Pardon, est-ce que vous avez l'heure ?
IPA/paʁdɔ̃ ɛs kə vu.z‿a.ve lœʁ/
Assimil · French
ContentsCourse 04
L'heure
The time
A short exchange about asking the time that introduces `est-ce que`, the negative `ne ... pas`, and a first set of everyday time expressions.
19 minSomeone asks for the time and explains why they already suspect it is ten past noon.
Dialogue
Je n'ai pas de montre mais je pense qu'il est midi dix.
IPA/ʒə n‿e pa də mɔ̃tʁ mɛ ʒə pɑ̃s k‿il ɛ midi dis/
Mais comment le savez-vous ?
IPA/mɛ kɔmɑ̃ lə sa.ve vu/
Parce que j'ai rendez-vous avec ma femme à midi...
IPA/paʁs kə ʒe ʁɑ̃.de.vu a.vɛk ma fam a midi/
... et elle a toujours dix minutes de retard !
IPA/e ɛl a tu.ʒuʁ di mi.nyt də ʁə.taʁ/
Vocabulary
l'heure
the time / the hour
une montre
a watch
je pense que
I think that
midi
noon
midi dix
ten past noon
savoir
to know
un rendez-vous
an appointment / a meeting
toujours
always
en retard
late
Exercises
Exercise 1
Translate from audio.
Prompt 1
Do you have the time?
Hint: Use the everyday question pattern with `est-ce que`.
Prompt 2
I have an appointment with my daughter.
Hint: Start with `J'ai rendez-vous...` and end with `ma fille`.
Prompt 3
My wife doesn't have a watch.
Hint: Keep the full negative frame around `a`.
Prompt 4
He is always ten minutes late.
Hint: Use `toujours` before the time expression and finish with `de retard`.
Prompt 5
I think it's noon.
Hint: Use `Je pense que...` followed by `il est midi`.
Exercise 2
Fill in the missing words.
Prompt 1
Do you have a wife?
vous
femme ?
Hint: Use the same question frame as the dialogue, then add `une femme`.
Prompt 2
How do you know (it)?
Comment le
?
Hint: Keep the object pronoun before the verb.
Prompt 3
I don't have a watch.
de montre.
Hint: Use the full negative phrase before `de montre`.
Prompt 4
Because I'm ten minutes late.
Parce que j'ai
retard.
Hint: Insert the full time expression before `retard`.
Prompt 5
Excuse me, is it midday?
Pardon, est-il
?
Hint: Use the short time word from the dialogue.