French course

Lesson 165 of 240

New here? This is lesson 165 of a free 240-lesson French course.

Start hereHow this works

For example in French

Claire has a map of a small museum on the table. The audio tour still runs too long, and she wants the cut in plain words.

Sam has two cases ready: the courtyard echo and the sculpture room.

By the end, you'll introduce a case, name a good one, and ask someone to listen.

He walks her through both cases. She then says one would have been enough.

By the end of this lesson

Give an example to explain a point.

  • Par exemple, ___.For example, ___
  • Je vais te donner un exemple.Let me give you an example
  • Un bon exemple, c'est ___.A good example is ___
  • Des choses comme le bruit dans la cour.Things like the noise in the courtyard
  • Prenons la salle des sculptures, par exemple.Take the sculpture room, for example
  • Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute ça.To show you what I mean, listen to this

Scene — a tight tour

Same weekday in the small office two metro stops from rue des Tilleuls. Sam has headphones and a museum map on his desk.

Claire stands with her laptop. She wants a shorter tour, in plain words, before lunch.

In a small morning office, Sam sits at a desk with headphones and a museum map while Claire stands nearby holding a laptop.

Learn — for example

Six lines help you give a case: start it, name a good one, point at a room, and ask someone to listen.

You stay with tu, the way Sam talks to Claire now.

  1. Claire holds a laptop and makes a pinched gesture toward the desk without sitting down.

    Par exemple, ___.

    For example, ___

    When to use it: Use this to start a concrete case after your point.

    Put the case right after the comma.

  2. Sam turns in the chair with headphones around the neck and lifts a hand from the map while Claire stands at the edge with a laptop.

    Je vais te donner un exemple.

    Let me give you an example

    When to use it: Say this before you make a point concrete at work.

    Te is for Claire; she and Sam use tu now.

    Say it: The n in un links into exemple.

  3. From behind Sam, Claire steps in and looks at the museum map as Sam points to an open area.

    Un bon exemple, c'est ___.

    A good example is ___

    When to use it: Name one case that shows your point well.

    Say the case after c'est, not before it.

  4. In profile, Sam turns toward the window with one palm open while Claire stands behind the chair and listens.

    Des choses comme le bruit dans la cour.

    Things like the noise in the courtyard

    When to use it: Give a kind of thing, then one case from the place.

    Comme introduces the case after a general word.

    Say it: The last t in bruit is silent.

  5. From above, Sam points at a gallery shape on the museum map while Claire looks on with the laptop under one arm.

    Prenons la salle des sculptures, par exemple.

    Take the sculpture room, for example

    When to use it: Invite someone to look at one case with you.

    Prenons includes you and the other person.

    Say it: The s in Prenons is silent before la.

  6. Sam holds the headphones out with both hands above the desk.

    Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute ça.

    To show you what I mean, listen to this

    When to use it: Play or show something so your point is clear.

    Écoute is the tu form; use écoutez with a stranger.

Story — one is enough

Watch Sam try to prove the tour is tight with two cases. Claire hears both, then says one is enough.

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

  1. The lamps are on. Claire has not sat down.
  2. ClaireSam, le tour est trop chargé.Sam, the tour is too packed.
  3. SamJe sais. On peut couper.I know. We can cut.
  4. ClaireQu'est-ce qui te fait dire ça ?What makes you say that?
  5. SamJe vais te donner un exemple.Let me give you an example.
  6. He slides the museum map across the desk.
  7. SamPar exemple, l'écho dans la cour.For example, the echo in the courtyard.
  8. ClaireL'écho ?The echo?
  9. SamDes choses comme le bruit dans la cour.Things like the noise in the courtyard.
  10. SamPour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute ça.To show you what I mean, listen to this.
  11. A courtyard sound leaks from the headphones. Claire stays on her feet.
  12. ClaireD'accord. Et après ?Okay. And after that?
  13. SamPrenons la salle des sculptures, par exemple.Take the sculpture room, for example.
  14. ClairePourquoi celle-là ?Why that one?
  15. SamUn bon exemple, c'est le temps devant chaque statue.A good example is the time in front of each statue.
  16. ClaireÇa suffit.That's enough.
  17. She tucks the laptop under her arm.
  18. ClaireUn exemple, et on coupe. Merci.One example, and we cut. Thanks.

Practice — pick a case

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

They stay short, so the meeting does not run long.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Par exemple, ___.Drop the English here
    Un bon exemple, c'est ___.Drop the English here
    Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute ça.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. Pick the reply

    Claire says:

    Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ?

    What are you going to do?

    And you reply with:

  4. Fill the gap

    Things like the noise in the courtyard

    Des choses ____ le bruit dans la cour.

  5. What does it mean?

    Qu'est-ce qui te fait dire ça ?

  6. Build the line

    Take the sculpture room, for example

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You have a sound clip of the courtyard. Ask Claire to hear it.

    Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, ____ ça.

  8. What do you say?

    You already offered an example. Now start the courtyard case.

  9. True or false?

    You use this to name one case that shows your point.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. Find the mistake

Say it — show what you mean

Now you are Sam at the office with Claire. When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClaireQu'est-ce qui te fait dire ça ?What makes you say that?
  2. Sam (you)Offer to give her a concrete case.

    Je vais te donner un exemple.

    Let me give you an example

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Par exemple, ___.For example, ___
Je vais te donner un exemple.Let me give you an example
Un bon exemple, c'est ___.A good example is ___
Des choses comme le bruit dans la cour.Things like the noise in the courtyard
Prenons la salle des sculptures, par exemple.Take the sculpture room, for example
Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute ça.To show you what I mean, listen to this
Next: lesson 166When that happens

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