Gap-fill
French B1 gap-fill: politely refuse an extra volunteer shift
Complete 12 tactful refusal expressions when an extra shift clashes with an existing commitment. Give a firm answer and a specific alternative, with translation.
- B1
- 12 gaps
- Translation included
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In short
A tactful refusal can be warm and firm: thank the person, state that you are unavailable, then offer something you can actually do. In French, je ne pourrai pas gives a clear future answer; je pourrais introduces a possible alternative.
| Meaning | French pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Thank the organiser | merci de + infinitive | Merci de m’avoir contacté. |
| State the limit | ne pas pouvoir | Je ne peux pas rester après dix-huit heures. |
| Offer a different option | en revanche | En revanche, je suis libre lundi. |
| Check whether it helps | convenir à quelqu’un | Est-ce que cet horaire vous convient ? |
Nora already covers the association’s Thursday telephone shift. The coordinator asks her to add Saturday morning, but Nora has promised to accompany her mother to an appointment. Fill 12 expressions that keep the refusal clear and the alternative specific.
Une réponse claire à la coordinatrice
Mercredi, Nora reçoit un message de la coordinatrice : une personne manque pour la permanence téléphonique de samedi matin. Nora veut aider, mais elle a déjà pris un engagement. Elle commence sa réponse : « Bonjour Claire, (thank you for; followed by an infinitive) penser à moi pour ce remplacement. Je comprends que ce soit difficile de trouver quelqu’un au dernier moment. »
Elle poursuit : « (unfortunately; one word), je ne (will be able; pouvoir, future, je) pas assurer la permanence de samedi. Je me suis (already) engagée à accompagner ma mère à un rendez-vous. Je tiens à (honour; infinitive beginning with respect) cet engagement, prévu depuis plusieurs semaines. » Nora relit cette phrase et garde une réponse précise.
Elle propose ensuite une aide différente : « (on the other hand; two words), je (could; pouvoir, conditional, je) préparer la liste des contacts vendredi entre quinze et dix-sept heures. Cela (would allow; permettre, conditional) à la personne de permanence de commencer plus facilement samedi. Je reste bien sûr disponible jeudi, (as agreed; two words). »
Pour terminer, Nora écrit : « Est-ce que cette solution vous (would suit; convenir, conditional) ? Merci de votre (understanding). (have a good day; two words), Nora. » Claire répond qu’elle cherchera une autre personne pour samedi et accepte l’aide du vendredi. Nora confirme cet horaire. Son engagement auprès de sa mère reste prévu, et l’association sait exactement quelle aide elle peut apporter.
Read it in English
On Wednesday, Nora receives a message from the coordinator: someone is missing from Saturday morning’s telephone shift. Nora wants to help, but she has already made a commitment. She begins her reply: “Hello Claire, thank you for thinking of me for this cover. I understand that finding someone at the last minute is difficult.”
She continues: “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to cover Saturday’s shift. I have already committed to accompanying my mother to an appointment. I want to honour this commitment, which was arranged several weeks ago.” Nora rereads this sentence and keeps her answer precise.
She then offers a different kind of help: “On the other hand, I could prepare the contact list on Friday between three and five. That would allow the person on duty to get started more easily on Saturday. I am of course still available on Thursday, as agreed.”
To finish, Nora writes: “Would this solution suit you? Thank you for your understanding. Have a good day, Nora.” Claire replies that she will look for someone else for Saturday and accepts Friday’s help. Nora confirms the time. Her commitment to her mother stays in place, and the association knows exactly what help she can provide.