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DELF A1 café speaking practice: tea is unavailable

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Practise a French café exchange: accept black coffee when tea is unavailable, keep the glass of water in your order and check the server’s recap.

In short

When tea is unavailable, accept the offered black coffee with Oui, un café noir, merci. Then check the separate water request: Et le verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît ?

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Your order has three parts

Customer role
PartYour choice
Preferred drinkTea.
Acceptable alternativeCoffee, served black.
Extra itemA glass of water.

You want a hot drink with no milk and a glass of water. Coffee is an acceptable replacement for tea. In practice mode, use the English cue to say your line aloud, then reveal the French. The server’s next line gives you something specific to answer.

Your lines are hidden in practice mode. Say them aloud, then reveal to compare.
  1. Serveur

    Bonjour ! Vous désirez ?

    English

    Hello! What would you like?

  2. You

    Bonjour, un thé sans lait et un verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît.

    Order tea without milk and a glass of water.

    English

    Hello, a tea without milk and a glass of water, please.

  3. Serveur

    Je n’ai plus de thé. Un café noir, ça vous va ?

    English

    I’ve run out of tea. Would a black coffee suit you?

  4. You

    Oui, un café noir, merci. Sans sucre, s’il vous plaît.

    Accept black coffee and ask for no sugar.

    English

    Yes, a black coffee, thank you. No sugar, please.

  5. Serveur

    D’accord, un café noir sans sucre.

    English

    OK, a black coffee with no sugar.

  6. You

    Et le verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît ?

    Remind the server about the water.

    English

    And the glass of water, please?

  7. Serveur

    Oui, un café noir sans sucre et un verre d’eau.

    English

    Yes, a black coffee with no sugar and a glass of water.

  8. You

    C’est bien ça, merci.

    Confirm the complete order.

    English

    That’s right, thank you.

Four café items

What do you say when your order is unavailable?

Keep the exchange moving
You hearYou sayPurpose
Un café noir, ça vous va ?Oui, merci.Accept the offered drink.
Avec du sucre ?Non merci, sans sucre.State a preference.
Un café noir et un verre d’eau ?C’est bien ça.Confirm the recap.
Question 1No account needed
The server offers black coffee. Accept it.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Oui, un café noir, merci.. The first line accepts the actual offer and repeats the replacement drink.

Question 2No account needed
The server repeats coffee only. What should you add?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Et le verre d’eau, s’il vous plaît ?. The original order also includes water. This line brings that item back into the recap.

Question 3No account needed
Which line confirms a correct recap?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

C’est bien ça, merci.. C’est bien ça confirms that the server has repeated the order correctly.

For a second round, ask your partner to offer coffee with milk. Say that you want it black, then ask for the glass of water. Keep the same three jobs: choose the drink, state your preference and confirm the complete order.

Keep going