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Phrasebook

At the library in French: ask for a book you can borrow

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ask for a bird guide, understand sur place seulement and request another copy to take home. Practise useful library phrases and a quick check.

In short

Ask Je voudrais emprunter ce livre. If you hear sur place seulement, read that copy at the library. To ask for one you can take home, say Vous avez un autre guide que je peux emprunter ?

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Vous cherchez un guide sur les oiseaux pour le lire chez vous. Demandez à l’emprunter. Si le premier guide est à lire sur place, demandez un autre guide sur les oiseaux.

You want a guide to birds to read at home. Ask to borrow it. If the first guide is for use on site, ask for another bird guide.

Words to recognise at the library

Use the phrase filters to show your lines or the librarian’s replies. Start with the first request, then follow the answer you hear. In these exchanges, you want to read at home, so the borrowing question matters as much as finding the right subject.

1

Ask for the bird guide

YouBonjour, je cherche un guide sur les oiseaux.Hello, I’m looking for a guide to birds.
LibrarianOui, voici un guide.Yes, here is a guide.
YouJe voudrais l’emprunter, s’il vous plaît.I’d like to borrow it, please.
2

Respond to an on-site restriction

LibrarianCe guide est à consulter sur place seulement.This guide is for use on site only.
YouJe cherche un livre à lire chez moi.I’m looking for a book to read at home.
YouVous avez un autre guide sur les oiseaux que je peux emprunter ?Do you have another bird guide that I can borrow?
LibrarianOui, ce petit guide est disponible au prêt.Yes, this small guide is available to borrow.
3

Ask about the next step

YouMerci. Comment faire pour l’emprunter ?Thank you. How do I borrow it?
LibrarianVous avez une carte de bibliothèque ?Do you have a library card?
YouOui, la voici.Yes, here it is.
Two useful replies
You hearMeaningYour next move
sur place seulementon site onlyAsk for a book you can borrow.
disponible au prêtavailable to borrowAsk how to borrow it.
Question 1No account needed
What does the first guide’s status mean?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

You can read it at the library.. Sur place seulement means the copy stays at the library.

Question 2No account needed
Keep the subject and ask for a copy to borrow.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Vous avez un autre guide sur les oiseaux que je peux emprunter ?. This question keeps both parts of the request: a bird guide and borrowing.

Try the exchange again with a travel guide. Your partner chooses between sur place seulement and disponible au prêt. Reply to that choice, then ask one practical question. For example, ask when to return the book: Je dois le rendre quand ?

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