French - Simple Yes/No Responses

Lesson 22 of 159

Learner practicing short French yes/no replies with a friendly teacher, focusing on everyday responses.

Goal: Short answers for everyday questions

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Bonjour! This short lesson helps you reply quickly with natural French yes/no phrases. We'll listen, notice differences, and practice small replies you can use right away.

Level A1: Lesson 22 focuses on short yes/no responses you can use for ability, existence, and simple confirmations. You will practice: Oui, je peux; Non, je ne peux pas; Oui, c'est ça; Non, ce n'est pas ça; Oui, il y en a; Non, il n'y en a pas; and the casual Ouais. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson helps you answer common questions clearly and confidently.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and produce common short yes/no replies in French (Level A1).
  • Answer questions about ability, existence, and identification using natural short phrases.
  • Use a casual response (Ouais) appropriately in informal situations.
Two people in a kitchen asking about items in the fridge to practice short yes/no answers in French.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Oui, je peux.

Yes, I can.

Meaning: Yes, I can.

When to use: Use to answer a question about your ability or whether you can do something right now.

Tu peux venir ce soir ? — Oui, je peux.
Can you come tonight? — Yes, I can.
Aide-moi à porter ça. — Oui, je peux.
Help me carry this. — Yes, I can.

Non, je ne peux pas.

No, I can't.

Meaning: No, I can't.

When to use: Use to politely refuse or say you are not able to do something.

Tip: Beginners sometimes omit 'ne' and say 'je peux pas' in writing; use the full form for clear, standard speech.

Tu peux venir demain matin ? — Non, je ne peux pas.
Can you come tomorrow morning? — No, I can't.
Peux-tu prêter ta voiture ? — Non, je ne peux pas.
Can you lend your car? — No, I can't.

Oui, c'est ça.

Yes, it is.

Meaning: Yes, it is.

When to use: Use to confirm that a description, place, or fact is correct.

C'est le bon arrêt ? — Oui, c'est ça.
Is this the right stop? — Yes, it is.
Tu veux ce manteau ? — Oui, c'est ça.
Is this the coat you want? — Yes, it is.

Non, ce n'est pas ça.

No, it isn't.

Meaning: No, it isn't.

When to use: Use to deny that a fact or identification is correct.

C'est ta valise ? — Non, ce n'est pas ça.
Is that your suitcase? — No, it isn't.
C'est la bonne réponse ? — Non, ce n'est pas ça.
Is that the right answer? — No, it isn't.

Oui, il y en a.

Yes, there is.

Meaning: Yes, there is.

When to use: Answer a question that asks whether something exists or is present.

Il y a des places libres ? — Oui, il y en a.
Are there free seats? — Yes, there are.
Il y a du sucre ? — Oui, il y en a.
Is there sugar? — Yes, there is.

Non, il n'y en a pas.

No, there isn't.

Meaning: No, there isn't.

When to use: Use this to say that something does not exist or is not available.

Tip: In casual speech people often say 'y en a pas'; that's fine in conversation but avoid it in formal writing.

Il y a du pain ? — Non, il n'y en a pas.
Is there bread? — No, there isn't.
Il y a des taxis ici ? — Non, il n'y en a pas.
Are there taxis here? — No, there aren't.

Ouais

Yeah.

Meaning: Yeah.

When to use: A casual affirmative when agreeing or accepting in informal situations.

Tu veux un café ? — Ouais.
Do you want a coffee? — Yeah.
On y va ? — Ouais.
Shall we go? — Yeah.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Talking about milk in the fridge and helping with a small task.

Anna and David exchange quick French replies about milk and help, demonstrating ability and existence phrases.

Does David say there is milk in the fridge?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Il y a du lait dans le frigo ?

Is there milk in the fridge?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui, il y en a.

Yes, there is.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Tu peux l'apporter, s'il te plaît ?

Can you bring it, please?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui, je peux.

Yes, I can.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

C'est le lait bio ?

Is it organic milk?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Non, ce n'est pas ça.

No, it isn't.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

D'accord, merci.

Okay, thanks.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Ouais

Yeah.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'Yes, I can.'?

Which phrase replies 'No, it isn't.' to say something is incorrect?

Which option is a casual 'Yeah'?

How do you say 'No, there isn't.' when something doesn't exist?

Yes, there is.

Anna: Is there sugar in the pantry? David: ___

Yes, I can.

Anna: Can you pick up the bag? David: ___

No, it isn't.

Anna: Is this the correct address? David: ___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Oui, je peux.

Yes, I can.

Say this phrase out loud:

Non, je ne peux pas.

No, I can't.

Say this phrase out loud:

Oui, c'est ça.

Yes, it is.

Say this phrase out loud:

Non, ce n'est pas ça.

No, it isn't.

Say this phrase out loud:

Oui, il y en a.

Yes, there is.

Say this phrase out loud:

Non, il n'y en a pas.

No, there isn't.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ouais

Yeah.