Handling a Seating Issue Politely | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: At a restaurant, a guest explains that a reserved table is too loud and a staff member offers a quieter corner table..

EN → FR / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Handling a Seating Issue Politely to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Nous avions réservé une table au calme, mais cet endroit est beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu.

Noo zah-vyohn ray-zair-VAY oon TAH-bl oh KALM, meh set ahn-DROH eh boh-KOO ploo brwee-YAHN kuh pray-VOO. We reserved a quiet table, but this area is much louder than expected.
B

Je suis désolé, cette partie s'est remplie plus tôt que prévu.

Zhuh swee day-zoh-LAY, set par-TEE say rahm-PLEE ploo TOHR kuh pray-VOO. I'm sorry; that section filled up earlier than we expected.
A

À cette table, notre groupe aura du mal à s'entendre.

Ah set TAH-bl, NOH-tr groop oh-RAH doo MAL ah sahn-TAHNDR. This table will make it hard for our group to hear each other.
B

Je peux vous installer à une table dans un coin, avec davantage d'espace autour.

Zhuh puh voo zahn-stah-LAY ah oon TAH-bl dahn-zun KWAHN, ah-VEK dah-vahn-TAHZH dah-SPAHS oh-TOOR. I can move you to a corner table that has more space around it.
A

Ce serait utile, tant que notre serveur peut toujours suivre notre rythme.

Suh suh-RAY oo-TEEL, tahn kuh NOH-tr sair-VUR puh too-ZHOOR swee-VR noh-tr REETM. That would help, as long as our server can still keep up with us.
B

C'est le même serveur qui s'occupe de ce coin, donc le service devrait se dérouler sans problème.

Say luh MEM sair-VUR kee soh-KOOP duh suh KWAHN, dohnk luh sair-VEES duh-VRAY suh day-roo-LAY sahn proh-BLEM. The same server covers that corner, so service should stay on track.
A

Alors, déplaçons-nous avant que tout le monde s'assoie.

Ah-LOR, day-plah-SOHN-noo ah-VAHN kuh too luh MOND sah-SWAH. Then let's move before everyone sits down.
B

Je vais faire remettre la table en place tout de suite.

Zhuh vay fair ruh-MEH-tr lah TAH-bl ahn PLAHS too duh SWEET. I'll have the table reset now.

