Learn essential French verbs like "faire" (to do), "prendre" (to take), and "dire" (to say) while navigating everyday services such as la banque, la pharmacie, and la poste.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (19) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify these words according to the type of service they designate to better memorize them.
Services publics
Services personnels
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La bibliothèque
The library
2
Le caissier
The cashier
3
La station essence
The petrol station
4
Un commerce
A shop
5
La police
The police
Exercice 5: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- What did Eva do today? Where did she pass by? (What did Eva do today? Where did she pass by?)
- Where have you been today? (Where have you been today? )
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
Eva est allée à la salle de sport ce matin. Eva has gone to the gym this morning. |
Ensuite, elle est passée à la boulangerie pour acheter de la nourriture. Afterwards she has passed by the bakery to buy some food. |
Elle est passée devant la banque le soir. She has passed by the bank in the evening. |
Je suis allé à l'hôpital aujourd'hui parce que j'y travaille comme médecin. I have gone to the hospital today because I work there as a doctor. |
Je suis allé à l'école ce matin à cause de mes enfants. I have been to the school this morning because of my children. |
Je suis allé à l'université et à la bibliothèque aujourd'hui. I have gone to the university and the library today. |
... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Je ___ attention aux horaires de la bibliothèque.
(I ___ attention to the library hours.)2. Tu ___ la rue à gauche pour aller à la pharmacie.
(You ___ the street on the left to go to the pharmacy.)3. Il ___ que la poste est ouverte jusqu’à 18 heures.
(He ___ that the post office is open until 6 PM.)4. Nous ___ souvent des courses près de la station essence.
(We ___ often do errands near the gas station.)Exercise 8: Finding services in the city
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Faire - Faire
Présent
- Je fais
- Tu fais
- Il/Elle/On fait
- Nous faisons
- Vous faites
- Ils/Elles font
Prendre - Prendre
Présent
- Je prends
- Tu prends
- Il/Elle/On prend
- Nous prenons
- Vous prenez
- Ils/Elles prennent
Dire - Dire
Présent
- Je dis
- Tu dis
- Il/Elle/On dit
- Nous disons
- Vous dites
- Ils/Elles disent
Être - Être
Présent
- Je suis
- Tu es
- Il/Elle/On est
- Nous sommes
- Vous êtes
- Ils/Elles sont
Écouter - Écouter
Présent
- J'écoute
- Tu écoutes
- Il/Elle/On écoute
- Nous écoutons
- Vous écoutez
- Ils/Elles écoutent
Exercise 9: Les verbes irréguliers : "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Irregular verbs: "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"
Show translation Show answersfais, disent, prends, prennent, dites, disons, faites, fait
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.38.2 Grammaire
Les verbes irréguliers : "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"
Irregular verbs: "Faire", "Prendre", "Dire"
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Utiliser to use Share Copied!
present
French | English |
---|---|
(je/j') utilise | I use |
(tu) utilises | You use |
(il/elle/on) utilise | he/she/one uses |
(nous) utilisons | we use |
(vous) utilisez | you use |
(ils/elles) utilisent | they use |
Écouter to listen Share Copied!
present
French | English |
---|---|
(je/j') écoute | I listen |
(tu) écoutes | You listen |
(il/elle/on) écoute | he/she/one listens |
(nous) écoutons | we listen |
(vous) écoutez | You listen |
(ils/elles) écoutent | they listen |
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Everyday Services in French
This lesson focuses on vocabulary and expressions related to everyday services, perfectly suited for A1 beginners. You will learn how to talk about common public and personal services in a French-speaking environment, ask for locations, inquire about opening hours, and use essential irregular verbs.
Key Vocabulary
- Public services: la banque (the bank), la bibliothèque (the library), la poste (the post office), la police (the police), la pharmacie (the pharmacy)
- Personal services: le coiffeur (the hairdresser), l’électricien (the electrician), le plombier (the plumber)
Irregular Verbs Spotlight
The lesson highlights three common irregular verbs and their present tense forms, which are crucial for everyday conversations:
- Faire (to do/make): Je fais, Tu fais, Il fait, Nous faisons, Vous faites, Ils font
- Prendre (to take): Je prends, Tu prends, Il prend, Nous prenons, Vous prenez, Ils prennent
- Dire (to say/tell): Je dis, Tu dis, Il dit, Nous disons, Vous dites, Ils disent
Practical Phrases and Questions
You will practice asking where services are located, their opening hours, and making simple statements about daily errands. Examples include:
- Où est la pharmacie ? Elle est près du bureau de tabac.
- À quelle heure ouvre la banque ? Elle ouvre à neuf heures.
- Je fais mes courses à la pharmacie près du bureau de tabac.
- Nous prenons la route vers la station essence après le gymnase.
Useful Expressions and Sentence Structure
French uses question forms like Où est... (Where is...), and polite questions such as Pouvez-vous me dire... (Can you tell me...). These are essential for interacting in services contexts. Sentences often pair a question with a simple answer to provide clear, direct information.
Differences Between English and French
While both English and French use similar structures to ask questions about locations and times, French has gendered nouns and more verb conjugations that depend on the subject. For example, la pharmacie (the pharmacy) is feminine, affecting article and adjective forms. The use of irregular verbs like faire, prendre, and dire is more frequent in daily expressions and must be memorized with their conjugations to communicate accurately.
Additional Handy Words
- Horaires (opening hours)
- Cours (errands/shopping)
- Près de (near)
- À côté de (next to)
- Le coin de la rue (the street corner)
- Fermé/ouverte (closed/open)
This lesson guides you through essential vocabulary and common phrases needed to navigate everyday services confidently in French-speaking contexts.