Local services and shops
Services locaux et commerces
- Know the names of local services and shops.
- Discuss what you find in the shopping center.
Learn practical French vocabulary and expressions for navigating local services and shops, including terms like timbres (stamps), boulangerie (bakery), and magasin (store), to confidently ask for information and make purchases.
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Quand j'étais à Paris, j'___ visiter la librairie du quartier.
(When I was in Paris, I ___ love visiting the neighborhood bookstore.)2. Dans ce quartier, il y avait une boutique qui ___ des bijoux uniques.
(In this neighborhood, there was a shop that ___ unique jewelry.)3. Si j'avais le temps, j'___ un bouquet au fleuriste pour ma mère.
(If I had the time, I ___ a bouquet to the florist for my mother.)4. Avant, j'___ me promener après une visite au garage automobile.
(Before, I ___ loved taking walks after a visit to the car garage.)Exercise 3: A visit to the local shopping center
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Aller - Aller
Imparfait
- j'allais
- tu allais
- il/elle/on allait
- nous allions
- vous alliez
- ils/elles allaient
Adorer - Adorer
Imparfait
- j'adorais
- tu adorais
- il/elle/on adorait
- nous adorions
- vous adoriez
- ils/elles adoraient
Offrir - Offrir
Imparfait
- j'offrais
- tu offrais
- il/elle/on offrait
- nous offrions
- vous offriez
- ils/elles offraient
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Offrir offer Share Copied!
Imparfait
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') offrais | I was offering |
| (tu) offrais | You offered |
| (il/elle/on) offrait | he/she/one offered |
| (nous) offrions | we were offering |
| (vous) offriez | You were offering |
| (ils/elles) offraient | they offered |
Adorer to adore Share Copied!
Imparfait
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') adorais | I adored |
| (tu) adorais | You adored |
| (il/elle/on) adorait | He/she/one adored |
| (nous) adorions | we adored |
| (vous) adoriez | You adored |
| (ils/elles) adoraient | they adored |
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Lesson Overview: Local Services and Shops
This lesson focuses on everyday conversations and vocabulary related to local services and shops, designed for A2 level learners. It covers practical scenarios such as asking for information at the post office, choosing stores in a shopping center, and buying items at a bakery.
Key Topics Covered
- At the Post Office: Asking about available services, buying stamps for international mail, sending packages up to 30 kilos, and locating mailboxes.
- In a Shopping Mall: Asking for the location of specific types of stores like a pharmacy, clothing shops, or electronics stores, including typical items like phone accessories.
- At the Bakery: Ordering different bakery products such as baguettes, pain au chocolat, croissants, and gluten-free pastries, along with polite transaction phrases.
Example Words and Phrases
- Des timbres pour l'étranger — stamps for abroad
- Un magasin de vêtements pour femmes — a women's clothing store
- Une baguette tradition — a traditional baguette
- Pâtisseries sans gluten — gluten-free pastries
- Combien je vous dois ? — How much do I owe you?
Focus on Verb Usage: The Imperfect Tense
The lesson includes exercises and a short story to practice the imparfait (imperfect) tense, which is often used to describe habitual past actions or ongoing states in the past. Important verbs reviewed here are aller (to go), adorer (to love), and offrir (to offer).
Examples:
- Quand j'étais à Paris, j'adorais visiter la librairie du quartier. (When I was in Paris, I loved visiting the neighborhood bookstore.)
- Si j'avais le temps, j'offrirais un bouquet au fleuriste pour ma mère. (If I had the time, I would offer a bouquet at the florist for my mother.)
Language Notes: Differences and Useful Expressions
French uses the imparfait tense frequently to describe past habitual actions, a concept that sometimes requires more explicit time framing in English. For example, the phrase "j'adorais" can translate as "I loved" or "I used to love," depending on context.
Some useful everyday phrases include:
- Bonjour — Hello
- Excusez-moi — Excuse me
- Je voudrais... — I would like...
- Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much
- N'hésitez pas à demander — Do not hesitate to ask
Understanding these phrases and common vocabulary will help learners navigate everyday interactions in French-speaking environments, especially regarding shopping and local services.
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