French · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 6 of 12
Solving problems
Résoudre un problème
Take something faulty back to a shop, explain the problem, talk about real conditions with si, and use two pronouns together.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Explain what's wrong with something you bought
- Ask for an exchange or a refund
- Talk about real conditions with si + present
- Use two object pronouns together: je vous l'échange
Listen
Rachid Benali takes a coffee machine back to a household-appliance shop in Orléans. The shop assistant, Émilie Caron, helps him. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Émilie
Bonjour, monsieur. Je peux vous aider ?
Hello. Can I help you?
Rachid
Bonjour. J'ai acheté cette cafetière ici il y a trois semaines, et elle ne marche plus.
Hello. I bought this coffee machine here three weeks ago, and it doesn't work any more.
Émilie
Ah. Qu'est-ce qui se passe, exactement ?
Oh. What's the problem, exactly?
Rachid
Elle s'éteint toute seule après deux minutes. Le café n'est jamais chaud.
It switches itself off after two minutes. The coffee is never hot.
Émilie
Je suis désolée. Vous avez le ticket de caisse ?
I'm sorry. Do you have the receipt?
Rachid
Oui, le voilà. Elle est encore sous garantie, non ?
Yes, here it is. It's still under guarantee, isn't it?
Émilie
Oui, bien sûr. Je peux vous l'échanger ou vous la rembourser.
Yes, of course. I can exchange it for you or give you a refund.
Rachid
Je préfère l'échanger. Vous avez le même modèle ?
I'd rather exchange it. Do you have the same model?
Émilie
Non, nous n'en avons plus. Mais si vous choisissez ce modèle-ci, vous ne paierez pas la différence.
No, we don't have any left. But if you choose this model here, you won't pay the difference.
Rachid
C'est gentil. Et si elle tombe en panne aussi ?
That's kind. And what if it breaks down too?
Émilie
Si elle ne marche pas, rapportez-la et on vous la rembourse. Mais gardez bien le ticket.
If it doesn't work, bring it back and we'll give you a refund. But keep the receipt safe.
Rachid
D'accord, je le garde. Merci beaucoup.
All right, I'll keep it. Thank you very much.
Understand
If it doesn't work…: real conditions
For a condition that can really happen, use + present, then the present, the futur simple or the imperative for the result:
Never use the future straight after (if): , not si elle tombera. + imparfait, as in chapter 5, is for situations you only imagine. becomes s' only before and : , but .
| + condition | Result |
|---|---|
| (present) | |
| (future) | |
| (imperative) | |
| (imagined: chapter 5) |
Two pronouns together
Sometimes a verb has two object pronouns: one for the thing and one for the person. becomes (I'll exchange it for you). Both go before the verb, in a fixed order: come first, then , then .
So you say but . always comes last: , . In the negative, goes before both pronouns:
| First | Then | Then | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
- Le ticket ? Je vous le donne.The receipt? I'll give it to you.
- La cafetière ? On vous la rembourse.The coffee machine? We'll refund you for it.
- Le message ? Je le lui ai donné.The message? I gave it to her.
Saying what's wrong
Ne… plus means “not any more”: (It doesn't work any more). To ask what the problem is, say (What's happening? What's wrong?).
| French | English |
|---|---|
| It doesn't work any more. | |
| It has broken down. | |
| It's broken (damaged). | |
| It switches itself off. | |
| I'd like to exchange it. |
More in the grammar: Negation: ne… pas and friends · Object pronouns: le, la, les, lui, leur · The conditional: je voudrais, si j'avais…
New words
- la cafetièrecoffee machine, coffee maker
- ne… plus marcherto not work any more ·
- qu'est-ce qui se passe ?what's happening? what's wrong?
- s'éteindreto switch off, to go out ·
- le ticket de caissereceipt (from a shop)
- sous garantieunder guarantee
- échangerto exchange ·
- rembourserto refund, to pay back
- le même / la mêmethe same
- le modèlemodel
- la différencethe difference
- gentil / gentillekind · : that's kind of you
- tomber en panneto break down · takes :
- rapporterto bring back, to take back
Practise
1.“If it doesn't work, bring it back.” Which sentence is correct?
2.Replace with a pronoun.
The coffee machine? We'll refund you for it.
3.Complete with the futur simple of .
If you choose this model, you won't pay the difference.
4.“I'll give it to you.” Which order is correct?
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.It hasn't worked since yesterday.
6.Match the French with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Elle ne marche plus.
It doesn't work any more.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.