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Lesson 204 of 240

New here? This is lesson 204 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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A leaking tap in French

Sam catches Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway of the walk-up. The kitchen tap has been dripping since Monday, and the landlord has the keys.

Lefebvre is brief, as always. He looks at the key ring and names a time.

By the end, you'll report a leak, ask him to send someone, and fix a visit.

Keep vous with the landlord. Who pays can wait.

By the end of this lesson

Report a leak and book a visit.

  • Le robinet de la cuisine fuit.The kitchen tap is leaking.
  • Ça fuit depuis lundi.It's been leaking since Monday.
  • Vous pouvez envoyer quelqu'un ?Can you send someone round?
  • Il peut passer quand ?When can he come by?
  • Je suis là tout l'après-midi.I'll be home all afternoon.
  • Je passe demain matin.I'll come by tomorrow morning.

Scene — in the doorway

Sam is on the landing of the fourth-floor walk-up when Monsieur Lefebvre appears in the doorway, keys in hand.

The stairwell is worn and quiet. No one else is coming down.

Sam needs to report the kitchen leak and book a visit before the landlord is gone.

A wide establishing view of the worn walk-up landing where Sam has stopped Monsieur Lefebvre, who has just appeared in an open doorway with keys.

Learn — the kitchen tap

Six lines cover the leak, how long it has lasted, and a visit with the landlord.

You ask him to send someone and say when you are home.

  1. A medium two-shot of Sam pointing toward a closed apartment door with a damp cloth while Monsieur Lefebvre listens from the doorway.

    Le robinet de la cuisine fuit.

    The kitchen tap is leaking.

    When to use it: Tell your landlord which tap is leaking.

    Robinet is the tap; keep cuisine so he knows which room.

    Say it: The t at the end of robinet is silent.

  2. A close-up of Sam's hands held apart around a damp cloth, showing the leak has gone on for days.

    Ça fuit depuis lundi.

    It's been leaking since Monday.

    When to use it: Say how long the leak has already lasted.

    Depuis names the day the leak started and is still going.

  3. An over-the-shoulder view past Monsieur Lefebvre toward Sam, who holds out an open palm in a request.

    Vous pouvez envoyer quelqu'un ?

    Can you send someone round?

    When to use it: Ask the landlord to send someone for the repair.

    Use vous with the landlord; tu is for friends and regulars.

    Say it: The s in Vous links as z into pouvez.

  4. A low-angle view of Sam stepping forward on the landing with one hand lifted in a question while Monsieur Lefebvre turns toward the stairs.

    Il peut passer quand ?

    When can he come by?

    When to use it: Ask when he can come by the flat.

    Passer here means come by the flat, not walk past.

    Say it: The t in peut stays silent before passer.

  5. A high-angle view of Sam at a closed apartment door with a hand on the handle, showing this is home, while Monsieur Lefebvre watches from the opposite doorway.

    Je suis là tout l'après-midi.

    I'll be home all afternoon.

    When to use it: Say you will be home for the whole afternoon.

    Là here means you are home and available, not just nearby.

    Say it: Après-midi keeps the elision on l'.

  6. A profile view of Monsieur Lefebvre in the doorway lifting the keys in a short confirming gesture as Sam faces Monsieur Lefebvre from the landing.

    Je passe demain matin.

    I'll come by tomorrow morning.

    When to use it: Name the morning you will come to the flat.

    Lefebvre says this about himself; Sam does not book his own visit.

Story — tomorrow morning

Watch Sam catch Lefebvre in the doorway. The landlord is already holding the keys.

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

  1. The stairwell is quiet. Sam is on the landing when Lefebvre appears in the doorway with his keys.
  2. SamBonjour monsieur.Hello, sir.
  3. Monsieur LefebvreBonjour.Hello.
  4. SamLe robinet de la cuisine fuit.The kitchen tap is leaking.
  5. Monsieur LefebvreBon. Depuis quand ?Right. Since when?
  6. SamÇa fuit depuis lundi.It's been leaking since Monday.
  7. SamVous pouvez envoyer quelqu'un ?Can you send someone round?
  8. Monsieur LefebvreOui, je m'en occupe.Yes, I'll take care of it.
  9. SamIl peut passer quand ?When can he come by?
  10. Lefebvre looks at the heavy ring of keys. He is already turning toward the street.
  11. Monsieur LefebvreC'est moi. Je passe demain matin.I'll come myself. I'll come by tomorrow morning.
  12. SamD'accord. Je suis là tout l'après-midi.Okay. I'll be home all afternoon.
  13. Monsieur LefebvreÀ demain.See you tomorrow.
  14. SamMerci. À demain.Thank you. See you tomorrow.

Practice — report the leak

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay on the leak and the visit, so the round stays tight.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You catch your landlord in the doorway. Greet him the polite way.

  3. What does it mean?

    Ça fuit depuis lundi.

  4. Fill the gap

    Can you send someone round?

    Vous pouvez ____ quelqu'un ?

  5. Pick the reply

    Monsieur Lefebvre says:

    Oui, j'envoie quelqu'un.

    Yes, I'll send someone.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    I'll be home all afternoon.

    -.

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    Lefebvre names when he will come to the flat. He means the morning.

    Je passe demain ____.

  8. True or false?

    Use this goodbye when you will see the person tomorrow.

  9. Match the pairs

    French

    Le robinet de la cuisine fuit.Drop the English here
    Ça fuit depuis lundi.Drop the English here
    Je suis là tout l'après-midi.Drop the English here

    English

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

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — catch him

Now you're Sam on the landing. Lefebvre is in the doorway with the keys. 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. Monsieur LefebvreBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Greet him the polite way. He is your landlord.

    Bonjour monsieur.

    Hello, sir.

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Le robinet de la cuisine fuit.The kitchen tap is leaking.
Ça fuit depuis lundi.It's been leaking since Monday.
Vous pouvez envoyer quelqu'un ?Can you send someone round?
Il peut passer quand ?When can he come by?
Je suis là tout l'après-midi.I'll be home all afternoon.
Je passe demain matin.I'll come by tomorrow morning.
Next: lesson 205Post office and bank

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the leak and the visit ready for the landing.

Open Yak Cards