Dialogue
French invitations: does the invitation include a companion?
Ask in French whether an invitation includes a companion. Follow a sixteen-line exchange that confirms two places before giving names and arrival details.
- A2
- 16 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Ask L’invitation est pour une personne ou pour deux ? before adding a companion. If two people are included, confirm who may come and give the requested names. The organiser’s answer settles this invitation; the wording does not assume that every invitation follows the same guest rule.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Nina receives an invitation with her own name on it. She wants to know whether she can bring a friend. She first asks about the number of places, then names Léa after Paul confirms the arrangement. That order makes the request clear without treating the companion as already accepted.
- Nina
Bonjour Paul, merci pour l’invitation au vernissage.
Hello Paul, thank you for the invitation to the opening.
English
Hello Paul, thank you for the invitation to the opening.
- Paul
Bonjour Nina ! Ça nous ferait plaisir de te voir.
English
Hello Nina! We’d be happy to see you.
- Nina
J’ai une petite question pratique.
I have a small practical question.
English
I have a small practical question.
- Paul
Oui, je t’écoute.
English
Yes, go ahead.
- Nina
L’invitation est pour une personne ou pour deux ?
Is the invitation for one person or two?
English
Is the invitation for one person or two?
- Paul
Elle est prévue pour deux personnes.
English
It is intended for two people.
- Nina
Très bien. Est-ce que je peux venir avec une amie ?
Very good. Can I come with a friend?
English
Very good. Can I come with a friend?
- Paul
Oui, bien sûr. Il faut simplement donner vos deux noms.
English
Yes, of course. You just need to give both your names.
- Nina
D’accord. Mon amie s’appelle Léa Martin.
All right. My friend’s name is Léa Martin.
English
All right. My friend’s name is Léa Martin.
- Paul
Et pour toi, je note Nina Roche, c’est bien ça ?
English
And for you, I’ll put Nina Roche, is that right?
- Nina
Oui, c’est ça. Donc, deux personnes au total.
Yes, that’s right. So, two people in total.
English
Yes, that’s right. So, two people in total.
- Paul
Exactement. Je vous ajoute à la liste.
English
Exactly. I’ll add you to the list.
- Nina
À quelle heure faut-il arriver ?
What time should we arrive?
English
What time should we arrive?
- Paul
Vers dix-huit heures trente, à l’entrée de la galerie.
English
Around half past six, at the gallery entrance.
- Nina
Parfait. Merci pour les précisions. À vendredi !
Perfect. Thank you for clarifying. See you Friday!
English
Perfect. Thank you for clarifying. See you Friday!
- Paul
À vendredi, Nina !
English
See you Friday, Nina!
Ask the practical question before giving a name
J’ai une petite question pratique introduces the clarification naturally. Pour une personne ou pour deux asks about the invitation’s scope. Est-ce que je peux venir avec une amie ? then checks the actual companion arrangement. Paul confirms both the two-person limit and the need for names.
L’invitation comprend une place pour une personne qui m’accompagne ?
Does the invitation include a place for someone accompanying me?
If the answer is one place
An organiser may instead say Non, l’invitation est pour toi seulement. A neutral reply is D’accord, merci pour la précision. You can then accept the place for yourself or explain that you cannot attend. The reply tells you how many places the organiser can offer.
| Purpose | French |
|---|---|
| Ask about the number | C’est pour une personne ou pour deux ? |
| Ask about a companion | Est-ce que je peux venir avec mon partenaire ? |
| Confirm the total | Donc, deux personnes au total. |
| Accept the stated limit | D’accord, merci pour la précision. |
In the dialogue, Paul uses tu with Nina and vous when addressing Nina and her companion together. Je vous ajoute à la liste refers to the two attendees. Repeating deux personnes au total makes the group size explicit before the conversation turns to arrival time.