Buying a Train Ticket

Conversation in French:

  • Luc : Bonjour, je voudrais un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plaît.
  • Guichetier : Pour quelle date ?
  • Luc : Pour demain matin.
  • Guichetier : À quelle heure voulez-vous partir ?
  • Luc : Le premier train, s’il vous plaît.
  • Guichetier : Le premier train part à 7h. Cela vous convient ?
  • Luc : Oui, c’est parfait. Combien ça coûte ?
  • Guichetier : Ça fait 30 euros.

English Translation:

  • Luc: Hello, I’d like a ticket to Paris, please.
  • Clerk: For what date?
  • Luc: For tomorrow morning.
  • Clerk: What time would you like to leave?
  • Luc: The first train, please.
  • Clerk: The first train leaves at 7 AM. Does that work for you?
  • Luc: Yes, that’s perfect. How much does it cost?
  • Clerk: That will be 30 euros.

Vocabulary Explanation:

  • Je voudrais: I would like.
    • Polite way to express a desire, from the verb vouloir (to want).
  • Un billet: A ticket.
    • Masculine noun: The article un is used for masculine nouns.
    • Plural form: des billets.
  • Pour Paris: To Paris.
    • Pour: Means “for” or “to” in this context.
  • S’il vous plaît: Please.
    • Formal way to say “please.”
  • Pour quelle date ?: For what date?
    • Date: Feminine noun, meaning “date” as in day or time.
    • Plural form: les dates.
  • Demain matin: Tomorrow morning.
    • Demain: Means “tomorrow.”
    • Matin: Masculine noun, means “morning.”
  • Le premier train: The first train.
    • Premier: Masculine form of “first.”
    • Train: Masculine noun.
    • Plural form: les premiers trains (the first trains).
  • Cela vous convient ?: Does that work for you?
    • Cela: Means “that.”
    • Vous convient: “Works for you,” using the verb convenir (to suit).
  • Combien ça coûte ?: How much does it cost?
    • Combien: Means “how much.”
    • Ça coûte: “It costs.”
  • 30 euros: 30 euros.
    • Euros: The currency used in many European countries.

Grammar Explanation:

  • “Je voudrais un billet pour Paris” (I’d like a ticket to Paris):
    • Je voudrais: Polite form of vouloir (to want), used in formal requests.
    • Un billet: “A ticket,” with un for masculine nouns.
  • “Pour quelle date ?” (For what date?):
    • Quelle: Feminine singular form of “which” or “what,” used with date (feminine noun).
  • “Pour demain matin” (For tomorrow morning):
    • Demain: “Tomorrow,” referring to the next day.
    • Matin: Masculine noun meaning “morning.”
  • “Le premier train” (The first train):
    • Premier: Masculine form of “first.”
    • Train: Masculine noun, requires the masculine form premier.
  • “Cela vous convient ?” (Does that work for you?):
    • Vous convient: From the verb convenir (to suit), with vous for formal address.
  • “Combien ça coûte ?” (How much does it cost?):
    • Combien: Question word meaning “how much.”
    • Ça coûte: “It costs,” using coûter (to cost).
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