French course

Lesson 37 of 240

New here? This is lesson 37 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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Looking for something in French

Sam needs milk. The supérette near rue des Tilleuls is small, and the fridge looks half empty.

Gaspard is already in the aisle, holding a bottle as if that were the question.

By the end, you'll say what you are looking for, ask if they have it, and take it or keep browsing.

Staff get vous. Bonjour still comes first at the door.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you are looking for in a shop and ask if they have it.

  • Je cherche ___.I'm looking for ___
  • Vous avez ___ ?Do you have ___?
  • Je peux voir ?Can I see it?
  • Je regarde, merci.I'm just looking, thanks
  • C'est encore disponible ?Is it still available?
  • Je prends ça.I'll take this one

Scene — the fridge is empty

The supérette two doors from the café is quiet this morning. A clerk waits behind the counter. Sam looks at the fridge.

Gaspard is already in the dairy aisle, holding a milk bottle he has not opened. His canvas tote still has a baguette sticking out.

A quiet morning corner grocery with Sam at the open fridge, a clerk waiting at the counter, and Gaspard in the dairy aisle holding unopened milk with a baguette in his tote.

Learn — looking and having

Six short lines cover looking for something, asking if they have it, and taking it.

You'll also get a line for browsing, and one to check if it is still there.

  1. Sam leans into the open fridge in profile, searching among the remaining bottles.

    Je cherche ___.

    I'm looking for ___

    When to use it: Say this in a shop when you cannot find something.

    Learn it as one piece at the shelf.

  2. Over the clerk's shoulder, Sam stands at the counter asking if they have milk.

    Vous avez ___ ?

    Do you have ___?

    When to use it: Ask shop staff if they stock the thing you want.

    Learn it as one piece with shop staff.

    Say it: The s in Vous links as z.

  3. A milk bottle the clerk holds out, with Sam's hands leaning in to look at it.

    Je peux voir ?

    Can I see it?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to look at an item.

    Learn it as one piece before you pick it up.

    Say it: The x in peux is silent.

  4. Sam browses a low shelf and raises a polite palm toward the clerk to show he is just looking.

    Je regarde, merci.

    I'm just looking, thanks

    When to use it: Say this when staff ask if you need help.

    Learn it as one piece when you are only browsing.

  5. From a low angle, Gaspard holds up an unopened milk bottle toward the distant clerk down the dairy aisle.

    C'est encore disponible ?

    Is it still available?

    When to use it: Ask this when the shelf looks empty or low.

    Learn it as one piece to check they still have it.

    Say it: The t in C'est links into encore.

  6. A tote with a baguette sits in sharp focus while Gaspard, soft behind it, lowers the milk bottle inside.

    Je prends ça.

    I'll take this one

    When to use it: Say this when you choose the thing in your hand.

    Learn it as one piece at the moment you choose.

    Say it: The d in prends is silent.

Story — he already has it

Watch Sam look for milk at the supérette. Gaspard is already holding a bottle.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The fridge looks half empty. The clerk looks over.
  2. SamBonjour.Hello.
  3. ClerkBonjour.Hello.
  4. SamJe regarde, merci.I'm just looking, thanks.
  5. He stops at the milk shelf.
  6. SamExcusez-moi. Je cherche du lait. Vous avez du lait ?Excuse me. I'm looking for milk. Do you have milk?
  7. ClerkOui.Yes.
  8. SamC'est encore disponible ?Is it still available?
  9. ClerkOui, voilà.Yes, here you go.
  10. Gaspard is already in the aisle, holding a bottle.
  11. GaspardJe prends ça.I'll take this one.
  12. SamJe peux voir ?Can I see it?
  13. ClerkOui.Yes.
  14. The clerk holds out another bottle for Sam.
  15. SamJe prends ça. Merci.I'll take this one. Thank you.

Practice — find it or browse

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Je cherche ___.Drop the English here
    Vous avez ___ ?Drop the English here
    Je prends ça.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You cannot find the milk. Tell the clerk what you are looking for.

  4. Fill the gap

    Can I see it?

    Je peux ____ ?

  5. What does it mean?

    Vous avez ___ ?

  6. What do you say?

    The clerk asks if you need help. You are only browsing and do not want an item yet.

  7. Swap the word

    The milk shelf looks empty. Ask if they still have it.

    C'est encore ____ ?

  8. What do you say?

    The clerk is facing away. Get their attention before you ask about milk.

  9. Build the line

    I'll take this one

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  10. What do you say?

    The clerk hands you the bottle.

Say it — ask at the counter

Now you're Sam at the supérette, looking for milk. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Say hello back.

    Bonjour.

    Hello

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Je cherche ___.I'm looking for ___
Vous avez ___ ?Do you have ___?
Je peux voir ?Can I see it?
Je regarde, merci.I'm just looking, thanks
C'est encore disponible ?Is it still available?
Je prends ça.I'll take this one
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