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Housework in French: explain the task and share the jobs

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Say who washes, wipes, sorts and puts things away in French. Practise three household exchanges, learn useful objects and check the final result.

In short

Name the action and the object: je lave les bols, j’essuie la table, je range les livres. To share the work, ask Tu peux… ? Then connect the steps with d’abord, ensuite, puis and enfin.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two housemates wash bowls and wipe a French kitchen table.
Je lave les bols names both the task and its object. Illustration: Atelier

Objects for the job

1

After lunch

Washing and drying are two actions.

YouJe fais la vaisselle. Tu peux essuyer les bols ?I’ll do the washing-up. Can you dry the bowls?
Your housemateOui. Où est le torchon ?Yes. Where is the tea towel?
YouIl est à côté de l’évier.It is next to the sink.
Your housemateD’accord. Ensuite, je range les bols dans le placard.OK. Then I’ll put the bowls away in the cupboard.
2

Clear the desk

Trier groups things; ranger puts them in order or in their place.

YouJe veux ranger le bureau pour avoir de la place pour écrire.I want to tidy the desk so there is room to write.
Your housemateTu jettes tous les papiers ?Are you throwing away all the papers?
YouNon, je les trie par sujet, puis je les mets dans des dossiers.No, I’m sorting them by topic, then putting them in folders.
Your housemateJe rapporte la tasse dans la cuisine.I’ll take the cup back to the kitchen.
3

Put the towels away

Say the starting state before naming the next actions.

YouLes serviettes sont sèches. Tu peux les plier ?The towels are dry. Can you fold them?
Your housemateOui, et après, je les mets où ?Yes, and where do I put them afterwards?
YouDans le placard de la salle de bains.In the bathroom cupboard.
Your housemateVoilà, les serviettes sont rangées.There, the towels are put away.
Say the result that matches the task
ActionResultMeaning
nettoyer la tableLa table est propre.clean
essuyer les bolsLes bols sont secs.dry
ranger le bureauLe bureau est rangé.tidy
plier les serviettesLes serviettes sont pliées.folded

D’abord, je trie les papiers. Ensuite, je range les livres. Enfin, j’essuie le bureau.

First I sort the papers. Then I put the books away. Finally I wipe the desk.

Each verb keeps its object, so the steps are easy to follow.

Question 1No account needed
Which action groups the papers by topic?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Trier les papiers.. Trier groups items by a criterion; jeter means throwing them away.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the result.Les serviettes sont ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

rangées. Serviettes is feminine plural, so the result is rangées.

Question 3No account needed
Which sentence tells you that the bowls are dry?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Les bols sont secs.. Secs describes dryness. Propres means clean and rangés means put away.

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