How much is?
Combien coûte un ticket pour Lyon?How much is a ticket to Lyon?Combien coûte le péage entre Paris et Orléans?How much is the motorway toll between Paris and Orléans?Combien est-ce que ça coûte de laisser une valise à la consigne?How much does it cost to leave a case in left-luggage?Combien est-ce que ça coûterait de louer une voiture pour deux jours?How much would it cost to hire a car for two days?Use Est-ce que je peux? (Can I?) or Est-ce quon peut? (Can we?) to ask whether you can do something. These are from the verb pouvoir. For more information on pouvoir, see here.
Can I?
Est-ce que je peux payer par carte bleue?Can I pay by debit card?Est-ce que je peux louer une voiture pour la journée?Can I hire a car for the day?Est-ce quon peut fumer dans le train?Is smoking allowed on the train?Est-ce quon peut y aller à pied?Can you walk there?Est-ce quil est possible de changer son billet par Internet?Can you change your ticket online?ASKING FOR THINGS
When asking for something, you can use Est-ce que je peux avoir? (Can I have?) or Est-ce que je pourrais avoir? (Could I have?). These come from the verb pouvoir. For more information on pouvoir, see here.
Can I have?
Est-ce que je peux avoir un plan du métro, sil vous plaît?Can I have a map of the underground, please?Est-ce que je peux avoir une carte à la semaine, sil vous plaît?Can I have a weekly pass, please?Est-ce que je pourrais avoir les horaires des trains, sil vous plaît?Could I have a train timetable, please?When you want to find out if something is available or if someone has something, use Est-ce que vous avez? or Vous avez? (Do you have?). avez comes from the verb avoir. For more information on avoir, see here.
Do you have?
Est-ce que vous avez les horaires des bus?Do you have any bus timetables?Vous avez un plan daccès, sil vous plaît?Do you have a map that shows how to get there, please?Vous avez des voitures plus petites en location?Do you have smaller cars to hire?Est-ce quil vous reste des places côté couloir?Do you have any aisle seats left?When you ask for something, you can simply name what you want, but make sure you finish your question with sil vous plaît, or your request might sound rather like an order!
A, please
Un aller simple, sil vous plaît.A single, please.Une place côté fenêtre, sil vous plaît.A window seat, please.Trois billets retours pour Montréal, sil vous plaît.Three returns to Montreal, please.If you are asking someone if they can do something for you, you should use Est-ce que vous pouvez? (Can you?).
Can you?
Est-ce que vous pouvez nous emmener à lhôtel Saint-Antoine, sil vous plaît?Can you take us to the Saint-Antoine hotel, please?Est-ce que vous pouvez me prévenir quand on arrivera à larrêt du musée?Can you tell me when were near the museum stop?Vous pouvez me déposer ici, sil vous plaît?Can you drop me here, please?Vous pouvez nous montrer où ça se trouve sur la carte?Can you show us where it is on the map?Would you mind?
Est-ce que ça vous dérangerait de mécrire ladresse?Would you mind writing down the address for me?Est-ce que ça vous dérangerait de me déposer à mon hôtel?Would you mind dropping me at my hotel?Est-ce que ça vous dérangerait de nous montrer où cest?Would you mind showing us where it is?SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE, DISLIKE, PREFER
You will want to be able to discuss what you like and dislike with your French-speaking acquaintances. To say what you like, use jaime bien (I like), which is not as strong as jaime (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 ces routes de campagne.I like these country roads.Jaime bien voyager en train.I like travelling by train.Jaime beaucoup cette voiture.I like this car a lot.Jaime lavion.I love flying.I dont like
Je naime pas les voitures automatiques.I dont like automatics.Je naime pas conduire à droite.I dont like driving on the right.Do you like?
I dont like
Je naime pas les voitures automatiques.I dont like automatics.Je naime pas conduire à droite.I dont like driving on the right.Do you like?
