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Lesson 111 of 240

New here? This is lesson 111 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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How to take it in French

Sam is back at the pharmacy across from Café des Tilleuls. Pickup is done. Now he needs the doses, not just the box.

The pharmacist talks too fast. Gaspard is at his elbow with a croissant in the tote.

By the end, you'll ask how often, how many, with food, how long, and what to do if you miss a dose.

A croissant is not a meal. Gaspard will still ask.

By the end of this lesson

Ask how often, how many, and when to take a medicine.

  • Je le prends combien de fois par jour ?How many times a day do I take it?
  • J'en prends combien à chaque fois ?How many do I take each time?
  • Je le prends pendant le repas ?Do I take it with food?
  • Je dois prendre ça pendant combien de temps ?How long should I take this?
  • Je prends la prochaine dose quand ?When do I take the next dose?
  • J'ai oublié une dose.I missed a dose.

Scene — the green cross

The green cross is on. Sam has the bag in one hand and his phone in the other. The pharmacist is already listing times.

Gaspard stands beside him, tote on his arm, a baguette sticking out. He did not sit at the window table this morning, and his café crème is still on the café table.

A wide morning view of a small Paris pharmacy with the green cross lit, Sam at the counter with a bag and a phone, Gaspard standing beside him with a tote and a baguette, and a pharmacist counting on fingers.

Learn — how often and how long

Six lines cover how often, how many each time, with food, how long, the next dose, and a missed one.

The questions stay in everyday order. Your voice goes up at the end.

  1. Sam and Gaspard stand at the pharmacy counter while Sam holds an unmarked medicine box toward the pharmacist with a questioning tilt of the head.

    Je le prends combien de fois par jour ?

    How many times a day do I take it?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the daily schedule.

    Keep ordinary word order and let your voice rise.

    Say it: The in in combien is a nasal sound.

  2. A close view of Sam's palm holding an unmarked blister pack at the pharmacy counter while the other hand counts on fingers.

    J'en prends combien à chaque fois ?

    How many do I take each time?

    When to use it: Ask this for the number of pills each time.

    En stands for the pills you already named.

    Say it: J'en is one piece; the e of je drops.

  3. From over the pharmacist's shoulder, Sam gestures toward the middle while Gaspard stands beside Sam with a baguette in the tote.

    Je le prends pendant le repas ?

    Do I take it with food?

    When to use it: Ask this if the box is unclear about food.

    Pendant le repas means during the meal, not after.

    Say it: The s at the end of repas is silent.

  4. From high above the pharmacy counter, Sam leans both hands on the wood with a bag at the feet while Gaspard turns toward the shelves.

    Je dois prendre ça pendant combien de temps ?

    How long should I take this?

    When to use it: Ask this for the full course, not one day.

    Dois is the form that means you have to.

    Say it: The en in temps is a nasal sound.

  5. In profile, Sam holds up an unmarked phone and turns from the pharmacist as if checking when the next dose is, with Gaspard waiting a half step back.

    Je prends la prochaine dose quand ?

    When do I take the next dose?

    When to use it: Ask this when the last dose is already done.

    Prochaine agrees with dose, which is feminine.

    Say it: The d at the end of quand is silent.

  6. Close on Sam at the counter with an empty blister pack and an apologetic open-palm gesture, looking down then toward the pharmacist.

    J'ai oublié une dose.

    I missed a dose.

    When to use it: Say this if you skipped a time and need advice.

    Une goes with dose because dose is feminine.

Story — too fast

The pharmacist lists the times too fast. Sam types. Gaspard offers to remember.

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

  1. The pharmacist talks without looking up. Sam has his phone out.
  2. PharmacistDeux fois par jour, un le matin, un le soir.Twice a day, one in the morning, one in the evening.
  3. SamPlus lentement, s'il vous plaît.More slowly, please.
  4. PharmacistDeux fois par jour. Un le matin.Twice a day. One in the morning.
  5. GaspardMoi, je m'en souviendrai.I'll remember it.
  6. SamJe le prends combien de fois par jour ?How many times a day do I take it?
  7. She nods. Sam types the times with one thumb.
  8. SamJ'en prends combien à chaque fois ?How many do I take each time?
  9. PharmacistUn seul, à chaque fois.Just one, each time.
  10. SamJe le prends pendant le repas ?Do I take it with food?
  11. GaspardBon, un croissant, ça compte comme un repas ?Right, does a croissant count as a meal?
  12. PharmacistNon. Un vrai repas. Oui, avec un vrai repas.No. A real meal. Yes, with a real meal.
  13. SamJe dois prendre ça pendant combien de temps ?How long should I take this?
  14. PharmacistCinq jours. Pas plus.Five days. No more.
  15. SamJe prends la prochaine dose quand ?When do I take the next dose?
  16. PharmacistCe soir, avec le dîner.Tonight, with dinner.
  17. SamJ'ai oublié une dose.I missed a dose.
  18. PharmacistÇa dépend du médicament. Vérifiez la notice ou demandez conseil à votre pharmacien.It depends on the medicine. Check the leaflet or ask your pharmacist.

Practice — doses at the counter

Ten short items mix listening, gaps, a swap, and a build. One of them is a listen-pick.

They stay on the counter, so you practise the doses, not the pickup.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Je le prends combien de fois par jour ?Drop the English here
    J'en prends combien à chaque fois ?Drop the English here
    Je le prends pendant le repas ?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    The pharmacist lists every time in one breath. You need her slower.

  4. Fill the gap

    How many do I take each time?

    J'en prends combien à ____ fois ?

  5. What does it mean?

    J'ai oublié une dose.

  6. Swap the word

    You already took one. Ask when the next dose is.

    Je prends la ____ dose quand ?

  7. Build the line

    How long should I take this?

     ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Pick the reply

    Pharmacist says:

    Deux fois par jour, un le matin, un le soir.

    She runs the whole schedule together.

    And you reply with:

  9. Fill the gap

    Do I take it with food?

    Je le prends pendant le ____ ?

  10. What do you say?

    The label is tiny. You need to know about meals.

Say it — ask the pharmacist

Now you're Sam at the pharmacy counter. 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. PharmacistVoilà. Deux fois par jour.There. Twice a day.
  2. Sam (you)Ask how many times a day you take it.

    Je le prends combien de fois par jour ?

    How many times a day do I take it?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Je le prends combien de fois par jour ?How many times a day do I take it?
J'en prends combien à chaque fois ?How many do I take each time?
Je le prends pendant le repas ?Do I take it with food?
Je dois prendre ça pendant combien de temps ?How long should I take this?
Je prends la prochaine dose quand ?When do I take the next dose?
J'ai oublié une dose.I missed a dose.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these dose questions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the times ready before you open the box.

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