Dialogue
Ask a friend what matters most before giving advice in French
Ask about goals, level, availability and budget before advising a friend in a sixteen-line French dialogue. Base the suggestion on their confirmed priorities.
- B1
- 16 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
Ask Qu’est-ce que tu voudrais apprendre en priorité ?, Quel jour te conviendrait ? and Quel budget souhaites-tu respecter ?. Summarise the answers with Si je comprends bien… before giving advice. This keeps your recommendation tied to the friend’s priorities rather than assuming the cheapest option is best.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Emma asks for help choosing a drawing workshop. Rayan first asks what she needs. The lower-priced Sunday option conflicts with her level and preferred family day; the Saturday option fits both and remains below her maximum budget. Availability of a place is the final unknown.
- Emma
J’hésite entre deux ateliers de dessin. Tu peux m’aider à choisir ?
English
I’m undecided between two drawing workshops. Can you help me choose?
- Rayan
Oui. Qu’est-ce que tu voudrais apprendre en priorité ?
Yes. What would you most like to learn?
English
Yes. What would you most like to learn?
- Emma
Les bases du portrait. Je débute.
English
The basics of portrait drawing. I’m a beginner.
- Rayan
Les deux ateliers sont-ils prévus pour les débutants ?
Are both workshops intended for beginners?
English
Are both workshops intended for beginners?
- Emma
Celui du samedi est une initiation. Celui du dimanche est annoncé comme intermédiaire.
English
Saturday’s is introductory. Sunday’s is advertised as intermediate.
- Rayan
Et quel jour te conviendrait le mieux ?
And which day would suit you best?
English
And which day would suit you best?
- Emma
Je voudrais garder le dimanche pour ma fille. Le samedi, je suis libre.
English
I’d like to keep Sunday for my daughter. I’m free on Saturday.
- Rayan
Quel budget souhaites-tu respecter ?
What budget do you want to stay within?
English
What budget do you want to stay within?
- Emma
Cinquante-cinq euros au maximum. Le samedi coûte cinquante euros, et le dimanche trente-cinq.
English
Fifty-five euros at most. Saturday costs fifty euros, and Sunday thirty-five.
- Rayan
Donc le prix le plus bas n’est pas ton premier critère ?
So the lowest price is not your main criterion?
English
So the lowest price is not your main criterion?
- Emma
Non. Je préfère un cours adapté à mon niveau et garder mon dimanche libre.
English
No. I prefer a class suited to my level and to keep Sunday free.
- Rayan
Si je comprends bien, le samedi répond à ces deux priorités et reste dans ton budget.
If I understand correctly, Saturday meets those two priorities and stays within your budget.
English
If I understand correctly, Saturday meets those two priorities and stays within your budget.
- Emma
Oui, c’est exactement cela.
English
Yes, that’s exactly it.
- Rayan
À ta place, je retiendrais donc le samedi, s’il reste une place.
In your position, I would therefore choose Saturday, if a place is still available.
English
In your position, I would therefore choose Saturday, if a place is still available.
- Emma
Je vais demander s’il reste une place avant de m’inscrire.
English
I’ll ask whether a place is still available before enrolling.
- Rayan
Bonne idée. Tu auras alors le dernier élément qui manque.
Good idea. You’ll then have the last missing detail.
English
Good idea. You’ll then have the last missing detail.
Ask before ranking the options
Emma’s first answers establish a beginner portrait-drawing goal. The next answers establish Saturday availability and a Sunday preference. Price then becomes one criterion among several, not an automatic decision rule. The fifty-euro workshop stays within her fifty-five-euro maximum, so the lower price is not needed to make the option affordable in this scenario.
Si je comprends bien checks your interpretation
Rayan restates the two priorities and budget fit before recommending the workshop. Emma confirms that summary. This is a useful point to correct a misunderstanding: a friend may value the lowest cost, a particular day or an appropriate level more than you initially expected.
| Criterion | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner level | Introductory | Intermediate |
| Preferred free day | Sunday kept free | Sunday used |
| Budget: at most €55 | €50, within budget | €35, within budget |
| Place available | Not yet confirmed | Not discussed |
For practice, ask three questions before suggesting an option. Summarise what you heard, invite correction and state the condition that still needs an answer. The advice can then be both clear and responsive.