Tu aimes bien cette région?Do you like this area?Tu aimes bien voyager seul?Do you like travelling by yourself?Est-ce que vous aimez conduire de nuit?Do you like driving at night?Est-ce que vous aimez bien les voyages organisés?Do you like package tours?If you want to say what you prefer, use je préfère (I prefer) or je préférerais (Id prefer). These come from the verb préférer. For more information on -er verbs like préférer, see here.
I prefer to
Je préfère dormir à lhôtel.I prefer to sleep in a hotel.Je préfère prendre lautoroute.I prefer to take the motorway.Je préférerais ne pas laisser ma voiture ici.Id prefer not to leave my car here.Id rather
Jaimerais mieux faire le voyage par beau temps.Id rather make the journey in good weather.Jaimerais mieux être assise côté fenêtre.Id rather sit next to the window.On aimerait mieux faire la route de jour.Wed rather drive in the daytime.LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some key phrases you are likely to be hear when youre travelling around.
Prochain arrêt:Next stop:Le train pour Nice part du quai numéro trois.The train for Nice leaves from platform three.Votre billet, sil vous plaît.Ticket, please.Je peux masseoir ici?Do you mind if I sit here?Continuez tout droit jusquaux feux.Go straight on till you get to the traffic lights.Prenez la deuxième à gauche.Take the second turning on the left.Cest en face de la cathédrale.Its opposite the cathedral.Cest tout près.Its very near.On peut y aller à pied.Its within walking distance.Cest à trois arrêts dici.Its three stops from here.Lifestyle Tips
If youre behind the wheel of a car, be ready to produce your driving licence if asked for it by the police. If youve left it behind, you may well be fined. The police officer might ask you: votre permis de conduire, sil vous plaît (your driving licence, please). French drivers also have to be able to produce their carte grise (car registration document) and their attestation dassurance (car insurance certificate).
Motorways are not free in France. When you go onto the motorway, you get a ticket de péage or ticket dentrée. When you come off the motorway this will show how many kilometres youve driven and how much you have to pay.
At motorway tolls, some toll booths are manned, some are automatic (using bank cards), and some are reserved for drivers using the télépéage system which makes it possible to pay the toll via a sensor inside the car (with monthly bills sent to your address). It is best to stay clear of these lanes which are marked with a yellow T sign, as the drivers equipped with such sensors dont take kindly to tourists holding up their fast lane!
Over the past years, covoiturage (car sharing) has become quite popular in France. It can be a cheap and convenient way of getting around, especially for short distances. There are many places where you can find offers for covoiturage, but local papers, and ad boards in shops are probably your best bet.
If youre asked to produce your titre de transport on the bus, the train or the underground, it means that you have to show your ticket to the inspector.
Make sure you punch your ticket before you get on the train or bus. If you have forgotten to do so, it is advisable to go and see le contrôleur (the ticket inspector) as soon as possible or you might be fined.
If youre in a hurry, you can hop on the train and buy a ticket for a small amount extra directly from a ticket inspector - go and see him or her as soon as youre on the train or you might be suspected of resquillage (fare-dodging).
Queues tend to be informal in French-speaking countries. So if youre trying to get to an information desk and dont know if its your turn, just ask Cest à moi? or Cest mon tour? (Am I next?). If you want to let someone in before you, you can say après vous (after you).
Home from home
Dors bien! Sleep well!
If youre going to stay in a French-speaking country, the phrases in this unit will provide you with the language you need to help you find the sort of accommodation you want (hotel, hostel, self-catering accommodation or a flat to rent) and ensure that everything is to your satisfaction when youre there. Well also give you a few tips on what the receptionist or your landlord or landlady may say to you.
ASKING FOR THINGS
To say what kind of accommodation you want in French, use je voudrais or je souhaite (Id like). voudrais comes from the verb vouloir and souhaite comes from the verb souhaiter. For further information on vouloir and -er verbs like souhaiter, see here and here.