Word by Word

Nous Nous means we and is the subject of Nous avions réservé une table au calme. It refers to the group of guests speaking together, and it is reused before a verb when the speaker includes themselves and others.
avions Avions means had in Nous avions réservé une table au calme, referring to a reservation already made. It is a form of avoir, and the reusable pattern here is Nous avions réservé une table.
réservé Réservé means reserved in Nous avions réservé une table au calme. It is the form related to réserver used for the reservation, and the pattern Nous avions réservé une table states what was booked.
une Une means a in une table, introducing the table that was reserved. It is used directly before the noun in the phrase une table au calme.
table Table means table, specifically the restaurant table being discussed in une table au calme. It is reused with a place or description, as in une table dans un coin.
au Au calme means in a quiet setting in the sentence about the reserved table; au is part of this expression rather than carrying the whole meaning alone. The phrase une table au calme is useful when requesting or describing a quieter table.
calme Calme contributes the meaning quiet in au calme, describing the desired setting for the table. The phrase une table au calme is used when a guest wants to sit somewhere peaceful.
mais Mais means but and introduces the contrast between the quiet reservation and the actual noise: mais cet endroit est beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu. It is reused to connect an expectation with a different reality.
cet Cet means this in cet endroit, pointing to the area where the speakers are sitting. It is used before endroit to identify a particular place nearby.
endroit Endroit means place or area in cet endroit, referring to the current restaurant area. The phrase cet endroit is useful when indicating a specific location.
est Est means is in cet endroit est beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu, linking the area with its description. It is a form of être, and the pattern cet endroit est bruyant describes the condition of a place.
beaucoup Beaucoup means much in beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu and strongly increases the comparison. The pattern beaucoup plus bruyant indicates a substantial difference in noise level.
plus Plus means more in beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu, forming the comparison with the expected level. It is reused before a description when saying that something has a higher degree of a quality.
bruyant Bruyant means noisy in cet endroit est beaucoup plus bruyant que prévu. It describes the area as louder than expected, and the pattern plus bruyant que prévu compares actual noise with an expectation.
que Que marks the comparison in plus bruyant que prévu and plus tôt que prévu, meaning than expected. It also introduces the clause after avant in avant que tout le monde s'assoie, so its function depends on the complete expression.
prévu Prévu means expected or planned in que prévu, referring to what had been anticipated. It is related to prévoir, and the reusable phrases plus bruyant que prévu and plus tôt que prévu compare reality with an expectation.
Je Je means I and is the subject in Je suis désolé and Je peux vous installer. It is used before the verb when the speaker describes their own apology, ability, or action.
suis Suis means am in Je suis désolé, expressing the speaker's apology. It is a form of être, and Je suis désolé is a common way to apologize politely.
désolé Désolé means sorry in Je suis désolé, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to the guests. The complete expression Je suis désolé is used by staff when apologizing directly.
cette Cette means this in cette partie, pointing to the particular restaurant section that filled up. It is used before partie to identify a specific area.
partie Partie means section or area in cette partie s'est remplie, referring to part of the restaurant. The phrase cette partie is useful when explaining what happened in a particular section.
s'est S'est helps express that the section filled up in s'est remplie; the complete phrase s'est remplie means got filled up. It combines with remplie to describe what happened to cette partie, rather than expressing the whole meaning by itself.
remplie Remplie means filled up in cette partie s'est remplie, describing the section becoming full. It is related to remplir, and the complete phrase s'est remplie explains why the quieter section was no longer available.
tôt Tôt means early in plus tôt que prévu, saying that the section filled up earlier than expected. The phrase plus tôt que prévu is reused to compare an actual time with the expected time.
À À means at in À cette table, identifying the location of the problem. In du mal à s'entendre, the lowercase form à introduces the action that is difficult, so the complete expressions determine its function.
notre Notre means our in notre groupe and notre serveur, linking the group and server to the guests. It is placed directly before the noun to show whose group or server is meant.
groupe Groupe means group in notre groupe, referring to all the guests together. The phrase notre groupe is useful when explaining a need that affects several people.
aura Aura means will have in notre groupe aura du mal à s'entendre, describing a future difficulty caused by the noisy table. It is a form of avoir, and the pattern aura du mal à s'entendre expresses an expected difficulty.
du Du is part of the expression aura du mal à s'entendre, which means will have difficulty hearing each other. Here du works together with mal, and the reusable pattern avoir du mal à + an action expresses difficulty doing something.
mal Mal means difficulty in aura du mal à s'entendre, not a separate description of the group. The pattern avoir du mal à + an action is useful when explaining that something is difficult to do.
s'entendre S'entendre means hear each other in aura du mal à s'entendre, because the noise makes conversation difficult for the group. The phrase du mal à s'entendre is useful when people cannot hear one another clearly.
peux Peux means can in Je peux vous installer à une table dans un coin, offering the staff member's ability to arrange another table. It is a form of pouvoir, and Je peux vous installer is a practical way to offer help.
vous Vous means you in Je peux vous installer, referring to the guests whom the staff member can seat. It is placed before installer as the people receiving the action, as in vous installer à une table.
installer Installer means seat in Je peux vous installer à une table dans un coin, describing the staff member's action of placing the guests at a table. The pattern installer quelqu'un à une table is useful in a restaurant context.
dans Dans means in in dans un coin, introducing the location of the proposed table. It is used before a place expression to say where someone or something is located.
un Un means a in un coin, introducing one corner as the proposed location. It is placed before the noun in the phrase dans un coin.
coin Coin means corner in dans un coin, describing the quieter location offered by the staff member. The phrase une table dans un coin is useful when identifying a table positioned in a corner.
avec Avec means with in avec davantage d'espace autour, adding a feature of the proposed table. It introduces what the table has or provides, here more surrounding space.
davantage Davantage means more in davantage d'espace autour, emphasizing that the corner table has additional surrounding space. The pattern davantage de + a quantity or thing is used to request or describe a greater amount.
