French for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 0

Asking for instructions

Ask instructions in French — Où dois-je signer ? (Where do I have to sign?) — with the obligation verb devoir.

Conversation

  1. Bob Bob

    Excusez-moi, où dois-je signer ?

    Excuse me, where am I supposed to sign?

  2. PX296 PX296

    Il faut que vous signez dans le coin inférieur gauche.

    You have to sign in the lower left hand corner.

    Tip: <il faut que> = is a common way of saying that "must" or "have to".

  3. Bob Bob

    Ici ?

    Here?

  4. PX296 PX296

    Non, pas en haut, mais en bas.

    No. Not at the top. At the bottom

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you express obligation in French?

Devoir + infinitive: je dois signer (I must sign), tu dois écouter (you must listen). Devoir is irregular.

Il faut que vous signiez?

'You need to / it's necessary that you sign'. Il faut + subjunctive — used for impersonal necessity.

What is le coin inférieur gauche?

'The lower left corner'. Le coin = corner. Inférieur = lower (formal). Gauche = left. Bottom-right would be: le coin inférieur droit.

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