Dialogue
Fermer or éteindre: close the app, switch off the computer
Practise a short end-of-day dialogue: save a document, close an app and switch off a computer. Compare fermer, éteindre and mettre en veille.
- A2
- 8 lines
- Practice mode
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In short
Use fermer to close a window, file or app. Use éteindre to switch off a device or light: Je ferme l’application, puis j’éteins l’ordinateur. To put a device to sleep, say mettre en veille.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
fermerto close
Focus: an opening, a file or an app
fermer + noun
Je ferme la fenêtre du navigateur.
I close the browser window.
Elle ferme le couvercle de son ordinateur portable.
She closes her laptop lid.
éteindreto switch off; to extinguish
Focus: a device, a light or a flame
éteindre + noun
Tu peux éteindre la lampe ?
Can you switch off the lamp?
J’ai éteint la bougie.
I put out the candle.
Four things on the desk
Find:
- Camille
Tu as terminé ton document ?
English
Have you finished your document?
- You
Oui. J’enregistre les modifications.
Say yes, and say you are saving the changes.
English
Yes. I’m saving the changes.
- Camille
Ensuite, tu peux fermer le fichier et l’application.
English
Then you can close the file and the app.
- You
L’application est fermée, mais l’ordinateur est encore allumé.
Say the app is closed, but the computer is still on.
English
The app is closed, but the computer is still on.
- Camille
Tu veux le mettre en veille ?
English
Do you want to put it to sleep?
- You
Non, je préfère l’éteindre.
Say you would rather switch it off.
English
No, I’d rather switch it off.
- Camille
D’accord. Je ferme la fenêtre du bureau.
English
All right. I’ll close the office window.
- You
J’éteins la lumière, et on y va !
Say you are switching off the light and leaving.
English
I’ll switch off the light, and let’s go!
The dialogue names three separate actions: enregistrer saves changes, fermer closes the file or app, and éteindre switches off the computer. Shutting the laptop lid is fermer le couvercle. Its power state depends on the settings.