d'espace D'espace means of space in davantage d'espace autour, specifying what there is more of around the table. The phrase davantage d'espace autour describes room surrounding a person or object.
autour Autour means around in d'espace autour, indicating the area surrounding the table. It is useful after a noun when describing space or objects positioned around something.
Ce Ce refers to the proposed move in Ce serait utile, meaning that would be helpful. The same form appears within C'est le même serveur, where it helps identify the server, so the complete expression determines its function.
serait Serait means would be in Ce serait utile, presenting the benefit of moving as a possible result. It is a form of être, and Ce serait utile is a polite way to say that a proposed solution would help.
utile Utile means useful or helpful in Ce serait utile, evaluating the proposed move positively. The expression Ce serait utile can be used when accepting a solution while still adding a condition.
tant Tant contributes to the condition in tant que notre serveur peut toujours suivre notre rythme, meaning as long as the server can keep up. The complete pattern tant que + a condition sets the requirement for accepting the move.
serveur Serveur means server in notre serveur and le même serveur, referring to the restaurant staff member responsible for the guests. The phrase le même serveur identifies that the proposed table is handled by the same person.
peut Peut means can in notre serveur peut toujours suivre notre rythme, describing the server's ability to keep up. It is a form of pouvoir, and the pattern peut suivre notre rythme expresses sufficient capacity to match the guests' needs.
toujours Toujours means still in peut toujours suivre notre rythme, asking whether the server will continue to be able to keep up after the move. With peut, it expresses continued ability rather than a general statement about always doing something.
suivre Suivre means keep up with in suivre notre rythme, referring to the server matching the group's pace. The phrase suivre notre rythme is useful when discussing whether someone can handle the speed or demands of an activity.
rythme Rythme means pace in notre rythme, referring to the group's pace of ordering and being served. The phrase suivre notre rythme describes keeping up with that pace.
C'est C'est means it is in C'est le même serveur qui s'occupe de ce coin, identifying which server handles the corner. It is used to introduce an identification or clarification about a person or thing.
le Le means the in le même serveur, pointing to the specific server already relevant to the guests. It appears before serveur in the identification C'est le même serveur.
même Même means same in le même serveur, confirming that the server for the corner is not a different person. The phrase le même serveur is useful when reassuring someone that responsibility will remain unchanged.
qui Qui introduces the clause qui s'occupe de ce coin, which identifies what the same server handles. The phrase is reused to connect a person with the action or responsibility being described.
s'occupe S'occupe means takes care of or handles in qui s'occupe de ce coin, describing the server's responsibility for the corner. It is a form of s'occuper, and the pattern s'occuper de + a place or task states what someone is responsible for.
de De marks what is handled in s'occupe de ce coin, linking the responsibility to the corner. The pattern s'occuper de ce coin shows the thing or place that someone takes care of.
donc Donc means so or therefore in donc le service devrait se dérouler sans problème, introducing the conclusion drawn from using the same server. It is reused to connect a reason with its expected result.
service Service means service in le service devrait se dérouler sans problème, referring to the restaurant service for the guests. The phrase le service se déroule sans problème describes service proceeding smoothly.
devrait Devrait means should in le service devrait se dérouler sans problème, expressing an expectation rather than an absolute guarantee. It is a form of devoir, and the pattern devrait se dérouler describes how something is expected to proceed.
se Se is part of se dérouler in le service devrait se dérouler sans problème, marking the way the service proceeds. The complete expression se dérouler sans problème means proceed without difficulty, so se does not carry that whole meaning alone.
dérouler Dérouler means proceed or unfold in se dérouler sans problème, describing how the service is expected to continue. The phrase se dérouler sans problème is useful when reassuring someone that an event or process should go smoothly.
sans Sans means without in sans problème, saying that the service should proceed without a problem. It is placed before the thing that is absent, as in sans problème.
problème Problème means problem in sans problème, referring to a difficulty that is not expected to occur. The phrase sans problème is commonly used to reassure someone that an arrangement can proceed smoothly.
Alors Alors means then in Alors, déplaçons-nous, marking the decision that follows the reassurance. It is useful for moving from a conclusion or agreement to the next action.
déplaçons-nous Déplaçons-nous means let's move in Alors, déplaçons-nous, proposing that the group change tables. It is a practical expression for suggesting a shared action after an arrangement has been accepted.
avant Avant means before in avant que tout le monde s'assoie, setting the time limit for the move. The pattern avant que + an action introduces something that should happen earlier.
tout Tout contributes to the meaning everyone in tout le monde, referring to the whole group of people. It works together with monde, so the complete expression tout le monde is the reusable form.
monde Monde means people in tout le monde, with the whole expression meaning everyone. The phrase tout le monde is used when referring to all the people in a group.
s'assoie S'assoie means sits down in avant que tout le monde s'assoie, referring to everyone taking their seats. It is related to s'asseoir, and the complete phrase describes the action that should happen after the group moves.
vais Vais means am going to in Je vais faire remettre la table en place, announcing the staff member's immediate plan. It is a form of aller, and the pattern Je vais faire introduces an action the speaker intends to arrange.
faire Faire contributes the meaning have arranged or cause in Je vais faire remettre la table en place. Together, faire remettre means arranging for someone or something to reset the table, and the causative pattern faire + an action is useful when the speaker will have the action carried out.
remettre Remettre means put back or reset in faire remettre la table en place, describing the action needed to prepare the table again. The phrase remettre la table en place is useful when restoring a table to its proper arrangement.
la La means the in la table, pointing to the particular table being reset. It appears directly before table in the phrase remettre la table en place.
en En is part of en place in remettre la table en place, expressing the table's restored position. The complete expression en place means in position, so en is best understood here with place.
place Place contributes the meaning position in en place, describing where the table is to be restored. The phrase remettre la table en place means reset the table to its proper arrangement.
tout de suite The whole expression tout de suite means right away in Je vais faire remettre la table en place tout de suite. Tout, de, and suite function together as one fixed time expression, marking the immediate timing rather than supplying separate meanings word by word.

