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A2 French reading: who returns the borrowed drill?

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read three French messages about a borrowed drill. Track the borrower, a changed handover time and the battery and charger, then answer five questions.

In short

Nora lent the drill to Adam. Adam will bring it back to Nora’s home and give it to Lina; the latest message moves the handover to Thursday at 18:30. Keep the return time separate from Friday morning, when Nora needs the drill.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

La perceuse de Nora

Nora → Adam · mercredi

Salut Adam ! Tu peux me rapporter la perceuse que je t’ai prêtée1 ? J’en ai besoin vendredi matin pour installer une étagère. Je ne suis pas chez moi jeudi soir, mais ma sœur Lina peut la récupérer à ma place2.

Adam → Nora · mercredi

D’accord. Je peux passer chez toi jeudi vers dix-huit heures3 et donner la perceuse à Lina.

Nora → Adam · jeudi matin

Petit changement : Lina rentrera à dix-huit heures trente. Viens à cette heure-là, s’il te plaît. Pense aussi à la batterie et au chargeur. Merci ! Je la préviens4 de ton passage.

Read it in English

Nora asks Adam to bring back the drill she lent him. She needs it on Friday morning to put up a shelf. She will be out on Thursday evening, so her sister Lina can receive it for her.

Adam offers to come to Nora’s home on Thursday around six and give Lina the drill.

On Thursday morning Nora sends an update: Lina will get home at 6.30. Adam should come then and remember the battery and charger. Nora will let Lina know he is coming.

Four things in the messages

How do you know what le, la and lui refer to?

Study first: follow the verb
FrenchReferenceMeaning
Lina peut la récupérer.la perceuseLina can receive it.
Je la préviens.LinaI will let her know.

In je t’ai prêtée, Nora is the lender and t’ points to Adam. In chez toi, Adam is speaking to Nora: he is going to her home. The change concerns the time, so the people and address stay the same.

Question 1No account needed
Who borrowed the drill?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Adam. Nora lent it to Adam; he is the person she asks to bring it back.

Question 2No account needed
Where should Adam take it?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

To Nora’s home. Adam writes chez toi to Nora, and the update keeps that destination.

Question 3No account needed
When should he arrive after the update?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Thursday at 18:30. The latest message says to come when Lina gets home, at 18:30.

Question 4No account needed
What must he bring with the drill?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The battery and charger. Nora adds la batterie et le chargeur to the return.

Question 5No account needed
What will Nora do next?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Tell Lina about Adam’s visit. Je la préviens de ton passage means Nora will let Lina know he is coming.

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