An unknown French word? Follow the clues and ask one clear question
Work through a Montréal conversation, use grammar and context to follow an unknown word, then choose the clarification that gets you the detail you need.
Keep the action and the words around the gap. They can tell you whether the new word is a place, a thing or a description; the next sentence may explain it. If you need that detail now, ask a short question such as C’est quel genre de magasin ?
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A new word on the way home
- Antoine
Tu passes au dépanneur ? Il nous faut du lait.
Are you stopping at the corner shop? We need milk.
- Mélissa
Au dépanneur ? C’est quel genre de magasin ?
At the dépanneur? What kind of shop is it?
- Antoine
C’est une petite épicerie. Il y en a une au coin de la rue.
It’s a small grocery shop. There’s one on the street corner.
- Mélissa
Ah, d’accord ! Je vais y acheter du lait et du pain.
Oh, right! I’ll buy milk and bread there.
| Clue in the sentence | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Tu passes au… | A destination: somewhere to stop. |
| Il nous faut du lait. | Buying food fits the situation. |
| C’est une petite épicerie. | The speaker supplies the meaning: a small grocery shop. |
At the first line, “somewhere to buy milk” is enough to follow the request. After Antoine’s explanation, dépanneur has a precise local meaning. In Québec it names a corner shop; in other contexts it can mean someone who repairs things. Keep the setting with the word.
Four things from the Montréal lesson
Find:
How do you ask what a French word means?
Pose le classeur sur l’étagère.Put the ring binder on the shelf.
Focus: You know the action, but need to identify the object.
Tu peux me montrer le classeur ?
Can you show me the ring binder?
La salle est spacieuse, mais sombre.The room is spacious, but dark.
Focus: You know the word describes the room; its exact meaning is still missing.
Qu’est-ce que « spacieuse » veut dire ?
What does “spacieuse” mean?
Sur l’étagère gives the destination, even if classeur is new. Mais connects two contrasting descriptions, but several adjectives could fit before it. Repeat the part you caught and ask for the part you need. For a story, you can often wait for the next sentence; for an instruction, a quick question helps you do the right thing.