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Lesson 115 of 240

New here? This is lesson 115 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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Fix the time and place in French

Inès and Sam have already found a day that works. Now they need a clear time and place, so nobody is left waiting on the pavement.

At Café des Tilleuls, they settle on Saturday at noon, in front of the café. Gaspard notices the plan and quietly makes room.

Learn a few natural ways to confirm details and close the conversation. The postcard stays a mystery.

By the end of this lesson

Agree on a meeting time and place, then confirm the plan.

  • On se retrouve ___.Let's meet ___.
  • Je serai là à ___.I'll be there at ___.
  • Ça marche pour toi ?Does that work for you?
  • C'est décidé.It's a plan.
  • Je t'attends devant le café.I'll wait for you in front of the café.
  • C'est bon pour moi.That works for me.

Scene — a chair for one more

After work, Sam meets Inès at Café des Tilleuls. They are friends, so they use tu. Odile is behind the counter.

Gaspard sits at the next table, beside the still-empty window table. His café crème is unfinished, and an extra chair is nearby.

After work, Sam and Inès greet each other beside an empty window table while Odile works behind the counter.

Learn — set the plan

These six lines help you agree on a meeting time and place, check that the plan works, and confirm that it is settled.

One line uses the future: Je serai là.

  1. From above, Inès raises a hand to propose a meeting with Sam at the window table while Gaspard sits at the next table.

    On se retrouve ___.

    Let's meet ___.

    When to use it: Suggest meeting at a time or place you name.

    Add the time or place after this phrase to make the plan specific.

    Say it: The final e in retrouve is silent.

  2. In profile at the window, Sam checks a blank watch and nods, committing to be there.

    Je serai là à ___.

    I'll be there at ___.

    When to use it: Confirm that you will be there at a stated time.

    Serai is the future form of être; here, là means there.

  3. Over Sam's shoulder, Inès leans across the table with open palms, asking whether the plan works.

    Ça marche pour toi ?

    Does that work for you?

    When to use it: Check a plan with a friend or someone you know well.

    Use toi with a friend; vous is for strangers and staff.

    Say it: The final e in marche is silent.

  4. Inès plants a palm on the table to lock in the plan.

    C'est décidé.

    It's a plan.

    When to use it: Say this when you have settled the details together.

    This short phrase confirms that the decision is made.

  5. Inès steps out onto the sidewalk in front of the café and turns back toward the door, ready to wait.

    Je t'attends devant le café.

    I'll wait for you in front of the café.

    When to use it: Tell a friend where you will wait for them.

    T' is te shortened before the vowel in attends.

    Say it: Te shortens to t' before attends.

  6. From a low angle, Sam leans back at the window table with an open-hand gesture that the plan works.

    C'est bon pour moi.

    That works for me.

    When to use it: Accept a time or plan that suits you.

    This is a natural way to say that the plan suits you.

Story — Saturday at noon

Sam and Inès are friends making plans at the café. Listen for how they settle on a time and place, then confirm the details.

Gaspard follows their conversation from the next table. The window table remains empty.

  1. After work, Inès meets Sam at the café. Odile is behind the counter.
  2. SamBonjour.Hello.
  3. InèsSalut, Sam.Hi, Sam.
  4. InèsOn se retrouve samedi à midi. Ça marche pour toi ?Let's meet on Saturday at noon. Does that work for you?
  5. SamC'est bon pour moi.That works for me.
  6. InèsJe t'attends devant le café.I'll wait for you in front of the café.
  7. SamJe serai là à midi.I'll be there at noon.
  8. InèsC'est décidé.It's a plan.
  9. Gaspard nods and pulls out the extra chair, as if he is joining them. His café crème is still unfinished.
  10. InèsÀ bientôt.See you soon.

Practice — make it definite

Try eleven short exercises to recognize, complete, and say the planning lines.

Keep the time and place clear, then choose a natural way to confirm the plan.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You and Inès have agreed on Saturday at noon. Confirm that you will be there.

  3. Pick the reply

    Inès says:

    Ça marche pour toi ?

    Does that work for you?

    And you reply with:

  4. Fill the gap

    Let's meet ___.

    On se ____ ___.

  5. Build the line

    That works for me.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    Ask Inès, your friend, if the plan works for her.

    Ça marche pour ____ ?

  7. What does it mean?

    C'est décidé.

  8. What do you say?

    Tell Inès where you will wait for her on Saturday.

  9. What did you hear?

  10. What does it mean?

    On se retrouve ___.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — confirm the plan

Take Sam's part as he confirms the plan with Inès. When your turn appears, say the French line aloud.

You can listen first, then record your own attempt. This is practice, not a pronunciation score.

  1. InèsOn se retrouve samedi à midi.Let's meet on Saturday at noon.
  2. Sam (you)Check whether the plan works for your friend.

    Ça marche pour toi ?

    Does that work for you?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
On se retrouve ___.Let's meet ___.
Je serai là à ___.I'll be there at ___.
Ça marche pour toi ?Does that work for you?
C'est décidé.It's a plan.
Je t'attends devant le café.I'll wait for you in front of the café.
C'est bon pour moi.That works for me.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these planning phrases handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick review with the Yak Cards can help you confirm a plan without hesitation.

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