French · Real conversations
Local transport: French conversation practice
Find the right route and the right stop. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A passenger checking directions with a local person.
Goal: Find the right route and the right stop.
Read the conversation
Partner
Cette rue mène vers le musée.
Show English translation
This street leads toward the museum.
You
Je vais dans la bonne direction ?
Show English translation
Am I going the right way?
Partner
Oui. Vous pouvez aussi prendre ce bus.
Show English translation
Yes. You can take this bus instead.
You
Il reste combien d'arrêts ?
Show English translation
How many stops are left?
Partner
Trois arrêts. Le bus saute parfois un arrêt où personne n'attend.
Show English translation
Three stops. The bus sometimes skips an empty stop.
You
Pourriez-vous me dire quand descendre ?
Show English translation
Could you tell me when to get off?
Partner
Bien sûr. Vous pourriez aussi y aller à pied d'ici.
Show English translation
Of course. You could also walk from here.
You
On peut y aller à pied ?
Show English translation
Is it within walking distance?
Partner
C'est environ vingt minutes. Il y a une gare près du musée.
Show English translation
It's about twenty minutes. There's a station near the museum.
You
Ce bus s'arrête à la gare ?
Show English translation
Does this bus stop at the station?
Try your part first
Partner says: This street leads toward the museum. Your goal: Am I going the right way?
Reveal a sample reply
Je vais dans la bonne direction ?
Am I going the right way?
Partner says: Yes. You can take this bus instead. Your goal: How many stops are left?
Reveal a sample reply
Il reste combien d'arrêts ?
How many stops are left?
Partner says: Three stops. The bus sometimes skips an empty stop. Your goal: Could you tell me when to get off?
Reveal a sample reply
Pourriez-vous me dire quand descendre ?
Could you tell me when to get off?
Partner says: Of course. You could also walk from here. Your goal: Is it within walking distance?
Reveal a sample reply
On peut y aller à pied ?
Is it within walking distance?
Partner says: It's about twenty minutes. There's a station near the museum. Your goal: Does this bus stop at the station?
Reveal a sample reply
Ce bus s'arrête à la gare ?
Does this bus stop at the station?
Make it your own
- Travel on foot instead.
- Change the destination.
- Ask someone to point out the stop.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
