French - Transitions

Lesson 89 of 159

Learner practicing French transition phrases like 'En fait' and 'Pour changer de sujet' for better conversation flow.

Goal: Phrases to steer and return in conversation

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

Welcome to Lesson 89 — short, useful, and a little clever. In this lesson you’ll hear, practice, and speak a few conversational connectors that help you correct, change topics, and return to earlier points.

Level B1: This lesson focuses on four natural French transition phrases — two uses of "En fait," plus "Pour changer de sujet," and "Pour revenir à ___." You'll practice using them to correct, shift topics, and bring the conversation back. (CEFR-aligned and practical for real talk.)

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use these B1-level transition phrases in short conversations.
  • Gently correct or clarify statements with "En fait," and move between topics smoothly.
  • Return to earlier points with "Pour revenir à ___," and practice these phrases aloud.
Two friends speaking French at a café, using phrases to change topic and return to points.

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.

En fait, ...

In fact, ...

Meaning: In fact, ...

When to use: Use to add precision or strengthen a point — often to add a factual detail that supports what you just said.

J'aime ce film. En fait, c'est mon préféré de l'année.
I like this movie. In fact, it's my favorite this year.
En fait, il avait déjà fini le rapport avant la réunion.
In fact, he had already finished the report before the meeting.

En fait, ...

Actually, ...

Meaning: Actually, ...

When to use: Use to gently correct or clarify what someone just said without sounding harsh.

Tip: Don't use it to bluntly interrupt—place it politely so it sounds like clarification, not confrontation.

—Tu ne peux pas venir demain. —En fait, si, je suis disponible l'après-midi.
—You can't come tomorrow. —Actually, I am free in the afternoon.
Je pensais que le train partait à 9h. En fait, il part à 9h30.
I thought the train left at 9. Actually, it leaves at 9:30.

Pour changer de sujet, ...

To change the subject, ...

Meaning: To change the subject, ...

When to use: Use this clear phrase when you want to move the conversation to a different topic.

Pour changer de sujet, as-tu vu le nouveau projet de loi ?
To change the subject, have you seen the new bill?
Pour changer de sujet, parlons des vacances d'été.
To change the subject, let's talk about summer holidays.

Pour revenir à ___, ...

Going back to ___, ...

Meaning: Going back to ___, ...

When to use: Use this to return to a previous topic or point you paused earlier in the conversation.

Tip: Remember to name the topic after 'à' (e.g., 'à ta question', 'au budget') and match gender/number when needed.

Pour revenir à ta question, je pense que nous devrions accepter l'offre.
Going back to your question, I think we should accept the offer.
Pour revenir à notre discussion sur le budget, il y a une erreur dans la colonne trois.
Going back to our discussion about the budget, there's an error in column three.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David meet after a meeting and need to clarify and shift topics.

Anna and David in a short French dialogue practicing how to correct and switch topics smoothly.

What does Anna do after David clarifies the meeting details?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Anna: Tu pensais que la réunion durait une heure ?

Anna: You thought the meeting lasted an hour?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

David: En fait, elle a duré quarante-cinq minutes.

David: Actually, it lasted forty-five minutes.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Anna: D'accord. Pour changer de sujet, as-tu parlé du calendrier des vacances ?

Anna: Okay. To change the subject, did you talk about the holiday schedule?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

David: Pas encore.

David: Not yet.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Anna: Pour revenir à la présentation, le dernier graphique doit être modifié.

Anna: Going back to the presentation, the last chart needs to be changed.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

David: En fait, j'ai déjà préparé une version mise à jour.

David: In fact, I've already prepared an updated version.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase do you use to gently correct someone?

You want to move the conversation to a new topic. Which do you use?

Which phrase helps you return to a previous point?

You want to add a precise fact that supports your point. Which phrase fits best?

You saw the document? —In fact, I read it last night.

Tu as vu le document ? —___ je l'ai lu hier soir.

We were talking about holidays. To change the subject, have we set the dates?

On parlait des vacances. ___, est-ce qu'on a fixé les dates ?

We had started the discussion about the budget. Going back to this topic, we need to review the figures.

Nous avions commencé la discussion sur le budget. ____, il faut revoir les chiffres.

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:

En fait, ...

Actually, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

En fait, ...

Actually, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Pour changer de sujet, ...

To change the subject, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Pour revenir à ___, ...

Going back to ___, ...