Dialogue
Describe an item in a French shop when you do not know its name
Ask a French shop assistant for a storage box by describing its purpose, size and budget. Practise the customer’s lines and compare two options.
- A2
- 12 lines
- Practice mode
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In short
Start with Je cherche… pour…: “I’m looking for… to…”. Add the feature you need and a clear limit: Elle doit bien se fermer. Quinze euros maximum.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out
Four words for this shopping trip
Find:
Your shopping note: a box for buttons and needles, a lid that closes securely, less than 20 cm wide and a budget of 15 euros. A transparent box would be nice. Read the conversation, then use practice mode to say the customer’s lines from the English cues.
- Vendeuse
Bonjour, je peux vous aider ?
English
Hello, can I help you?
- Vous
Bonjour. Je cherche une petite boîte pour ranger des boutons et des aiguilles.
Greet the assistant and explain what the box is for.
English
Hello. I’m looking for a small box to store buttons and needles.
- Vendeuse
Vous avez besoin de quelle taille ?
English
What size do you need?
- Vous
Elle doit tenir dans un tiroir de vingt centimètres de large.
Explain the width of your drawer.
English
It needs to fit in a drawer twenty centimetres wide.
- Vendeuse
Celle-ci est transparente. Elle coûte douze euros.
English
This one is transparent. It costs twelve euros.
- Vous
Est-ce qu’elle se ferme bien ?
Ask about the lid.
English
Does it close securely?
- Vendeuse
Le couvercle se pose simplement dessus. Sinon, j’ai ce modèle avec une fermeture.
English
The lid just rests on top. Otherwise, I have this model with a fastening.
- Vous
D’accord. Je préfère une boîte qui ferme bien. Elle mesure combien ?
Choose the secure closure and ask for the dimensions.
English
All right. I prefer a box that closes securely. What are its dimensions?
- Vendeuse
Dix-huit centimètres de large, dix de profondeur et six de haut.
English
Eighteen centimetres wide, ten deep and six high.
- Vous
Et quel est son prix ? Mon budget est de quinze euros maximum.
Ask for the price and give your limit.
English
And what is its price? My budget is fifteen euros maximum.
- Vendeuse
Quatorze euros. Elle est opaque, mais elle ferme bien.
English
Fourteen euros. It is opaque, but it closes securely.
- Vous
Ça me va. Je vais vérifier la profondeur et la hauteur de mon tiroir, puis je reviendrai. Merci !
Accept the opaque colour, explain what you will check and thank her.
English
That suits me. I’ll check my drawer’s depth and height, then come back. Thank you!
How do you describe something when you don’t know its name in French?
| Job | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Je cherche une lampe pour lire. | I’m looking for a lamp for reading. |
| Need | Elle doit tenir sur une petite table. | It needs to fit on a small table. |
| Preference | Si possible, je voudrais une lampe blanche. | If possible, I’d like a white lamp. |
| Budget | Je peux mettre vingt euros maximum. | I can spend twenty euros at most. |
The customer accepts an opaque box because transparency was a preference. The secure lid is essential. Width is known; depth and height still need checking against the drawer. For a completely unknown object, try Je cherche quelque chose pour ranger mes aiguilles. After quelque chose, an adjective takes de: quelque chose de petit.