Alternatively, you can use Est-ce que je dois? (Do I need to?)
Do I need to?
Est-ce que je dois faire le ménage dans lappartement avant de partir?Do I need to clean the flat before leaving?Est-ce que je dois réserver?Do I need to book?Est-ce quon doit laisser un pourboire à la femme de chambre?Do we need to leave a tip for the housekeeper?TALKING ABOUT YOUR PLANS
When you are talking about your plans for where youre going to stay, in French, as in English, the present tense is very often used to talk about things that have been arranged and are definite. For more on the present tense, see here.
Im staying
Je loge en auberge de jeunesse la première semaine.Im staying in a youth hostel the first week.Je loge chez lhabitant le premier soir.Im staying with a host family the first night. ensuite je dors à lhôtel. then Im staying in a hotel.Alternatively, you can use the future tense in French, as in English.
Ill
Je serai à lhôtel à dix-sept heures.Ill be at the hotel at five pm.Je paierai le loyer à lavance.Ill pay the rent in advance.On arrivera dans la soirée.Well arrive in the evening.In English we often say Im going to to talk about the future. French works the same way. To say that youre going to do something, put je vais (Im going to) or on va (were going to) before the verb. vais and va come from the verb aller. For more information on aller, see here.
Im going to
Je vais loger à Biarritz.Im going to stay in Biarritz.Je vais louer un chalet à la montagne.Im going to rent a chalet in the mountains.On va faire du camping.Were going to camp.If you want to say that you intend to do something, you can use jai lintention de or je compte (I intend to).
I intend to
Jai lintention de louer un appartement.I intend to rent a flat.Jai lintention de trouver un gîte.I intend to find a gîte.Je compte rester jusquà vendredi.I intend to stay until Friday.On compte partir demain après le petit déjeuner.We intend to leave after breakfast tomorrow.COMPLAINING
Unfortunately the service you get in your accommodation may not always be perfect. A very simple way of complaining is to say what the problem is using il y a, which means both there is and there are or il ny a pas de which means there isnt or there arent.
Theres
Il y a trop de bruit.Theres too much noise.Il y a une fuite au plafond.Theres a leak in the ceiling.Il y a des cafards dans lappartement.There are cockroaches in the apartment.There isnt
Il ny a pas deau chaude.There isnt any hot water.Il ny a pas de serviettes propres dans la chambre.There arent any clean towels in the room.La chambre na pas de balcon.The room doesnt have a balcony.Lappartement na pas la climatisation.The apartment doesnt have air-conditioning.You can also use the verb être (to be) to describe what the problem is.
Its
Lappartement est sale.The apartments dirty.Leau de la piscine nest pas très propre.The water in the swimming pool isnt very clean.Cet hôtel est trop bruyant.This hotels too noisy.Il fait trop chaud ici.Its too hot in here.BON À SAVOIR!
Remember that in French to talk about the weather, you use the verb faire. For more information on this use of faire, see here.
LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some phrases you are likely to hear when youre looking for somewhere to stay.
Vous cherchez quel type de logement?What type of accommodation are you looking for?La réservation est à quel nom?Whose name is the booking in?Pour combien de nuits?For how many nights?Pour combien de personnes?For how many people?Le petit déjeuner est inclus dans le prix.Breakfast is included in the price.Je peux voir votre passeport, sil vous plaît?Can I see your passport, please?Nous sommes complets.Were full.Il y a une caution de 300 euros.Theres a 300 euro deposit.Vous êtes joignable à quel numéro?What number can we contact you on?Les chiens ne sont pas admis.We dont allow dogs.Vous voulez régler comment?How would you like to pay?Remplissez ce formulaire, sil vous plaît.Please fill in this form.Signez ici, sil vous plaît.Please sign here.Vous pouvez épeler votre nom, sil vous plaît?Can you spell your name for me, please?Lifestyle Tips
The proportion of propriétaires (homeowners) in France is much lower than it is in Britain. People tend to rent a lot more. Long-term rented accommodation is usually unfurnished; locataires (tenants) often even have to supply their own appareils ménagers (white goods) and meubles de cuisine (kitchen units).
It is not as common for professionals to share a flat être en colocation in France as it is in Britain, although high rents have changed this over the past few years, especially in cities.
If youre flat-hunting in France, you will hear flats described as F1, F2, F3 and so on. These refer to the number of rooms in a flat, not including the bathroom and kitchen. A studio is a studio, an F1 is a one-room flat, an F2 is a two-room flat, and so on.
One good way of getting to know an area and its locals is to stay in a gîte rural a cottage or apartment in the country. Some offer self-catering facilities, but others give you the chance to stay in an apartment within the house of the host family.
The equivalent of B&Bs in France are chambres dhôte, usually a room in someones house. Some of these places also offer table dhôte, which means that they will provide a meal using local produce, or even food grown on the farm. If there arent any vacancies you will see a Complet (Full) sign.
When staying in a camping (campsite), you will have to pay des arrhes (a deposit) which is part of the full amount you will pay at the end of your stay. When renting accommodation you may also have to pay une caution (a security deposit).
Wining and dining
Bon appétit! Enjoy your meal!
If youre going out for a meal in France either in a local café or in a fancy restaurant, the phrases in this unit will give you the confidence to talk to the waiter and chat with your French friends in easy, natural French. Well also give you some tips on getting advice about what to order, and a few key phrases the waiters are likely to use.
MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
If you want to make arrangements such as where and when to meet when you go out for a meal with French-speaking people, you can ask Où est-ce que? (Where?) or À quelle heure? (What time?).
Where?
Où est-ce quon se retrouve?Where shall we meet?Où est-ce que tu veux que je vienne te prendre?Where do you want me to pick you up?Où est-ce quon pourrait aller manger?Where shall we go to eat?What time?
À quelle heure est-ce quon se retrouve?What time shall we meet?À quelle heure est-ce quelle va arriver?What time is she going to get here?Tu as réservé une table pour quelle heure?What time did you book the table for?Vous servez jusquà quelle heure?What time do you serve till?On peut arriver à partir de quelle heure?How early can we come?If you want to check that the arrangements suit your friends or colleagues, you can use Ça te va si? or Ça vous va si? (Will it be all right if?).
Will it be all right if?
Ça te va si on va au restaurant demain soir?Will it be all right if we go to the restaurant tomorrow night?Ça te va si on se retrouve à sept heures?Will it be all right if we meet up at seven pm?Ça vous va si on vous rejoint là-bas?Will it be all right if we meet you there?Is it better to?
Est-ce quil vaut mieux réserver?Is it better to book?Est-ce quil vaut mieux arriver en avance?Is it better to arrive early?Est-ce quil vaudrait mieux changer notre réservation?Would it be better to change our reservation?Est-ce que ça tirait mieux samedi soir?Would Saturday evening suit you better?It would suit me best to
Ça marrangerait de vous retrouver sur place.Itd suit me best to meet you there.Ça marrangerait dy aller à huit heures.Itd suit me best to be there for eight.Ça nous arrangerait dy aller en voiture.Itd be better for us to go there by car.ASKING FOR INFORMATION
When youre going out for a meal youll need to ask for various pieces of information, such as where things are and how much they cost. To ask where something is, you can use Où se trouve? (Where is?), and to ask how much it costs, use Cest combien? (How much is?).