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Lesson 213 of 240

New here? This is lesson 213 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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Negotiate a deadline in French

Claire wants the whole museum-guide script on Friday. Sam knows that date is tight, so he will ask for more time.

He offers a first version on Friday and a revision next week, then they agree on a split delivery.

By the end, you'll ask for extra days, propose two stages, name the earliest date, and close the deal.

Claire uses tu with Sam. Keep the ask polite, then lock the plan.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for more time and agree on what is delivered when.

  • Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.I'd need a bit more time.
  • On peut livrer en deux temps ?Can we deliver in two stages?
  • Je t'envoie une première version vendredi.I'll send you a first version on Friday.
  • Le plus tôt, c'est mercredi.The earliest is Wednesday.
  • Si possible, donne-moi encore deux jours.If possible, give me two more days.
  • C'est d'accord, on part là-dessus.Agreed, we'll go with that.

Scene — Friday is too soon

Thursday afternoon in the small office two metro stops from rue des Tilleuls. Claire has her laptop under one arm and wants the whole script on Friday.

Sam sits across the desk. The courtyard window is behind her. No café, no yak: this is a work talk about dates.

Wide establishing view of the small office with Sam seated at the desk and Claire standing opposite, a closed laptop under one arm.

Learn — more time, two stages

Six lines cover asking for time, splitting a delivery, naming a first version, and locking the date.

You'll also set the earliest day you can manage.

  1. Close-up of Sam's open palms above the desk, asking for more time.

    Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.

    I'd need a bit more time.

    When to use it: Use this when a deadline is too soon and you need extra time.

    Il me faudrait sounds less blunt than a plain I need.

    Say it: The final t in faudrait is silent.

  2. Over Claire's shoulder, Sam parts the air with both hands to propose two stages.

    On peut livrer en deux temps ?

    Can we deliver in two stages?

    When to use it: Propose splitting the work when the full delivery will not fit.

    En deux temps means in two stages, not two hours.

    Say it: The ps at the end of temps is silent.

  3. Medium two-shot of Sam sliding one blank sheet forward while keeping a second stack close, as Claire watches.

    Je t'envoie une première version vendredi.

    I'll send you a first version on Friday.

    When to use it: Promise a first draft on a named day after you split the work.

    T' refers to Claire as tu: Sam is sending the version to her.

    Say it: Te and envoie join as t'envoie.

  4. Close-up of Sam looking down, one fingertip resting on a blank notebook on the desk.

    Le plus tôt, c'est mercredi.

    The earliest is Wednesday.

    When to use it: Name the soonest day you can really deliver.

    This is the earliest real date, not a hope.

    Say it: The s in plus tôt is silent.

  5. Low angle of Sam turned in the chair, hands a little apart, asking Claire for more time.

    Si possible, donne-moi encore deux jours.

    If possible, give me two more days.

    When to use it: Ask a colleague on tu for two extra days.

    Donne-moi is an informal request; keep it for Claire, not Lefebvre.

  6. High angle of Claire nodding with a free hand flattening on the desk, laptop under the other arm, as Sam sits opposite.

    C'est d'accord, on part là-dessus.

    Agreed, we'll go with that.

    When to use it: Close the talk once you both accept the split plan.

    On part là-dessus means you both go with what you just said.

Story — they shake on it

Watch Sam ask Claire for more time on the museum-guide script. He will split the delivery, then they agree.

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

  1. Claire sets the laptop on the desk and looks at Sam.
  2. ClaireLe musée veut tout le script vendredi.The museum wants the whole script on Friday.
  3. SamIl faut le rendre pour quand ?When does this have to be in?
  4. ClaireVendredi, sans faute.Friday, no later.
  5. SamIl me faudrait un peu plus de temps.I'd need a bit more time.
  6. ClaireLe délai est un peu serré.The deadline is a bit tight.
  7. SamPas tout, non. On peut livrer en deux temps ?Not all of it, no. Can we deliver in two stages?
  8. ClaireComment tu vois ça ?How do you see that?
  9. SamJe t'envoie une première version vendredi.I'll send you a first version on Friday.
  10. ClaireEt après ?And after that?
  11. SamLe plus tôt, c'est mercredi.The earliest is Wednesday.
  12. ClaireLundi, ça serait mieux.Monday would be better.
  13. SamSi possible, donne-moi encore deux jours.If possible, give me two more days.
  14. ClaireBon, mercredi alors. C'est noté.Right, Wednesday then. Noted.
  15. SamC'est d'accord, on part là-dessus.Agreed, we'll go with that.
  16. She almost smiles. The courtyard stays quiet behind the glass.
  17. ClaireParfait.Perfect.

Practice — split the delivery

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay on this meeting, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.

  3. What do you say?

    Claire has agreed to two stages. Promise the first version on Friday.

  4. Fill the gap

    The earliest is Wednesday.

    Le plus tôt, c'est ____.

  5. Pick the reply

    Claire says:

    Lundi, ça serait mieux.

    Monday would be better.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    Agreed, we'll go with that.

    , -.

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    Claire offered Monday. Ask for two more days, not three.

    Si possible, donne-moi encore ____ jours.

  8. Match the pairs

    French

    Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.Drop the English here
    On peut livrer en deux temps ?Drop the English here
    C'est d'accord, on part là-dessus.Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. True or false?

    This means the deadline is a bit tight.

  10. What do you say?

    Wednesday is now the date for the revision. Note it so the meeting can close.

  11. Fill the gap

    When does this have to be in?

    Il faut le rendre pour ____ ?

Say it — ask Claire

Now you're Sam at the desk with Claire. 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. ClaireLe musée veut tout le script vendredi.The museum wants the whole script on Friday.
  2. Sam (you)Ask her for a bit more time.

    Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.

    I'd need a bit more time.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Il me faudrait un peu plus de temps.I'd need a bit more time.
On peut livrer en deux temps ?Can we deliver in two stages?
Je t'envoie une première version vendredi.I'll send you a first version on Friday.
Le plus tôt, c'est mercredi.The earliest is Wednesday.
Si possible, donne-moi encore deux jours.If possible, give me two more days.
C'est d'accord, on part là-dessus.Agreed, we'll go with that.
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your deadline asks ready for the meeting.

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