French course

Lesson 31 of 240

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Can you help me in French

Sam's backpack strap catches in the door of Café des Tilleuls. A stranger is right there, and Sam is too quick with tu.

Gaspard already has a hoof on the strap. The window table stays empty, café crème untouched.

By the end, you'll ask for help, ask someone to show you, and thank them for it.

Use the polite line with staff. Keep tu for friends.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for help and thank people for it.

  • Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !Help me, please.
  • Tu peux m'aider ?Can you help me?
  • J'ai besoin d'aide.I need help.
  • Tu peux me montrer ?Can you show me?
  • Merci de votre aide.Thanks for your help.
  • Qui peut m'aider ?Who can help me?

Scene — the strap is stuck

Same morning on rue des Tilleuls. Sam pushes the café door and his backpack strap catches.

A stranger stands on the pavement. Odile is at the zinc counter.

Gaspard sits at the table next to the window table on two chairs. His café crème is untouched. The brass sign stays blank.

A wide morning view from the pavement into the café, with Sam snagged in the doorway, Odile at the zinc, and Gaspard at the side table.

Learn — ask for help

Six short lines cover a polite cry for help, a friend ask, and a thanks after someone helps.

You'll also get I need help, can you show me, and who can help.

  1. A profile of Sam stuck in the café doorway, one hand reaching toward the pavement while the backpack strap stays taut.

    Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !

    Help me, please.

    When to use it: Say this to staff or a stranger when you need help.

    Learn it as one piece for a polite cry for help.

    Say it: The final z in Aidez is silent.

  2. An over-the-shoulder view past Gaspard at his two chairs toward Sam in the doorway, who turns and lifts a hand toward Gaspard.

    Tu peux m'aider ?

    Can you help me?

    When to use it: Ask a friend if they can help you.

    Learn it as one piece with a friend.

    Say it: The m' in m'aider is an elision.

  3. A close-up of Sam's hands and Gaspard's hold on the backpack strap jammed in the café door.

    J'ai besoin d'aide.

    I need help.

    When to use it: Say this when you need someone to help.

    Learn it as one piece when you are stuck.

    Say it: J'ai and d'aide both drop a vowel.

  4. A low angle from the threshold looking up at Sam pointing at the snag while Odile indicates from the zinc counter.

    Tu peux me montrer ?

    Can you show me?

    When to use it: Ask a friend to show you how.

    Learn it as one piece to ask for a demo.

  5. Sam on the café threshold seen from the pavement, palms open in thanks toward Odile at the zinc.

    Merci de votre aide.

    Thanks for your help.

    When to use it: Thank staff or a stranger after they help you.

    Learn it as one piece after someone helps you.

  6. A high angle looking down at Sam in the doorway as he turns to scan Odile at the zinc and Gaspard at the side table.

    Qui peut m'aider ?

    Who can help me?

    When to use it: Call this out when you look around for help.

    Learn it as one piece to ask the room.

Story — a hoof on the strap

Watch Sam's backpack catch in the café door. He is too quick with tu, and a yak is already on the strap.

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

  1. The mustard backpack strap is jammed in the door.
  2. SamBonjour.Hello.
  3. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  4. A stranger is on the pavement. Sam tries tu.
  5. SamQui peut m'aider ?Who can help me?
  6. SamTu peux m'aider ?Can you help me?
  7. StrangerPardon. On se vouvoie.Excuse me. We use the polite you.
  8. Gaspard already has a hoof on the strap. The window table stays empty.
  9. SamTu peux me montrer ?Can you show me?
  10. GaspardC'est coincé.It's stuck.
  11. SamAidez-moi, s'il vous plaît ! J'ai besoin d'aide.Help me, please. I need help.
  12. OdileVoilà.There.
  13. SamMerci de votre aide.Thanks for your help.
  14. OdileDe rien.You're welcome.

Practice — friend or staff

Ten 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 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !Drop the English here
    Tu peux m'aider ?Drop the English here
    Merci de votre aide.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    A close friend is next to you. Your bag is stuck. Ask if they can help.

  4. Fill the gap

    I need help.

    J'ai ____ d'aide.

  5. What does it mean?

    Qui peut m'aider ?

  6. Swap the word

    Odile helped you at the door. Thank her for the help, the polite way.

    Merci de ____ aide.

  7. Build the line

    Can you show me?

     ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Pick the reply

    Stranger says:

    Merci de votre aide.

    Thanks for your help.

    And you reply with:

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into Café des Tilleuls. Odile looks at you and waits.

  10. True or false?

    Pardon means thanks for your help.

Say it — say it at the door

Now you're Sam with a backpack stuck in 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. OdileOh, votre sac !Oh, your bag!
  2. Sam (you)Look around and ask who can help.

    Qui peut m'aider ?

    Who can help me?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !Help me, please.
Tu peux m'aider ?Can you help me?
J'ai besoin d'aide.I need help.
Tu peux me montrer ?Can you show me?
Merci de votre aide.Thanks for your help.
Qui peut m'aider ?Who can help me?
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