'détente' identifies the area intended for relaxation, translated here as the lounge area. It specifies what kind of space 'l'espace' is.
où In 'où je gênerai moins les autres', 'où' means 'where' and introduces information about the selected lounge area. It connects that place to what will happen there.
gênerai In 'je gênerai moins les autres', 'gênerai' means 'will disturb' or 'will bother'. It states the expected effect of choosing the lounge area on the other people there.
moins In 'gênerai moins les autres', 'moins' means 'less' and reduces the expected amount of disturbance. It is placed after the verb and before the people affected.
autres In 'les autres', 'autres' means 'other people', referring to the people in the shared workspace. The phrase is used when distinguishing them from the speaker and the person being addressed.
parlant In 'en parlant', 'parlant' means 'speaking' and describes the action through which the speaker might disturb others. The pattern 'en + parlant' expresses the manner or simultaneous action connected with the main verb.

Grammar Points

se plaindre → se sont plaintes

se sont plaintes

suh soh(n) PLENT

complained

A reflexive verb uses être in the passé composé; the past participle agrees with the feminine plural subject: plaintes.

risquer de + infinitif

risque de durer

REESK duh dyoo-RAY

is likely to last

After risquer de, use an infinitive to express a possible or risky result.

French Vocabulary

besoin noun
buh-ZWAN need

j'ai besoin d'un coin

calme adj
KALM quiet

un coin plus calme

chaque det
SHAHK each; every

chaque table

coin noun
KWA(N) corner

un coin plus calme

comprendre verb
kohm-PRAH(N)-druh to understand compris

Je n'avais pas compris

concerner verb
kohn-sair-NAY to concern; to apply to concernaient

les réservations concernaient chaque table

mettre en place phrase
MET-truh ahn PLASS to put in place; to implement mis ce système en place

Ils ont mis ce système en place

réservation noun
ray-zair-vah-SYON reservation réservations

les réservations

réserver verb
ray-zair-VAY to reserve réservé

J'ai réservé cette table

se plaindre verb
suh PLAH(N)-druh to complain se sont plaintes

plusieurs personnes se sont plaintes

système noun
sees-TEM system

ce système

table noun
TAH-bluh table

cette table

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

quiet

Show Answercalme

corner

Show Answercoin

reservation

Show Answerréservations

need

Show Answerbesoin