How to compare your French response with a model answer
Compare two French replies against the same brief. Check task coverage, facts, register and grammar, then practise choosing a useful correction.
In short
Compare your response with the task before comparing it with the model. Check the requested actions, fixed facts, relationship and grammar. Different wording can do the same job: Est-ce que samedi te conviendrait ? and On pourrait se voir samedi ? both suggest Saturday.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Start with four things the reply must do
Votre amie Clara vous invite à dîner vendredi. Remerciez-la, expliquez pourquoi vous ne pouvez pas venir et proposez de la voir samedi.
Your friend Clara invites you to dinner on Friday. Thank her, explain why you cannot come and suggest seeing her on Saturday.
The task points
- Thank Clara for the invitation.
- Decline Friday.
- Give a reason.
- Suggest Saturday.
How do you compare your answer with a model answer?
Salut Clara ! Merci pour ton invitation. Vendredi, je ne peux pas venir : je travaille jusqu’à vingt et une heures. Est-ce que samedi te conviendrait ? On pourrait dîner chez moi. À bientôt !
Hi Clara! Thanks for your invitation. I can’t come on Friday: I’m working until nine. Would Saturday work for you? We could have dinner at my place. See you soon!
Model: thanks → refusal and reason → Saturday proposal.
Coucou Clara ! C’est gentil de m’inviter. Malheureusement, je dois travailler tard vendredi, donc ce ne sera pas possible pour moi. On pourrait se voir samedi ? Je te propose un dîner chez moi. Bises !
Hi Clara! It’s kind of you to invite me. Unfortunately, I have to work late on Friday, so I won’t be able to make it. Could we see each other on Saturday? How about dinner at my place? Love!
Alternative: the reason comes before the refusal. All four task points remain.
| What to check | Model | Alternative | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanks | Merci pour ton invitation. | C’est gentil de m’inviter. | Both thank Clara. |
| Refusal | Je ne peux pas venir. | Ce ne sera pas possible pour moi. | Both decline. |
| Reason | Je travaille jusqu’à vingt et une heures. | Je dois travailler tard. | Both give a reason; the model is more precise. |
| Alternative day | Est-ce que samedi te conviendrait ? | On pourrait se voir samedi ? | Both propose Saturday. |
The model’s precise finishing time is a detail chosen by that writer. The brief asks for a reason, so “I have to work late” also fits. Keep your own accurate reason and wording. The useful construction to borrow here is Est-ce que… te conviendrait ? for checking whether a suggestion suits someone.
A grammar correction and a missing task point
- Je ne peux pas viens vendredi.Je ne peux pas venir vendredi.
After pouvoir, use an infinitive: venir.
Merci pour ton invitation. Je travaille vendredi soir. Bises !
Thanks for your invitation. I’m working on Friday evening. Love!
The reason is clear, but the Saturday proposal is missing. Add a sentence such as Est-ce que samedi te conviendrait ?