Do you mind if?
Ça vous dérange si je gare ma voiture dehors un instant?Do you mind if I park my car outside for a moment?Ça vous dérange si je paye par carte de crédit?Do you mind if I pay by credit card?Ça te dérange si on prend la chambre du haut?Do you mind if we take the upstairs bedroom?If you want to ask someone if you may do something, use Vous permettez que? (Am I allowed to?) followed by a verb in the subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
Am I allowed to?
Vous permettez que je reçoive des invités?Am I allowed to have guests?Vous permettez que je me serve de la machine à laver?Am I allowed to use the washing machine?Vous permettez quon utilise le téléphone?May we use the phone?On a le droit de se servir du barbecue?Are we allowed to use the barbecue?On a le droit demmener notre chien?Are we allowed to bring our dog?SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE, DISLIKE, PREFER
When talking about what you like, use jaime bien (I like), which is not as strong as jaime or jadore (I love). To say what you dont like, just use je naime pas (I dont like). These come from the verb aimer. For more information on aimer, see here.
I like
Jaime bien les petits hôtels.I like small hotels.Jaime bien les campings de montagne.I like campsites in the mountains.Jadore cette pension de famille.I love this guest house.I dont like
Je naime pas cet hôtel.I dont like this hotel.On naime pas tout prévoir à lavance.We dont like to plan everything in advance.Je déteste cette décoration.I hate this decor.If you want to say what you prefer, use je préfère (I prefer) or je préférerais (Id prefer). To say that you prefer A to B, use je préfère A à B. These come from the verb préférer. For more information on -er verbs like préférer, see here.
I prefer
Je préfère cet hôtel.I prefer this hotel.Je préfère loger chez lhabitant.I prefer to stay with a family.Je préférerais ne pas attendre pour réserver un hôtel.Id prefer not to wait to book a hotel.On préfère lauberge de jeunesse au camping.We prefer youth hostels to campsites.Id rather
Jaimerais mieux être dans le centre ville.Id rather be in the town centre.Jaimerais mieux être en colocation que de vivre seul.Id rather share a flat than live on my own.On aimerait mieux vivre à la campagne que davoir un appartement en ville.Wed prefer to live in the country than have a flat in town.EXPRESSING OPINIONS
You may well be asked what you think of your accommodation. Whether its perfect or not up to scratch, you can use je trouve to say what you think. This comes from the verb trouver. For more information on -er verbs like trouver, see here.
I think
Je trouve la chambre un peu petite.I think the bedrooms a bit small.Je trouve la maison très accueillante.I think the house is very welcoming.Jai trouvé le service excellent.I thought the service was excellent.Je trouve quil y a trop de bruit la nuit.I find that theres too much noise at night.In my opinion
À mon avis, cest trop cher pour ce que cest.In my opinion, its too expensive for what it is.À mon avis, cest parfait pour ce dont on a besoin.In my opinion, its perfect for our needs.À mon avis, la chambre est trop petite.In my opinion, the room is too small.À mon avis, cest complètement inacceptable.In my view, its completely unacceptable.MAKING SUGGESTIONS
If you would like to suggest that you do something, use je peux (I can) followed by the infinitive and si vous voulez (if you like) or si tu veux for a person you know well at the end. peux comes from the verb pouvoir. For more information on pouvoir, see here.
I can if you like
Je peux confirmer les dates demain, si vous voulez.I can confirm the dates tomorrow, if you like.Je peux vous envoyer un acompte, si vous voulez.I can send you a deposit, if you like.On peut chercher un autre hôtel, si tu veux.We can look for another hotel, if you like.If you wish to ask what someone would like you to do, you can use Vous voulez que je? (Would you like me to?) followed by a verb in the subjunctive, which you can find out more about here.
If you would like to suggest that you do something, use je peux (I can) followed by the infinitive and si vous voulez (if you like) or si tu veux for a person you know well at the end. peux comes from the verb pouvoir. For more information on pouvoir, see here.
I can if you like
Je peux confirmer les dates demain, si vous voulez.I can confirm the dates tomorrow, if you like.Je peux vous envoyer un acompte, si vous voulez.I can send you a deposit, if you like.On peut chercher un autre hôtel, si tu veux.We can look for another hotel, if you like.If you wish to ask what someone would like you to do, you can use Vous voulez que je? (Would you like me to?) followed by a verb in the subjunctive, which you can find out more about here.
Would you like me to?
Vous voulez que je vous paye en liquide?Would you like me to pay cash?Vous voulez que je vous montre ma réservation?Would you like me to show you my booking?Tu veux que je prenne le lit du haut?Would you like me to take the top bunk?Est-ce que vous voulez quon vous laisse nos passeports?Would you like to keep our passports?ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS
You may want to ask for advice or a recommendation concerning your accommodation. To ask for advice, use Est-ce que vous me conseillez de? (Would you advise?). This comes from the verb conseiller. For more information on -er verbs like conseiller, see here.
Would you advise?
Est-ce que vous me conseillez de réserver à lavance?Would you advise me to book in advance?Est-ce que vous nous conseillez damener des sacs de couchage?Would you advise us to bring sleeping bags?Vous me conseillez damener de quoi manger?Would you advise me to bring something to eat?Would you recommend?
Est-ce que vous recommandez cet hôtel?Would you recommend this hotel?Est-ce que vous recommandez cette agence immobilière?Would you recommend this estate agency?Est-ce que vous nous recommandez de louer à la semaine?Would you recommend that we rent by the week?Vous nous recommandez de prendre un appartement en ville?Would you recommend us to take a flat in town?SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
If you want to say that you have to do something with regard to your accommodation in French, you use il faut que je (I have to) or il faudrait que je (I ought to) and then the verb in the subjunctive, which you can find out about here.
I have to
Il faut que je passe à la réception pour payer.I have to go to the reception to pay.Il faut que je note ladresse de lhôtel.I have to write down the address of the hotel.Il faut quon parte à six heures demain matin.We have to leave at six tomorrow morning.I ought to
Il faudrait que je fasse une lessive.I ought to do a load of washing.Il faudrait que je décharge la voiture.I ought to unload the car.Il faudrait quon se lève avant sept heures.We ought to be up by seven am.Il faudrait quon ait le double des clefs.We ought to have a spare set of keys.Alternatively, you can use je dois (I must), from the verb devoir. For more information on devoir, see here.
I must
Je dois me lever tôt demain.I must get up early tomorrow.Je dois rendre les clés au propriétaire.I must give the keys back to the owner.On doit absolument trouver un logement avant la fin du mois.We absolutely must find accommodation by the end of the month.In French you can tell somebody what you need by using jai besoin de (I need).
I need
Jai besoin dun lit denfant.I need a cot.Jai besoin de téléphoner en Écosse.I need to call Scotland.Nous avons besoin dune chambre au rez-de-chaussée.We need a room on the ground floor.You can use Est-ce quil faut que? (Do I have to?) followed by the verb in the subjunctive to ask about what you have to do. For more information on the subjunctive, see here.
Do I have to?
Est-ce quil faut que je laisse la clef à la réception quand je sors?Do I have to leave the key at the reception when I go out?Est-ce quil faut quon emmène des sacs de couchage?Do we need to bring sleeping bags?Est-ce quil faut vous prévenir quand on quitte lhôtel?Do we have to let you know when we leave the hotel?Quest-ce quil faut que jemmène?What do I need to bring?Quand est-ce quil faut quon libère la chambre?When do we have to vacate the room?Alternatively, you can use Est-ce que je dois? (Do I need to?)