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Lesson 34 of 240

New here? This is lesson 34 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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I forgot and I'm late in French

Sam is late to Café des Tilleuls. He rushes in, forgets hello, and misses a wave from the yak at the next table.

Odile folds her arms at the counter and waits. The window table stays empty.

By the end, you will say you are late, you forgot something, you missed something, and you are hurrying.

You will also say you do not have your keys, and you do not have time.

By the end of this lesson

Say you forgot something, missed something, or are late.

  • Je suis en retard.I'm late.
  • J'ai oublié ___.I forgot ___.
  • J'ai raté ___.I missed ___.
  • Je me dépêche.I'm hurrying.
  • Je n'ai pas mes clés.I don't have my keys.
  • Je n'ai pas le temps.I don't have time.

Scene — the arms are folded

Same street, later in the stay. Sam is late and still on the stairs when he should already be at the café.

He pushes the door too fast. Odile is at the zinc counter with her arms folded.

Gaspard sits on two chairs at the table next to the window. His café crème is still full. A hoof was in the air, but Sam did not see it.

Sam shoves the café door open too fast while Odile stands arms folded at the zinc and Gaspard sits by the window on two chairs with a raised hoof.

Learn — late, forgot, missed

Six short lines cover being late, forgetting something, missing something, and hurrying.

You also get two ready lines: you do not have your keys, and you do not have time.

  1. Sam stands just inside the door, late and out of breath, with Odile still at the zinc behind him, arms folded.

    Je suis en retard.

    I'm late.

    When to use it: Say this when you arrive after the time you meant.

    Learn it as one piece when you show up late.

    Say it: The en in en retard is a nasal sound.

  2. Sam stops at the zinc, one palm empty and the other at his temple, as he realizes he forgot to say hello.

    J'ai oublié ___.

    I forgot ___.

    When to use it: Say this when something did not stay in your mind.

    Learn it as one piece, then name what you forgot.

    Say it: J'ai is je plus ai, said as one word.

  3. From behind Sam on a metro platform, a train pulls away into the tunnel, already missed.

    J'ai raté ___.

    I missed ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you did not catch a train, wave, or chance.

    Learn it as one piece, then name what you missed.

  4. From high above, Sam rushes down a Paris apartment stairwell, late and taking the steps fast.

    Je me dépêche.

    I'm hurrying.

    When to use it: Say this when you need to move faster right now.

    Learn it as one piece when you cannot slow down.

  5. Sam's empty hands hang open in front of the closed apartment door, with no keys.

    Je n'ai pas mes clés.

    I don't have my keys.

    When to use it: Say this when your keys are not with you.

    Learn it as one piece for missing keys.

    Say it: N'ai is ne plus ai, said as one word.

  6. Sam turns toward the café door still in motion to leave, while Odile watches from the zinc with folded arms.

    Je n'ai pas le temps.

    I don't have time.

    When to use it: Say this when you cannot stay or wait.

    Learn it as one piece when your clock is too full.

    Say it: The ps in temps is silent.

Story — she waits again

Watch Sam rush in late. He forgets hello, and he misses Gaspard's wave.

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

  1. Sam bursts in, out of breath. Odile folds her arms. The blank brass sign still sits on the window table.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. She does not move. A hoof was in the air. Sam did not see it.
  4. SamPardon. Je suis en retard.Excuse me. I'm late.
  5. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  6. SamBonjour.Hello.
  7. Odile nods, still stern. Sam pats his pockets.
  8. SamJ'ai oublié de dire bonjour.I forgot to say hello.
  9. GaspardTu m'as vu ?Did you see me?
  10. SamJ'ai raté ça.I missed that.
  11. He pats his coat. Gaspard stays on two chairs. His café crème is still full.
  12. SamJe n'ai pas mes clés.I don't have my keys.
  13. OdileTu restes ?Are you staying?
  14. SamJe n'ai pas le temps. Je me dépêche.I don't have time. I'm hurrying.

Practice — late or forgot

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, 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. What do you say?

    Odile has just said hello at the counter. Answer her with a greeting.

  3. Fill the gap

    I don't have my keys.

    Je n'ai pas mes ____.

  4. What does it mean?

    J'ai oublié ___.

  5. Swap the word

    You arrive after the time you meant. Say you are late.

    Je suis en ____.

  6. Build the line

    I'm hurrying.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Tu as le temps ?

    Do you have time?

    And you reply with:

  8. Match the pairs

    French

    Je suis en retard.Drop the English here
    Je me dépêche.Drop the English here
    Je n'ai pas le temps.Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. Find the mistake

  10. Swap the word

    You did not catch Gaspard's wave. Say you missed it.

    J'ai ____ ___.

  11. What do you say?

    You bump the café door as you rush in.

Say it — say you are late

Now you're Sam, late at the door. 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)Tell her you are late.

    Je suis en retard.

    I'm late.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Je suis en retard.I'm late.
J'ai oublié ___.I forgot ___.
J'ai raté ___.I missed ___.
Je me dépêche.I'm hurrying.
Je n'ai pas mes clés.I don't have my keys.
Je n'ai pas le temps.I don't have time.
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps late and forgot ready at the door.

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