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Lesson 101 of 240

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Rent a shared bike in French

Sam is back at the Vélib' dock by Café des Tilleuls with a bike that will not go. The slots are all taken, and the next lock will not open.

Gaspard holds his Navigo over the dock, as if that will help. Odile comes to the door.

By the end, you'll ask for another dock, say you cannot unlock a bike, report a full station or a dead bike, ask how to return it, and take another one.

By the end of this lesson

Rent a Vélib', find a dock, and fix a problem.

  • Il y a une station Vélib' plus loin ?Is there a Vélib' dock further on?
  • Je n'arrive pas à le déverrouiller.I can't unlock it.
  • La station est pleine.The dock is full.
  • Le vélo ne marche pas.This bike doesn't work.
  • Comment on rend le vélo ?How do I return the bike?
  • Je prends un autre vélo.I'll take another bike.

Scene — the dock by the café

Same morning on rue des Tilleuls. Sam stands at the Vélib' dock beside Café des Tilleuls with a grey bike he brought; every stand at this dock is taken.

Gaspard is already there with his Navigo on a cord and a tote on his shoulder.

The window table inside still has its blank brass sign. Odile watches from the door.

A wide morning view of the packed sidewalk bike-share dock beside the café, with Sam holding a grey bicycle, Gaspard waiting by the terrace, and Odile watching from the doorway.

Learn — a bike that will not unlock

Six lines cover a full dock, a lock that will not open, a bike that will not go, and how to return it.

You'll also ask if another Vélib' station is further on.

  1. Close on Sam's hands testing a limp pedal on the grey bicycle beside the full dock.

    Il y a une station Vélib' plus loin ?

    Is there a Vélib' dock further on?

    When to use it: Ask this when this dock is full or too far from where you need to go.

    Vélib' is Paris bike share, and station here means the street dock.

    Say it: The s in plus is silent before loin.

  2. Sam keeps a hand on a locked docked bicycle while Gaspard taps a card against the lock.

    Je n'arrive pas à le déverrouiller.

    I can't unlock it.

    When to use it: Say this when the bike stays locked after you tap.

    Ne elides to n' before arrive; keep ne … pas in this line.

    Say it: The e of ne drops, so you get n'arrive.

  3. From above, Odile in the café doorway gestures at the dock where every stand already holds a bicycle.

    La station est pleine.

    The dock is full.

    When to use it: Say this when every slot already has a bike, so you cannot return one.

    Pleine is feminine to match la station.

    Say it: In pleine, the final n is pronounced.

  4. Over Sam's shoulder as Sam holds the grey bicycle and turns a questioning hand toward Odile in the doorway.

    Le vélo ne marche pas.

    This bike doesn't work.

    When to use it: Say this when that bike is stuck or the chain will not move.

    Keep ne and pas around marche; do not drop ne.

  5. Sam in profile at the dock looks down the tree-lined street away from the packed stands.

    Comment on rend le vélo ?

    How do I return the bike?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to put the bike back in a dock.

    On here means you in everyday speech.

    Say it: The final t in Comment is silent.

  6. Sam steps a different bicycle backward out of a stand and starts up the street with Gaspard.

    Je prends un autre vélo.

    I'll take another bike.

    When to use it: Say this when you leave a broken bike and take a new one.

    Un autre stays masculine because vélo is masculine.

    Say it: The d in prends is silent.

Story — the station is full

Watch Sam at the Vélib' dock by the café. His bike is dead, and every slot is taken.

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

  1. Sam holds a grey bike beside the dock. Every slot already has a bike.
  2. SamLe vélo ne marche pas.This bike doesn't work.
  3. GaspardÇa ne marche pas.It doesn't work.
  4. Sam puts a hand on the next bike, still locked in the stand.
  5. SamJe n'arrive pas à le déverrouiller. Tu peux m'aider ?I can't unlock it. Can you help me?
  6. GaspardBon. Je valide mon Navigo.Right. I'm tapping my Navigo.
  7. That lock stays shut. Odile stands in the café doorway.
  8. OdileLa station est pleine.The dock is full.
  9. SamComment on rend le vélo ?How do I return the bike?
  10. OdilePas ici, mon grand.Not here, dear.
  11. SamIl y a une station Vélib' plus loin ?Is there a Vélib' dock further on?
  12. OdileOui, plus loin.Yes, further on.
  13. They start up the street toward another dock.
  14. SamJe prends un autre vélo.I'll take another bike.
  15. Gaspard walks with him. The window table inside stays empty.

Practice — full dock or stuck lock

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick what to say at the dock.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Fill the gap

    I can't unlock it.

    Je ____ pas à le déverrouiller.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to return your bike. Every slot already has one. Tell Odile.

  4. What does it mean?

    Le vélo ne marche pas.

  5. Build the line

    I'll take another bike.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You have finished your ride. Ask how to put the bike back.

    Comment on ____ le vélo ?

  7. Pick the reply

    Gaspard says:

    Le cadenas reste fermé ?

    Is the lock still shut?

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    French

    Il y a une station Vélib' plus loin ?Drop the English here
    Je n'arrive pas à le déverrouiller.Drop the English here
    La station est pleine.Drop the English here
    Je prends un autre vélo.Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. True or false?

    Say this when every dock slot already has a bike.

  10. What do you say?

    You already told Gaspard the lock will not open. Now ask him, as a friend, to help.

  11. Fill the gap

    I'm tapping my Navigo

    Je valide mon ____.

Say it — take another bike

Now you're Sam at the Vélib' dock by the café. 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. GaspardAlors ?So?
  2. Sam (you)The pedal sticks on the bike you have. Tell him it doesn't work.

    Le vélo ne marche pas.

    This bike doesn't work.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Il y a une station Vélib' plus loin ?Is there a Vélib' dock further on?
Je n'arrive pas à le déverrouiller.I can't unlock it.
La station est pleine.The dock is full.
Le vélo ne marche pas.This bike doesn't work.
Comment on rend le vélo ?How do I return the bike?
Je prends un autre vélo.I'll take another bike.
Next: lesson 102High-speed rail

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the dock lines ready for the street.

Open Yak Cards