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Lesson 201 of 240

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If, then in French

Sam has a Friday draft for Claire and a Lyon ticket hanging on her answer. Inès texts from two floors down.

If Claire likes the script, they go. If not, they stay and rewrite.

You'll practise real if-then lines: if you're free, if it goes well, otherwise, and if you're ever unsure.

Si plus the present talks about a real chance, not a dream.

By the end of this lesson

Make everyday if-then plans and predictions.

  • Si tu es libre, passe ce soir.If you're free, drop by tonight.
  • Si on n'y arrive pas, on fait quoi ?If we don't make it, then what?
  • Si ça se passe bien, on continue.If it goes well, we carry on.
  • Sinon, on change de plan.Otherwise we change the plan.
  • Si jamais tu as un doute, tu m'appelles.If you're unsure, call me.
  • Ça devrait aller si tout va bien.It should be fine if all goes well.

Scene — two floors down

Thursday evening on rue des Tilleuls. Inès lives two floors below Sam. She has left the door on the latch.

A laptop is open on the table, with the Friday draft for Claire. Lyon is the prize if the meeting goes well.

A wide evening view of Inès's apartment with the door on the latch, an open laptop on the table, Inès by the table, and Sam just inside the doorway.

Learn — if, then, otherwise

Six lines cover if plus the present, otherwise, and if you're ever unsure.

You use them for real plans, not for wishes.

  1. Inès holds the door on the latch and gestures inward as Sam steps through the threshold.

    Si tu es libre, passe ce soir.

    If you're free, drop by tonight.

    When to use it: Use this to invite a friend if they might have time.

    Si plus the present is for a real chance, not a wish.

    Say it: The s in es is silent before libre.

  2. Close on Inès's hands paused at the open laptop on the table in the lamplight.

    Si on n'y arrive pas, on fait quoi ?

    If we don't make it, then what?

    When to use it: Ask this when a real plan might fail.

    N'y arrive pas is one piece: we don't manage it.

    Say it: N'y is an elision of ne before y.

  3. Over Sam's shoulder, Inès stands across the table and holds an open palm in a keep-going gesture.

    Si ça se passe bien, on continue.

    If it goes well, we carry on.

    When to use it: Say this when a good result means you keep going.

    The if-part stays in the present for a real next step.

    Say it: The ien in bien is a nasal sound.

  4. In profile, Sam sits more upright at the table and turns a palm as if changing the plan, while Inès leans in across the table.

    Sinon, on change de plan.

    Otherwise we change the plan.

    When to use it: Use this right after an if, for the other path.

    Sinon stands in for if not, without repeating the if-clause.

    Say it: The on in sinon is a nasal sound.

  5. Close on Inès sliding a phone across the table toward Sam's waiting hand.

    Si jamais tu as un doute, tu m'appelles.

    If you're unsure, call me.

    When to use it: Offer this when someone might get stuck later.

    Si jamais means if ever, for a chance that may not come.

    Say it: M'appelles elides me before a vowel.

  6. From above, Sam and Inès sit at the table in the lamplight with the open laptop between them.

    Ça devrait aller si tout va bien.

    It should be fine if all goes well.

    When to use it: Soften a prediction when the if-part still matters.

    The if-clause can come second and still use the present.

    Say it: The final t in tout is silent.

Story — two plans

Sam goes downstairs with the Friday file. Inès has already mapped two plans: Lyon, or stay and rewrite.

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

  1. Inès's message lights up on Sam's phone in the stairwell.
  2. InèsSi tu es libre, passe ce soir.If you're free, drop by tonight.
  3. SamJ'arrive. Deux minutes.I'm coming. Two minutes.
  4. He knocks. The door is already open. A laptop shows the Friday draft.
  5. InèsBon. Si Claire aime ça, on part à Lyon.Right. If Claire likes this, we leave for Lyon.
  6. SamSi ça se passe bien, on continue.If it goes well, we carry on.
  7. InèsSinon, on change de plan.Otherwise we change the plan.
  8. SamOn reste et on réécrit, alors ?So we stay and rewrite, then?
  9. InèsVoilà. Si on n'y arrive pas, on fait quoi ?There. If we don't make it, then what?
  10. SamOn reste à Paris, et on retravaille le texte.We stay in Paris and rework the text.
  11. InèsSi jamais tu as un doute, tu m'appelles.If you're unsure, call me.
  12. SamMême si c'est tard ?Even if it's late?
  13. InèsMême tard. J'essaie de finir avant vendredi.Even late. I'll try to finish before Friday.
  14. SamÇa devrait aller si tout va bien.It should be fine if all goes well.
  15. InèsOn part vendredi soir après le boulot. Si elle dit oui.We leave Friday evening after work. If she says yes.
  16. SamBonne chance.Good luck.
  17. InèsToi aussi. On se tient au courant.You too. We'll keep each other posted.

Practice — the other path

Ten quick items wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Si on n'y arrive pas, on fait quoi ?

  3. What do you say?

    Claire hasn't read the draft yet. Tell Inès that if the meeting goes well, you'll carry on.

  4. Fill the gap

    Otherwise we change the plan.

    Sinon, on ____ de plan.

  5. Build the line

    If you're unsure, call me.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You want a soft prediction: it should be fine if all goes well.

    Ça devrait aller si tout va ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Inès says:

    Le délai est un peu serré.

    The deadline is a bit tight.

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Tell Inès you will try to finish the draft before Friday.

  9. True or false?

    This means you leave Friday evening after work.

  10. Fill the gap

    Good luck

    Bonne ____.

Say it — say the if

Now you're Sam at home, texting Inès two floors down before she comes up. 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. InèsJe suis deux étages plus bas.I'm two floors down.
  2. Sam (you)Invite her to drop by tonight if she is free.

    Si tu es libre, passe ce soir.

    If you're free, drop by tonight.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Si tu es libre, passe ce soir.If you're free, drop by tonight.
Si on n'y arrive pas, on fait quoi ?If we don't make it, then what?
Si ça se passe bien, on continue.If it goes well, we carry on.
Sinon, on change de plan.Otherwise we change the plan.
Si jamais tu as un doute, tu m'appelles.If you're unsure, call me.
Ça devrait aller si tout va bien.It should be fine if all goes well.
Next: lesson 202Although, but

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