Grammar Points

avoir du mal à + infinitif

J'ai du mal à suivre le rythme.

Zhay doo MAL ah swee-VR luh REETM.

I have difficulty keeping up with the pace.

Cette expression est suivie de « à » et d'un verbe à l'infinitif.

tant que + proposition

Tant que le service se déroule sans problème.

Tahn kuh luh sair-VEES suh day-roo-LAY sahn proh-BLEM.

As long as the service proceeds without a problem.

« Tant que » introduit une condition qui doit rester vraie.

French Vocabulary

au calme phrase
oh KALM in a quiet area
avoir du mal à phrase
ah-VWAR doo MAL ah to have difficulty doing something
bruyant adj
broo-YAHN noisy
désolé adj
day-zoh-LAY sorry
endroit noun
ahn-DROH place; area
groupe noun
GROOP group
partie noun
par-TEE section; area
plus tôt que prévu phrase
ploo TOHR kuh pray-VOO earlier than expected
réserver verb
ray-zair-VAY to reserve réservé
s'entendre verb
sahn-TAHNDR to hear one another
se remplir verb
suh rahm-PLEER to fill up s'est remplie
table noun
TAH-bl table

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

noisy

Show Answerbruyant

place; area

Show Answerendroit

sorry

Show Answerdésolé

section; area

Show Answerpartie