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Lesson 30 of 240

New here? This is lesson 30 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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What's allowed in French

Sam is settling into the Café des Tilleuls, where the window table is still kept for someone. Today he steps toward it.

Odile stops him, and Gaspard points to a chair beside his own.

Learn how to say what a place allows, what is reserved, and what you should not do.

Then help Sam find a seat without disturbing the café's old mystery.

By the end of this lesson

Say what a place allows, forbids, or keeps reserved.

  • C'est interdit.It's not allowed.
  • C'est autorisé.It's allowed.
  • C'est réservé.It's reserved.
  • On ne peut pas ___ ici.You can't ___ here.
  • Merci de ne pas ___.Please don't ___.
  • Ici, c'est bon.This is fine here.

Scene — the window table

At Café des Tilleuls on rue des Tilleuls, Sam moves toward the window table. Its little brass sign is blank, but Odile is watching from behind the counter.

Gaspard sits at the next table, leaving the window table untouched. Sam reaches toward the chair; Gaspard pats the chair beside him instead.

Sam walks toward the empty window table while Odile watches from the counter and Gaspard sits at the next table.

Learn — what's allowed

These six lines help you talk about rules and reserved places.

You'll also learn how to point out that another spot is fine.

  1. Odile raises an open palm in a firm stop toward the window table as Sam reaches for the chair.

    C'est interdit.

    It's not allowed.

    When to use it: Say this when something is not allowed in a place.

    Learn it as one piece for saying something is not allowed.

    Say it: The final t in interdit is silent.

  2. Odile nods and sweeps an open hand toward Gaspard's table to show that sitting there is allowed.

    C'est autorisé.

    It's allowed.

    When to use it: Say this when something is allowed in a place.

    Learn it as one piece for saying something is allowed.

  3. Odile points at the empty window table while Sam stands beside the empty chair.

    C'est réservé.

    It's reserved.

    When to use it: Say this when a place or seat is being kept for someone.

    Learn it as one piece when a place is kept for someone.

  4. Gaspard turns toward the window table and raises a hand in a no so Sam will not sit there.

    On ne peut pas ___ ici.

    You can't ___ here.

    When to use it: Use this to say an action is not allowed here.

    Learn it as one piece, with an action in the blank.

    Say it: The t in peut is silent before pas.

  5. Odile leans toward Sam with a polite two-handed gesture, asking Sam not to touch the window chair.

    Merci de ne pas ___.

    Please don't ___.

    When to use it: Use this polite request to ask someone not to do something.

    Learn it as one piece, with an action in the blank.

    Say it: The s in pas is silent.

  6. Gaspard pats an empty chair at Gaspard's table so Sam will sit there instead of at the window.

    Ici, c'est bon.

    This is fine here.

    When to use it: Say this to show that a particular spot is fine.

    Learn it as one piece to point out a suitable spot.

    Say it: The on in bon is a nasal vowel.

Story — a seat beside Gaspard

Sam heads for the window table, but Odile has a rule about that spot. Gaspard offers another chair, and the café's little mystery stays put.

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

  1. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. SamBonjour.Hello.
  3. Sam steps toward the window table and reaches for its chair.
  4. OdileC'est réservé.It's reserved.
  5. OdileC'est interdit.It's not allowed.
  6. OdileOn ne peut pas s'asseoir ici.You can't sit here.
  7. OdileMerci de ne pas toucher.Please don't touch.
  8. Gaspard pats the chair beside him. He leaves the window table alone.
  9. GaspardIci, c'est bon.This is fine here.
  10. OdileC'est autorisé.It's allowed.
  11. SamMerci.Thank you.

Practice — find the right spot

Listen, match meanings, spot a mistake, and choose what to say in the café.

Each exercise uses the same window-table mix-up.

0 of 9 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    C'est interdit.Drop the English here
    C'est autorisé.Drop the English here
    C'est réservé.Drop the English here
    Ici, c'est bon.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 walk into the café in the morning. Odile greets you at the counter.

  4. Build the line

    This is fine here.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  5. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    La chaise à côté de Gaspard est libre.

    The chair beside Gaspard is free.

    And you reply with:

  6. Find the mistake

  7. What does it mean?

    C'est autorisé.

  8. True or false?

    This is a polite request asking someone not to do something.

  9. What do you say?

    Odile has shown you a seat beside Gaspard. Thank her.

Say it — choose a seat

Now you're Sam at Café des Tilleuls. Say each line when Odile or Gaspard gives you a cue.

Tap the microphone when it's your turn, and use ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileLa table près de la fenêtre est réservée.The table by the window is reserved.
  2. Sam (you)Point out that the window table is reserved.

    C'est réservé.

    It's reserved.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
C'est interdit.It's not allowed.
C'est autorisé.It's allowed.
C'est réservé.It's reserved.
On ne peut pas ___ ici.You can't ___ here.
Merci de ne pas ___.Please don't ___.
Ici, c'est bon.This is fine here.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these café rules ready when you need them.

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