French - Explaining a Problem

Lesson 135 of 159

Learner explaining a technical problem in French on a laptop — practice helpful phrases for describing issues.

Goal: Report issues, give reasons, and ask for fixes

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome! In this short B1 lesson you'll practice clear, natural ways to explain a technical or procedural problem. Read and listen to the key phrases, try quick exercises, then speak them aloud.

Level B1: This lesson focuses on phrases for explaining a problem (apps, forms, or processes). You'll practice saying things like “Ça ne me laisse pas ___.”, reporting an error, giving a possible reason, describing the sequence of events, and asking for a fix. Useful for tech support, colleagues, or friends — CEFR-aligned and practical.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use B1-level phrases to describe what goes wrong and when.
  • Give a possible reason and explain a sequence of actions.
  • Ask for a fix and say when it must be resolved.
Two colleagues discussing an app problem in French; lesson focuses on how to explain when something is blocked or gives an error.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ça ne me laisse pas ___.

It won't let me ___.

Meaning: It won't let me ___.

When to use: Use this when a website, app, or machine blocks you from doing something (follow with an infinitive).

Tip: Don't add an extra preposition after 'laisser' like 'à' — say 'Ça ne me laisse pas + infinitive.'

Ça ne me laisse pas sauvegarder le document.
It won't let me save the document.
Ça ne me laisse pas modifier mon profil.
It won't let me edit my profile.

J'ai un message d'erreur quand je ___.

I'm getting an error when I ___.

Meaning: I'm getting an error when I ___.

When to use: Say this to report that an error appears while you try to do a specific action (follow with a verb phrase after 'je').

J'ai un message d'erreur quand je me connecte.
I get an error message when I log in.
J'ai un message d'erreur quand je valide le formulaire.
I get an error message when I submit the form.

Ça arrive seulement quand ___.

The problem only happens when ___.

Meaning: The problem only happens when ___.

When to use: Use this to describe the condition that triggers the issue (follow with a clause explaining the situation).

Ça arrive seulement quand je suis connecté au VPN.
It only happens when I'm connected to the VPN.
Ça arrive seulement quand j'essaie d'ajouter une image.
It only happens when I try to add an image.

Je pense que c'est peut-être parce que ___.

I think it might be because ___.

Meaning: I think it might be because ___.

When to use: Offer a possible reason for the problem (finish with a reason clause).

Je pense que c'est peut-être parce que la dernière mise à jour a planté.
I think it might be because the last update crashed.
Je pense que c'est peut-être parce que je n'ai pas les droits nécessaires.
I think it might be because I don't have the necessary permissions.

J'ai peut-être mal saisi ___.

I may have entered ___ incorrectly.

Meaning: I may have entered ___ incorrectly.

When to use: Use when you suspect you typed something wrong (like a code, address, or password).

Tip: Beginners sometimes confuse 'saisi' with present-tense forms; use 'J'ai peut-être mal saisi...' for past input.

J'ai peut-être mal saisi le code de confirmation.
I may have entered the confirmation code incorrectly.
J'ai peut-être mal saisi l'adresse e‑mail du destinataire.
I may have entered the recipient's email address incorrectly.

Il y a un moyen de régler ça ?

Is there a way to fix this?

Meaning: Is there a way to fix this?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know whether a problem can be corrected or a workaround exists.

Il y a un moyen de régler ça ?
Is there a way to fix this?
Il y a un moyen de régler ça rapidement ?
Is there a way to fix this quickly?

Il faut que ce soit réglé d'ici ___.

I need this fixed by ___.

Meaning: I need this fixed by ___.

When to use: Use this to explain the deadline by which the problem must be solved (follow with a time or date after 'd'ici').

Il faut que ce soit réglé d'ici lundi matin.
I need this fixed by Monday morning.
Il faut que ce soit réglé d'ici la fin de la journée.
I need this fixed by the end of the day.

D'abord, j'ai ___, et ensuite j'ai ___.

First I ___, and then ___.

Meaning: First I ___, and then ___.

When to use: Describe the sequence of actions you did before the problem occurred (place completed actions in the placeholders).

D'abord, j'ai téléchargé le fichier, et ensuite j'ai lancé l'upload.
First I downloaded the file, and then I started the upload.
D'abord, j'ai rempli le formulaire, et ensuite j'ai cliqué sur 'Envoyer'.
First I filled the form, and then I clicked 'Send'.

Je peux te montrer ce qui se passe.

I can show you what happens.

Meaning: I can show you what happens.

When to use: Offer to demonstrate the problem so the helper can see it (informal 'te' for a colleague or friend).

Je peux te montrer ce qui se passe si tu veux.
I can show you what happens if you want.
Je peux te montrer ce qui se passe sur mon écran.
I can show you what happens on my screen.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna explains an app problem to David and offers to show him.

Anna showing David an error message on her phone while they use the lesson phrases to describe the issue.

What does Anna say she gets when she tries to submit?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

J'ai un message d'erreur quand je valide le formulaire.

I get an error message when I submit the form.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Ça arrive seulement quand tu joins un document ?

Does it only happen when you attach a document?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Oui. D'abord, j'ai attaché le fichier, et ensuite j'ai cliqué sur 'Envoyer'.

Yes. First I attached the file, and then I clicked 'Send'.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Ça ne me laisse pas terminer l'envoi.

It won't let me finish the upload.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Je pense que c'est peut-être parce que le fichier est trop volumineux.

I think it might be because the file is too large.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Il faut que ce soit réglé d'ici demain. Je peux te montrer ce qui se passe.

I need this fixed by tomorrow. I can show you what happens.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which French sentence means 'Is there a way to fix this?'

Which sentence says 'I might have entered the code incorrectly'?

Which phrase best completes: 'The bug appears only when...'? (choose the French phrase)

Which sentence says 'First I filled the form, and then I clicked "Send"'?

I may have entered the email address incorrectly.

I may have typed the wrong address: ___.

It won't let me finish the submission.

The system blocks me from submitting: ___.

I need this fixed by Monday morning.

I need a solution before Monday: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça ne me laisse pas ___.

It won't let me ___

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai un message d'erreur quand je ___.

I'm getting an error when I ___

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça arrive seulement quand ___.

The problem only happens when ___

Say this phrase out loud:

Je pense que c'est peut-être parce que ___.

I think it might be because ___

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai peut-être mal saisi ___.

I may have entered ___ incorrectly

Say this phrase out loud:

Il y a un moyen de régler ça ?

Is there a way to fix this?

Say this phrase out loud:

Il faut que ce soit réglé d'ici ___.

I need this fixed by ___

Say this phrase out loud:

D'abord, j'ai ___, et ensuite j'ai ___.

First I ___, and then ___

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux te montrer ce qui se passe.

I can show you what happens