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Lesson 190 of 240

New here? This is lesson 190 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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Change the subject in French

Inès is mid-story about a night shift when Sam jumps in. He needs to mention the Lyon tickets before he forgets.

You'll learn how to bring up another topic: by the way, that reminds me, before I forget, and a clear let's change the subject.

These lines let you switch threads with a friend without sounding rude. Inès will lose her punchline anyway.

By the end of this lesson

Bring up another topic.

  • Au fait, ___.By the way, ___.
  • Tiens, ça me fait penser : ___.That reminds me: ___.
  • Avant que j'oublie, je te le dis.Before I forget, let me tell you.
  • On change de sujet.Let's change the subject.
  • C'est un peu hors sujet, mais j'y pense.This is a bit off topic, but it just struck me.
  • Je voulais te poser une question.I wanted to ask you something.

Scene — a night-shift story

Same corner of Café des Tilleuls, late morning. Inès still has her denim jacket on after a night shift. Sam's backpack sits on the extra chair.

The window table keeps its blank brass sign. Gaspard is at the next table on two chairs, café crème untouched, not in this talk.

Wide late-morning window corner of Café des Tilleuls, with Inès and Sam at the table, a backpack on the spare chair, and Gaspard on two chairs at the next table beside an untouched café crème.

Learn — another topic

Six lines help you open a new thread: by the way, that reminds me, before I forget, and a frank change of subject.

You'll also get a softer off-topic line and a way to ask a question you meant to ask.

  1. Close-up of Inès at the window table, one hand lifted as a side thought lands and the story breaks off.

    Au fait, ___.

    By the way, ___.

    When to use it: Slip this in when another matter pops up in the middle of a chat.

    Au fait flags a switch, then you add what the new point is.

    Say it: The t in fait is silent.

  2. Close-up of Sam’s hands at the café table, one finger tapping beside a phone as a memory lands, with the backpack on the extra chair.

    Tiens, ça me fait penser : ___.

    That reminds me: ___.

    When to use it: Use this when something just said brings a new thought.

    This line ties the new point to the last thing you heard.

    Say it: The s in Tiens is silent.

  3. Over Sam’s shoulder, Inès leaning forward across the table with an open palm, holding a thought before it slips.

    Avant que j'oublie, je te le dis.

    Before I forget, let me tell you.

    When to use it: Say this when you must pass on a thing before it slips.

    J'oublie stays one piece after que; then you say the thing itself.

  4. High angle of Sam at the café table, turned toward the room, one hand making a small sideways cut as he steers the talk elsewhere.

    On change de sujet.

    Let's change the subject.

    When to use it: Use this when you want to leave the current thread on purpose.

    On here means we, the way friends talk in a café.

  5. Profile of Inès turned toward the sunlit window, gaze caught by a sudden aside, cup left untouched.

    C'est un peu hors sujet, mais j'y pense.

    This is a bit off topic, but it just struck me.

    When to use it: Use this when you know the new point is not the current thread.

    Mais lets you add the off-topic thought after you admit it.

    Say it: In C'est un, the t links into un.

  6. Over Inès’s shoulder, Sam leaning in across the table with open hands, ready to ask something.

    Je voulais te poser une question.

    I wanted to ask you something.

    When to use it: Use this with a friend when a question has been sitting with you.

    Voulais points to a question you already had in mind.

Story — she loses the ending

Inès is still on last night's shift when Sam cuts in about Lyon. Watch the topic jump, then the punchline vanish.

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

  1. Inès leans in over her coffee. The night shift is still on her face.
  2. InèsDonc, aux urgences, un type arrive à trois heures.So, in the ER, a guy shows up at three.
  3. Sam glances at his phone, then back at her.
  4. SamAu fait, les billets pour Lyon.By the way, the tickets for Lyon.
  5. InèsAttends, quoi ?Wait, what?
  6. SamC'est un peu hors sujet, mais j'y pense.This is a bit off topic, but it just struck me.
  7. InèsD'accord, vas-y.All right, go ahead.
  8. SamAvant que j'oublie, je te le dis.Before I forget, let me tell you.
  9. InèsJe t'écoute.I'm listening.
  10. SamJe voulais te poser une question.I wanted to ask you something.
  11. InèsVas-y.Go ahead.
  12. SamOn prend le TGV jusqu'à Lyon ?Shall we take the high-speed train to Lyon?
  13. InèsOui. Tiens, ça me fait penser : vendredi après le boulot.Yes. That reminds me: Friday after work.
  14. She opens her mouth to finish the hospital story, then stops.
  15. InèsBon, j'ai perdu la chute.Right, I've lost the punchline.
  16. SamOn change de sujet.Let's change the subject.

Practice — switch the thread

Ten short items mix listening, gaps, a swap, and a build. You'll also match meanings and pick what to say.

They stay on this café chat, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Au fait, ___.Drop the English here
    Avant que j'oublie, je te le dis.Drop the English here
    On change de sujet.Drop the English here
    Je voulais te poser une question.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Inès mentioned Friday night. That brings the train to mind, and you flag the reminder.

  4. Fill the gap

    Let's change the subject.

    On change de ____.

  5. Pick the reply

    Inès says:

    Tu voulais me poser une question ?

    Did you want to ask me a question?

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    I wanted to ask you something.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You know this is off her night-shift story, but the thought just hit you.

    C'est un peu hors sujet, mais j'y ____.

  8. Which one doesn’t belong?

  9. What does it mean?

    Je t'écoute.

  10. True or false?

    You say this when you want to leave the current topic on purpose.

Say it — cut in kindly

Now you're Sam at the table. Inès is mid-story. 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. InèsDonc, aux urgences, un type arrive à trois heures.So, in the ER, a guy shows up at three.
  2. Sam (you)Slip in the Lyon tickets as a new thread.

    Au fait, ___.

    By the way, ___.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Au fait, ___.By the way, ___.
Tiens, ça me fait penser : ___.That reminds me: ___.
Avant que j'oublie, je te le dis.Before I forget, let me tell you.
On change de sujet.Let's change the subject.
C'est un peu hors sujet, mais j'y pense.This is a bit off topic, but it just struck me.
Je voulais te poser une question.I wanted to ask you something.
Next: lesson 191Linking what you say

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps these switches ready when a chat is already rolling.

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