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Lesson 11 of 240

New here? This is lesson 11 of a free 240-lesson French course.

Start hereHow this works

Is it or isn't it in French

Gaspard is already at the next table, and he checks the order before Sam has read the chalkboard.

Sam has no idea if this is it, or not.

You will ask a yes-or-no question both ways: is this it, or isn't it.

One check is casual. One is careful. Odile still wants Bonjour first.

By the end of this lesson

Ask a yes-or-no question both ways.

  • Est-ce que c'est ça ?Is this it?
  • C'est ça, ou pas ?Is that it, or not?
  • Hein ?Right?
  • N'est-ce pas ?Isn't that so?
  • C'est pour moi, ou pas ?Is this for me, or not?
  • Oui ou non ?Yes or no?

Scene — the chalkboard

Same morning on rue des Tilleuls. Sam is at the zinc counter. He has not read the chalkboard yet.

Odile waits with a cup. Gaspard sits at the table next to the window table on two chairs, croissant in reach, café crème untouched.

The window table still has its blank brass sign.

A wide morning view of the café with Sam at the zinc, Odile waiting with a cup, and Gaspard seated beside the empty window table.

Learn — yes or no

Six short lines help you check a fact both ways, yes or no.

You get a casual check, a careful check, and a blunt yes or no.

  1. Sam and Odile face each other across the zinc as they exchange a morning hello.

    Est-ce que c'est ça ?

    Is this it?

    When to use it: Ask this to check if this thing is the one.

    Learn it as one piece to check what is in front of you.

    Say it: The t is silent in est-ce.

  2. From behind Sam at the zinc, Gaspard points at the wet chalkboard from the next table.

    C'est ça, ou pas ?

    Is that it, or not?

    When to use it: Use this when both yes and no are still open.

    Learn it as one piece when you offer both answers.

  3. A close view of Sam at the zinc reacting after looking toward the chalkboard, unsure.

    Hein ?

    Right?

    When to use it: Use this casual check with a friend or regular.

    Learn it as one piece, a short casual check.

    Say it: Hein has a short nasal vowel.

  4. Gaspard in profile at the window-side table, giving a calm yes, croissant in reach and café crème untouched.

    N'est-ce pas ?

    Isn't that so?

    When to use it: Use this careful check with someone new or with staff.

    Learn it as one piece, a careful check.

    Say it: The t is silent in n'est-ce.

  5. A tight view of a white cup just set on the zinc, Odile's hands leaving it and Sam's fingers hovering.

    C'est pour moi, ou pas ?

    Is this for me, or not?

    When to use it: Ask this when a cup or plate might be yours.

    Learn it as one piece when something is placed near you.

  6. From high above the zinc, Odile waits with both palms on the bar and Sam answers yes over the cup.

    Oui ou non ?

    Yes or no?

    When to use it: Use this when you need a clear yes or no.

    Learn it as one piece when you want a clear answer.

Story — he checks first

Watch Gaspard check the order before Sam can read the chalkboard.

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

  1. The chalkboard is still wet. Sam has not read it.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. SamBonjour.Hello.
  4. Gaspard points at the chalkboard from the next table.
  5. GaspardEst-ce que c'est ça ?Is this it?
  6. Sam looks at the board. He has no idea.
  7. SamJe ne sais pas. C'est ça, ou pas ?I don't know. Is that it, or not?
  8. GaspardOui.Yes.
  9. SamHein ?Right?
  10. GaspardOui.Yes.
  11. SamOui ou non ?Yes or no?
  12. GaspardOui.Yes.
  13. Odile sets a cup on the zinc.
  14. SamC'est pour moi, ou pas ?Is this for me, or not?
  15. OdileC'est pour vous, n'est-ce pas ?This is for you, isn't it?
  16. SamOui.Yes.

Practice — this or not

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Est-ce que c'est ça ?Drop the English here
    Hein ?Drop the English here
    N'est-ce pas ?Drop the English here
    Oui ou non ?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    A cup lands in front of you at the counter. You are not sure it is yours.

  4. What does it mean?

    Hein ?

  5. Fill the gap

    Is that it, or not?

    C'est ça, ou ____ ?

  6. Build the line

    Yes or no?

     ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Find the mistake

  8. True or false?

    This asks how someone is.

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into Café des Tilleuls in the morning. Odile looks at you and waits.

  10. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Entrez.

    Come in.

    And you reply with:

  11. Fill the gap

    Please sit down

    Asseyez-____.

Say it — ask both ways

Now you're Sam at the counter, still unsure about the order. 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. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Gaspard pointed at the board. Check if this is the one.

    Est-ce que c'est ça ?

    Is this it?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Est-ce que c'est ça ?Is this it?
C'est ça, ou pas ?Is that it, or not?
Hein ?Right?
N'est-ce pas ?Isn't that so?
C'est pour moi, ou pas ?Is this for me, or not?
Oui ou non ?Yes or no?
Next: lesson 12Say what? I don't understand

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your yes-or-no checks ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards