Dialogue
How to ask for a turn to speak in a French meeting
Join a French meeting discussion, wait for your turn and add a focused clarification. Practise a complete dialogue with English speaking cues.
- B2
- 11 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
To join in, say Est-ce que je peux ajouter une précision sur le calendrier ? A more formal option is Puis-je intervenir un instant ? Name your point, wait for the reply, then keep your contribution focused.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
You are Lina. The team is choosing a time for an online training session. Malik is explaining his proposal; Samira is chairing. In practice mode, use the English cues to ask for your turn, accept a short wait and explain a scheduling constraint.
- Malik
Je propose de commencer jeudi à neuf heures.
English
I suggest starting on Thursday at nine.
- Lina
Excusez-moi, est-ce que je peux ajouter une précision sur le calendrier ?
Ask to add a detail about the timetable.
English
Excuse me, can I add a detail about the timetable?
- Samira
Oui, juste après Malik. Laissons-le terminer.
English
Yes, just after Malik. Let’s let him finish.
- Lina
Bien sûr, je vous laisse terminer.
Accept the wait and let Malik finish.
English
Of course, I’ll let you finish.
- Malik
Cela nous laisserait deux heures pour les exercices avant la pause.
English
That would leave us two hours for the exercises before the break.
- Samira
Merci, Malik. Lina, vous vouliez ajouter quelque chose ?
English
Thank you, Malik. Lina, did you want to add something?
- Lina
Oui. La formatrice sera disponible jeudi, mais seulement à partir de quatorze heures.
Explain that the trainer is available only from 2 pm on Thursday.
English
Yes. The trainer will be available on Thursday, but only from two in the afternoon.
- Samira
Vous voulez dire que la séance du matin est impossible ?
English
Do you mean the morning session is impossible?
- Lina
Avec cette formatrice, oui. Nous pourrions lui proposer quatorze heures.
Confirm the limitation and suggest 2 pm.
English
With this trainer, yes. We could suggest two in the afternoon to her.
- Samira
D’accord, nous allons examiner cette possibilité.
English
All right, we’ll look at that possibility.
- Lina
C’est tout pour ce point, merci. Je vous laisse poursuivre.
Finish your contribution and hand back the floor.
English
That’s all on this point, thank you. I’ll let you continue.
How do you ask to speak in a French meeting?
| Purpose | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Add a fact | Puis-je ajouter une précision ? | May I add a detail? |
| Clarify a statement | Est-ce que je peux poser une question sur ce point ? | Can I ask a question about this point? |
| Make a brief contribution | Puis-je intervenir un instant ? | May I speak for a moment? |
| Return after waiting | Je reviens sur le calendrier, si vous permettez. | I’d like to come back to the timetable, if I may. |
Allez-y means “go ahead” when the chair gives you the floor. Je vous laisse poursuivre hands it back. In avant que nous changions de sujet, “before we change the subject”, changions is subjunctive after avant que. The simpler avant de passer au point suivant is useful when you want to avoid a longer clause.