Dialogue
An error on the restaurant bill: a French dialogue
Point out two coffees billed instead of one, ask for a correction and check the new drinks subtotal. A French dialogue with practice prompts.
- A2
- 9 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Start with Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous vérifier l’addition ? Then compare the bill with your order: Il y a deux cafés, mais nous avons pris un café et un thé. Ask to see the corrected bill and check the new lines.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
- Customer
Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous vérifier l’addition, s’il vous plaît ?
Get the waiter’s attention and ask them to check the bill.
English
Excuse me, could you check the bill, please?
- Waiter
Bien sûr. Quel est le problème ?
English
Of course. What is the problem?
- Customer
Il y a deux cafés sur cette ligne, mais nous avons pris un café et un thé.
Compare the two coffees on the bill with the coffee and tea you had.
English
There are two coffees on this line, but we had a coffee and a tea.
- Waiter
Je regarde. Oui, le thé a été compté comme un deuxième café.
English
Let me look. Yes, the tea was counted as a second coffee.
- Customer
Pourriez-vous corriger cette ligne ?
Ask for that line to be corrected.
English
Could you correct this line?
- Waiter
Oui. Un café à deux euros et un thé à trois euros : cela fait cinq euros pour les boissons.
English
Yes. One coffee at two euros and one tea at three euros: that makes five euros for the drinks.
- Customer
Merci. Je peux voir l’addition corrigée ?
Thank the waiter and ask to see the corrected bill.
English
Thank you. Can I see the corrected bill?
- Waiter
La voici. Les deux plats n’ont pas changé.
English
Here it is. The two main courses are unchanged.
- Customer
Oui, c’est bon maintenant. Je vais payer par carte.
Confirm that it is correct now and say you will pay by card.
English
Yes, it is correct now. I’ll pay by card.
How do you point out an error on a French bill?
| Stage | Bill wording | Drinks subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Before | Deux cafés à 2 € chacun | 4 € |
| After | Un café à 2 € et un thé à 3 € | 5 € |
Here the correction increases the drinks subtotal: the tea costs more than the coffee it replaced. Both the item and the price matter. The waiter says the two main courses are unchanged; five euros covers the drinks. Read back un café et un thé before moving to payment.
Three useful comparisons for other errors
Il y a trois desserts, mais nous en avons commandé deux.
There are three desserts, but we ordered two.
Use a quantity comparison when the item itself is right.
Le menu indique douze euros, mais l’addition indique quinze euros.
The menu says twelve euros, but the bill says fifteen euros.
Name both prices so the waiter can check the difference.
À quoi correspond cette ligne, s’il vous plaît ?
What does this line refer to, please?
Use this question when you need the meaning of an unfamiliar item.
In practice mode, hide your lines and use the English cues. For a second round, replace the drinks with the dessert example. Keep the request Pourriez-vous corriger cette ligne ? and give the two quantities clearly.